League Report: Bohemians 1 – 0 Shamrock Rovers

Rónán MacNamara reports from Dalymount Park

A sensational goal from Liam Burt saw Bohemians earn their first Dublin Derby win of the season and avoid a dreaded whitewash against bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers at a rocking Dalymount Park.

Burt showed composure, skill and quality to sell Jack Byrne a beautiful dummy and curl the ball past Alan Mannus from the edge of the area with 18 minutes remaining.

It was a goal Derek Pender’s side deserved after a superb second half display for the interim boss that had the perfect blend of blood, thunder and quality as they picked up their first home win in four outings.

After a flat first half, the second half was electric with both fans and players willing each other on. So often, soulless and turgid this season, Bohemians were up for the fight and met the challenge of Stephen Bradley’s side head on and a relentless onslaught of second half pressure bared fruit.

Rovers offered little in reply and impressive performances from Rory Feely and Ciaran Kelly at the heart of the home defence saw out a comfortable win. 

There was a weird feeling to this latest Dublin Derby instalment with several key components missing from the off – a full away compliment in the Des Kelly stand, Keith Long in the Bohs dugout and a sheer raw hatred for Rovers left wing back Andy Lyons who is off to Blackpool in January.

Chances were at a premium in the opening period with a weak Aaron Greene header the best the visitors could muster.

The first half lacked rhythm and flow but the absence of a pattern would have been on the Derek Pender and Trevor Croly script as the Gypsies emerged from the Jodi Stand tunnel with gusto and fire.

The roll the sleeves up attitude caused Rovers problems with the Hoops unable to get into their stride and pass the ball, with the influential Jack Byrne on the periphery.

The Gypsies had become clammy and ponderous at Dalymount this summer but they countered at pace through James Clarke with Burt, Kris Twardek and Ethon Varian causing problems without any end product.

Scotsman Burt was often alongside Varian while dropping in behind the former Stoke City striker and that got the hosts up the pitch quickly as they varied their play – often going direct.

Burt took the game to Rovers, firing off a couple of efforts before curling a beautiful ball into the corridor of uncertainty. While the ball begged for Varian to throw his body at it and flick a header on it, he remained flat footed and a chance went begging.

While the first 45 lacked quality, Bohs certainly had the better of it with Lee Grace doing brilliantly to scramble the ball from the foot of Ali Coote in the six-yard area after Twardek teed up Burt with a pull back.

Rovers came back into it for the last 15 minutes but a few injury stoppages gave the game a fragmented feel and disrupted any rhythm.

Former Jodi Stand darling Lyons received his usual boos and jeers but there was an element of a box ticking exercise rather than the sheer hatred with many accepting this will be the last time he wears green and white in Dalymount – unless they draw each other in the FAI Cup semi-final.

Hoops fans in the corner of the Des Kelly stand made plenty of noise but the presence of just 358 fans meant the pre-match atmosphere was lacking a little spice.

The second half had more of a Dublin Derby feel with Varian getting cautioned 20 seconds after the interval for an off the ball incident on Lyons.

It took a crunching Twardek challenge on Ronan Finn to really ignite this game and that was followed by a thunderous block from the bandaged Rory Feely which set Bohs on the counter attack before Daniel Cleary clattered into Burt to bring a counter-attack to an end.

Despite being second best for the first 15 minutes of the second half, the best chance of the game fell to Sean Hoare after Shamrock Rovers recycled a Jack Byrne corner, a diagonal ball was helped across by Lyons but Hoare turned it over from six yards.

Tempers flared once more after substitute Declan McDaid was fouled by Ronan Finn before Tyreke Wilson took a swipe at Dylan Watts. The pair locked horns and got booked before Watts later received his marching orders for a second yellow for stopping another Bohs counter as he rugby tackled Burt to the floor.

Wilson was called into action again to pinch the ball from the toe of Rory Gaffney who looked destined to rifle home Lyons’ drilled cross.

Bohs piled on the pressure as the atmosphere cranked up and that pressure paid dividends as Burt scored a wonderful goal. The ball broke to him on the edge of the box, after he dummied to leave Byrne on his backside, he opened his body and curled a right footed effort past Mannus.

The three-in-a-row chasing champions were rattled, they couldn’t live with the Bohemians pressure that was now yielding chances.

Byrne’s unhappy night was compounded when he was replaced after a largely ineffective 78 minutes.

The Auld Triangle rang around the Jodi Stand in added time. In what has been a very disappointing season around Phibsborough there was a sense of pride and soul restored with a cup quarter-final with neighbours Shelbourne to come later this month.

For Rovers they remain top of the table but Derry City, who have played one game more, are now only four points behind the Hoops. Next up for Rovers is Djuargardens at home in the Europa Conference League next Thursday.

Bohemians: Jon McCracken; Jordan Doherty (Max Murphy 48), Rory Feely, Ciaran Kelly, Tyreke Wilson; Liam Burt (John O'Sullivan 83), James Clarke, Ali Coote (Declan McDaid 59), Conor Levingston (James McManus 83); Kris Twardek, Ethon Varian.

Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan, Josh Kerr, Ryan Burke, Jamie Mullins, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe. 
Booked: Ethon Varian (46), Kris Twardek (54). 
Sent off: None. 

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Daniel Cleary, Lee Grace, Sean Hoare; Ronan Finn (Aidomo Emakhu 77), Andy Lyons, Gary O'Neill, Dylan Watts; Jack Byrne (Neil Farrugia 77), Rory Gaffney (Richie Towell 74), Aaron Greene.
Subs not used: Leon Pohls, Sean Gannon, Sean Kavanagh, Chris McCann, Gideon Tetteh, Justin Ferizaj. 
Booked: Daniel Cleary (55) Dylan Watts (46 & 69). 
Sent off: Dylan Watts (69). 

Referee: Rob Hennessy
Attendance: 3,230
extratime.com Player of the Match: Liam Burt (Bohemian FC)

In Pictures: Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Finland https://t.co/LxMm9mbkQTpic.twitter.com/4jHkCF3gQh

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 2, 2022