League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Galway United

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Johnny Kenny made it back-to-back 84^th minute goals against Galway United but unlike the winner he got away from home last time, his late goal on Friday could only secure a point for the Hoops against Galway United.

It looked like the visitors were going to beat Rovers’ first team in Dublin for the first time in 30 years only for Kenny to break their hearts once again. The draw between the sides does mean that United did stop the run of 21 consecutive defeats against the Hoops but they came oh so close to claiming all three points. 

Shamrock Rovers’ lengthy injury list meant they were missing nine outfield players - Graham Burke, Sean Hoare, Neil Farrugia, Lee Grace, Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff, Gary O’Neill, Richie Towell, Markus Poom – as well as Dan Cleary who was suspended.

It all meant that Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley selected Sean Kavanagh on the left of his back three and he named seven teenagers and 20-year-old Johnny Kenny on the bench. 

Rory Gaffney started his first game since mid-March but the Rovers front three of Gaffney, Aaron Greene and Darragh Nugent failed to force Galway United skipper and netminder Brendan Clarke into a single save in the first half.

At the other end Leon Pohls was called into action twice by United’s left back Al-Amin Kazeem who shot from long range requiring Pohls to save in the 33^rd minute and to punch clear a cross just on half time.

However, they were the only two troubling times for the Hoops who dominated the play in the first 45. United looked to slow the game down whenever they could.

The highlight of the first half was probably the shouting match between Bradley and Ollie Horgan who was  calling the shots for United with John Caulfield suspended and sitting in the stands.

Both gaffers went in the book after they disagreed with the validity of Kavanagh’s tackle on Aodh Dervin. Referee David Dunne didn’t give a foul but he wasn’t happy with the carry on by the managers.

Kavanagh was enjoying the space afforded to him to ping long passes up the line and diagonally across to right wing back Darragh Burns. The loanee from MK Dons was a constant threat for the Hoops but at times Burns’ crosses were just too deep – an issue that Trevor Clarke also had on the opposite flank. 

The Hoops forced five first half corners but couldn’t make them count. The same story with the wasteful shots from distance from Watts, Gaffney and twice from Burns.

Within three minutes of the restart Rovers had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded their first penalty kick of the season when Nugent’s effort was blocked by the hand of Jeannot Esua.

Watts took the spotkick but driving it low to the left Clarke did excellently to get across to push it around the post with a strong right hand.

Soon after Greene had a very weak header for the Hoops after Gaffney came deep and then played the ball in behind and then ten minutes into the second period the visitors took the lead through substitute Stephen Walsh – his second of the season and only Galway’s seventh goal of the campaign.

He raced onto a hooked over the shoulder pass from Ed McCarthy and his low shot beat Pohls to his left hand side. The 100 or visiting fans were in dreamland as Walsh and his teammates celebrated in front of them.

The bench was so light that Rovers just made the two changes and one late on wsa when 16-year-old Matthew Britton came on in place of Rory Gaffney to make his first team debut. The Hoops piled on the pressure and six minutes from time they did get their reward.

Kenny got up to power home a header for the Hoops from a Watts corner on the right. Bradley side kept going forward but couldn’t find the winner. With Derry winning, the result meant Rovers dropped down to third and our five points off league leaders Shelbourne ahead of their game in hand on Monday in Tallaght against Drogheda United.

This hard fought point is something that Galway United can build on as they look to solidify their position in the Premier Division.

Shamrock Rovers: Léon Pöhls; Joshua Honohan, Pico Lopes, Seán Kavanagh; Darragh Burns, Conan Noonan (Johnny Kenny 60), Dylan Watts, Trevor Clarke; Rory Gaffney (Matthew Britton 79), Aaron Greene, Darragh Nugent.
Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Toms Leitis, Cory O'Sullivan, Cian Barrett, John O'Sullivan, Zak Reddy,  Maxim Kovalevskis.
Booked: Trevor Clarke (26), Stephen Bradley (41), Johnny Kenny (81)

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Esua, Killian Brouder, Robert Slevin  (Conor O'Keeffe 90), Al Amin Kazeem; Vincent Borden (Patrick Hickey 90), Conor McCormack; David Hurley (Maurice Nugent 85), Aodh Dervin (Stephen Walsh h/t), Edward McCarthy  (Regan Donelon 85), Karl O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Joe Wright, Francely Lomboto, Wassim Aouachria, Leo Gaxha.
Booked: Ollie Horgan (41)

Referee: David Dunne. 
Attendance: 5,629 
extratime.com Player of the Match: Darragh Burns (Shamrock Rovers)