League Report: Bohemians 0 - 4 Shamrock Rovers

Christine Allen reports from Dalymount Park

‘At Last!’ Shamrock Rovers strut their stuff in Dublin 7 and put four past the Bohemian fashionista’s to secure their first league win of 2024.

A 1,011 strong crowd streamed through the Dalymount Park turnstiles on what was a glorious Saturday afternoon to support the Bohemians women in their Dublin Derby clash against Shamrock Rovers.

Stephanie Zambra would make her first start for Collie O’Neill’s outfit since their 4-0 win over DLR Waves at Tallaght in April, while for Bohs, Tiegan Ruddy and Alannah McEvoy were named to face their alma mater along with Bohs May Player of The Month, Savannah Kane.

The visitors started on the front foot with Joy Ralph and Zambra on the hunt early doors - skipper Aine O’Gorman linking up well with Lia O’Leary from right to left as the visitors enjoyed the lion’s share of possession.

Melissa O’Kane once again looked a different class in the centre of the park as the number 22 turned Katie Malone in the 17th with a feint straight out of Madison Square Gardens.

Ken Kiernan’s backline were impenetrable however in the opening forty-five and Rovers were forced to shoot from outside the D.

Bohs looked dangerous on the counter, their one touch football a real pleasure to witness for both the home fans and the neutral as their wingers looked to exploit the channels.

Katie Malone and Sarah McKevitt were a formidable challenge for The Hoops centre-backs , yet Maria Reynolds and Jessica Hennessy were measured in their movements, gliding in sync to snuff out the danger.

Scarlett Herron sat at left-back and held her own against McKevitt - the Monaghan native very much on the ball rather than off it for the women in green and white this weekend.

Zambra would signal for Ralph to push higher up the pitch as Rovers recovered from another Bohemian assault - the number 10 executing an audacious attempt on goal in the 29th when a visionary long ball from Hennessy landed at her feet.

The strike would float over Rachael Kelly’s crossbar but the intent was a reminder of the magic that Zambra, at the age of thirty-four, can conjure with her boots.

Rovers continued to press but were unable to convert in the final third.

As the shade fell across the pitch at Dalymount a shot from Ralph caused havoc in the box and Zambra was quick to pounce - only the iron will of Murphy denying the Shankill native from netting the opener.

The Bohemian women received an appreciative applause for their efforts as they sauntered back to the dressing room at half-time, the game level at one a piece.

Rovers started the second half with the intensity of a team 1 goal down with five left to play.

Zambra had the first chance on goal, driving her foot as if it were a #1 wood driver through the ball only to see it hit the Bohs goal minder square.

Smith and Murphy would keep their side afloat as Rovers unleashed wave after wave of attack to no avail.

That was until The Hoops centre-back, Jess Hennessy, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and charged forward, her tall frame dancing past three.

Winning her side a corner, it was only fitting that the Mullingar native would score The Hoops first.

As O’Gorman whipped the set-piece into the box, Hennessy charged into view as if from the ether, her towering header powering the ball into the top right bin in the 50th minute.

The story could have been very different at Dalymount with Bohs creating two significant chances to level the contest across the ten-minute spell before Rovers' secured a second in the 63rd.

The first opportunity came when Aoibhe Brennan won an aerial header that slipped Malone through on goal. Lawless to her credit was quick to react and sprinted off her line to clear the ball high and into the rafters of the Jodi Stand.

McKevitt would strike from an obtuse angle in the 58th but the Rovers stick minder did well to parry the number 8s attempt on goal clear.

O’Kane would secure the visitors 2nd, the power behind her long range effort beating the Bohs captain who could only watch as the ball bounced behind and across her goal line.

The needle between Ralph and Smith was on display for the remaining half hour as both attacker and defender attempted to outsmart the other - both players appearing to enjoy the competitive edge as they flashed a smile.

Rovers cruised to a third in the 70th when O’Gorman sprung to meet a deft cross at the end of an O’Leary whip - the skipper guiding the ball with her head into the bottom right-hand corner.

The crowd at Dalymount became subdued as the final twenty wound down and The Hoops sought to finish in style.

A glancing header from O’Reilly in the 81st would secure their 4th (and the talented youngsters first senior contribution) as the Rovers gears clicked in unison.

The visitors showed no signs of letting up and would make four substitutions in the final ten, Under 17s Academy stars Ella Kelly and Anna Butler amongst those to take to the turf.

Shauna Fox would also make an appearance alongside the quick footed Jaime Thompson and almost make it five with her head.

Butler too would show real finesse in front of the Dublin 7 crowd and was unlucky not to bag Rover’s fifth before the full-time whistle blew.

The Hoops now sit in 8th place in the Premier Division Table - one spot above Bohemians due to the goal differential between both teams.

Bohemians: Rachael Kelly; Katie Lovely, Lisa Murphy, Ciara Smith; Aoibhe Brennan, Shauna Carroll, Fiona Donnelly, Savannah Kane (Tiegan Ruddy 54), Sarah McKevitt (Aoibhe Fleming 75); Katie Malone (Orlagh Fitzpatrick 69), Alannah McEvoy.