Shamrock Rovers 2 - 1 Bohemians

• Simon Carter
• Sat, May 16 2009


Two late goals from Gary Twigg earned Shamrock Rovers three points at Tallaght on Saturday evening against rivals Bohemians. Bohs had taken a first half lead after fifteen minutes through the division’s top scorer Jason Byrne. The result sees Rovers move level on points with third place Derry, and to within two points of Pat Fenlon's side. Twigg's late double were his ninth and tenth goals of the season.

It had started well for Bohs and they found themselves ahead after a quarter of an hour of play. Anto Murphy got to the ball a split second before Shane Robinson on the right hand side of the box and referee Alan Kelly had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Byrne scored his 150th league goal, despite Hoops keeper Barry Murphy guessing the right way.

Rovers lost Shane Robinson to injury just before the break, with Sean O’Connor coming on in his place on the left side of midfield. Moments later Bohs had a penalty appeal waved away when it looked as if Darragh Maguire handled the ball in the box. Then, right on the stoke of half time, Glen Crowe had to leave the action with an injury, but not before he spurned a great opening, firing wide of the upright from eighteen yards.

The second half started with Brian Murphy uncharacteristically dropping what would normally have been a routine catch. Last season’s goalkeeper of the year was lucky that there were no Rovers players close enough to profit from the mistake.

A few moments later Rovers came close from a corner on the right. Maguire rose early in the box and directed a header towards the top corner. It looked as if it was goal bound, but Twigg sprung to get a touch and the ball ended up clearing the crossbar. Twigg was again off target shortly after that - sending another header wide at the back post after Ollie Cahill had breezed past Anto Murphy on the left.

Rovers boss Michael O’Neill introduced Dessie Baker and then Tadgh Purcell as he looked to get back into the game. Baker made an immediate impact, dropping short repeatedly and linking things up well. Purcell was stationed on the right of a front three and caused the Bohs backline some trouble in the air.

The equaliser came after a scramble in the box. Brian Shelley twice blocked goalbound efforts, but the ball then fell to Stephen Rice to hit first time. The midfielder’s effort from fourteen yards out may have hit a Bohs defender before Twigg flicked it neatly into the net from close range.

With a minute of the game left Twigg out jumped Jason McGuinness at the back post and angled a header back across goal and in to the far corner of the net. The header was perfectly placed, but perhaps Murphy could have done better

Shamrock Rovers - Murphy, Flynn, Maguire, Price, Cahill, Bradley, Rice, Cameron (Baker 62), Robinson (OConnor 42), Twigg, Amond(Purcell 74). Subs not used - Treacy, Duggan.

Bohemians - Murphy, Shelley, Heary, McGuinness, Powell, A Murphy (Rossitor 77), Cronin, Keegan, Brennan, Crowe (Fenn 45), Byrne. Subs not used - Carey, Oman, Gregg.