- Seamus Egan
- Fri, Mar 21 2014
Shamrock Rovers continued their unbeaten start to the 2014 SSE Airtricity League season with a 3-1 win against bitter rivals Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night. Gary McCabe, Ronan Finn and Kieran Marty Waters got the goals for the Hoops.
There was little to choose between the teams in the opening 45 minutes. However after a tense opening to the game the visitors were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead on the quarter hour mark. Gary McCabe cut in from the right hand side. As he advanced towards goal Jack Memery brought him down in the area. Referee Padraigh Sutton pointed to the spot. McCabe stepped up to take the kick and sent it into the net past Dean Delany.
Bohs did have the ball in the net on the half hour mark through striker Dinny Corcoran but the goal was ruled out for offside. Just a minute later Rovers threatened to score a second. McCabe found Simon Madden in space on the right. Madden's cross was met by Ciaran Kilduff but he could only head it wide.
The Gypsies created their best chance of the half in the 34th minute. After Steven Beattie made his way into the Shamrock Rovers penalty area, the ball broke to Paddy Kavanagh. His effort was blocked by Conor Kenna but the rebound fell to Kevin Devaney whose shot hit the crossbar and went over.
Ronan Finn tested Delany early in the second half when he hit a fine long range effort which the Bohemians goalkeeper struggled to parry away.
Bohs substitute Jason Byrne almost made an immediate impact after he came on for Kevin Devaney. Beattie's pass put Byrne through on goal. His first shot was saved by Barry Murphy. The rebound fell to the home side's number 10 but this time Conor Kenna was there to clear it off the line.
Owen Heary's side did manage to get back on level terms in the 65th minute. Corcoran played it to his right to Derek Pender who raced forward from right back. Pender's dangerous cross was met by Rovers captain Kenna who could only put the ball into his own net.
However Trevor Croly's team retook the lead in the 74th minute. This time it was Rover's right back Simon Madden who got forward to good effect. He cross from the right was headed back across the goal by Ciaran Kilduff to the onrushing Ronan Finn who was there to head it into the net from close range.
Just three minutes later it was 3-1. Man of the match Madden got the better of Memery down the right hand side. The former Derry player's cross picked out substitute Kieran Marty Waters who like Finn before him headed home from close range.
McCabe almost added a fourth in the 88th minute. After the visitors broke on the counter attack Jason McGuinness found his teammate who cut in from the left and curled a right foot shot which just shaved the post.
The Hoops ran out comfortable winners in the end. Their victory means that they have 7 points from their first three league games, while Bohemians first defeat of the season means that they will remain on 4.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price, Jack Memery (Karl Moore 78); Steven Beattie, Craig Walsh (Stephen Traynor 75), Kevin Devaney (Jason Byrne 56), Ryan McEvoy, Paddy Kavanagh; Dinny Corcoran.
Subs not used: Daniel Byrne, Keith Buckley, Philip McCabe, Lee Murphy.
Booked: Kavanagh (23), McEvoy (44), J Byrne (66), Walsh (72).
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Jason McGuinness, Conor Kenna, Luke Byrne; Ryan Brennan (Robert Bayly 78), Shane Robinson; Gary McCabe, Ronan Finn, Sean O'Connor (Kieran Marty Waterts 75); Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: Rob Cornwall, Karl Sheppard, Eamon Zayed, Dean Kelly, Craig Hyland.
Booked: Finn (54)
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
Attendance: 3,403
Extratime.ie man of the match: Simon Madden (Shamrock Rovers).
