- Dave Donnelly
- Mon, Apr 17 2017
Brandon Miele scored two second-half goals to help Shamrock Rovers to the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup with a 3-1 win over Dublin rivals Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium.
Darren Meenan has given the Hoops an early lead before the Hoops' familiar set-piece frailties saw Ian Morris pull them level within the first quarter.
However a dominant performance from the home side against the game but limited visitors saw the Hoops inflict a second defeat of the season in Tallaght on the visitors.
With Bohs nursing an extensive injury list and both sides with key league games to come on Friday, it's little surprise that both line-ups were much-changed from the weekend.
Bohemians boss Keith Long made seven changes as Morris returned from injury in defence while there were starts for youngsters Dylan Hayes, Paddy Kirk and Jamie Hamilton.
Rovers manager Stephen Bradley handed left-back Luke Byrne his first competitive start in 12 months, since he sustained knee ligament damage against Cork City at Turner's Cross.
The home side took the lead with just two-and-a-half minutes on the clock as a quick front-to-back counter saw the ball fall to Sean Boyd, who played in Meenan running in from the right wing.
The former Dundalk flier appeared to slip slightly as he struck the ball but he retained enough control on the ball to slip it into the corner of Greg Murray's net.
Many had still yet to take their seats in the stands, but the away support didn't have long to wait for something of their own to cheer.
Keith Ward curled a free kick 20 yards out towards the back post where captain Dan Byrne was unmarked. He slid the ball inside to Morris, who stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Kevin Horgan.
From there, Rovers regained the initiative and a fine turn in midfield from Boyd saw the striker drop a shoulder and breeze past Morris, only for the defender to force his shot behind for a corner.
Boyd's movement was causing plenty of trouble for the Bohemians backline, and after Meenan slid a ball in behind Morris he stung Murray's palms with a powerful shot from an acute angle.
Rovers' uncertainty from set pieces always looked like Bohs' best route to goal, and a poorly-cleared corner led to a half-chance for Byrne, whose shot on the turn was easily saved by Horgan,
Ronan Finn was beginning to have more of an influence in the game from midfield and his outstanding through ball deserved more than Meenan's first-time cross that was far ahead of Boyd.
A lovely reverse pass from Graham Burke played in Boyd again, who delayed just long enough for Dylan Hayes to nick the ball off his toe, and the same player denied him again moments later.
Burke hit the side netting after exchanging passes with Meenan from a corner before, on the stroek of half time, another gorgeous Finn pass played in Madden, who was denied by Murray from close in.
Rovers introduced Michael O'Connor for Boyd on the hour, and the former Dundalk striker had an immediate impact as he tested Murray from 20 yards.
O'Connor's chest-down to Burke led to a Miele shot that cannoned back off Murray's chest – there was no Rovers player alert – and Miele curled over from the edge of the box moments later.
The dam did finally burst with 25 minutes remaining as, with referee Paul Tuite on the ground after colliding with Bohemians midfielder Georgie Poynton, Burke played in Miele to brush the ball home.
And Miele made sure of the victory 12 minutes from time when Bohs failed to clear their lines from Meenan's cross, and O'Connor nodded it into the winger's path.
And the Tallaght man should have had his hat-trick three minutes later when substitute Shane Hanney crossed, O'Connor missed his kick and Miele shot straight at Murray from eight yards.
Shamrock Rovers: Kevin Horgan; Simon Madden, Roberto Lopes, David Webster, Luke Byrne (Shane Hanney 71); Sam Bone, Ronan Finn, Darren Meenan, Brandon Miele, Graham Burke (James Doona 76); Sean Boyd (Michael O'Connor 61).
Subs not used: Tomer Chencinski (gk), Shane Hanney, Sean Heaney, James Doona, David McAllister, Michael O'Connor.
Booked: Darren Meenan (52), Dave Webster (61), Roberto Lopes (72)
Bohemians: Greg Murray; Dylan Hayes, Dan Byrne, Ian Morris, Paddy Kirk; Fuad Sule, Georgie Poynton (Oscar Brennan 75), Philip Gannon (Eoghan Morgan 80), Keith Ward, Jamie Hamilton; Steven Nolan.
Subs not used: Shane Supple (gk), Cian Fay, Rob Cornwall, Oscar Brennan, Eoghan Morgan, Brandon Perry, Dean Casey.
Booked: Dan Byrne (58).
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Attendance: 1,680 (official).
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