- Dave Donnelly
- Sat, May 06 2017
“Cheerio, four in a row,” rang around Tallaght Stadium.
The chant seemed apposite, for it was here that Stephen Kenny's Dundalk secured the second of their three consecutive titles - “we did it in Talla!” read the infamous banner.
And there was a time when Dundalk threatened to make Tallaght a better home away from home than it was a home for Rovers.
It was the site of the Lilywhites' dramatic 3-0 win over BATE Borisov to seal passage to the Europa League groups, and again when Dundalk earned an historic first group win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Rovers fans have had to wait a long time for a league win over Kenny's Dundalk (they won an FAI Cup replay at Oriel Park in 2013) but when it arrived it was almost anticlimacticly comfortable.
First-half goals from Ronan Finn – in his first start against Dundalk since returning to the Hoops – and David McAllister sent Rovers on their way to what was their most comfortable victory of the season.
Niclas Vemmelund's looping header in the fourth minute of injury time after another ex-Lilywhite, Darren Meenan, had been sent off for a brainless dive put an unjustified gloss on the scoreline.
This was, by any measure, a humbling experience for Stephen Kenny's side who, hitherho, had retained ambitions of reigning runaway leaders Cork City in spite of a 12-point cushion.
There were few signs of this early on as, typical of clashes between these sides in recent seasons, there were early exchanges of intent with both Graham Burke and Michael Duffy forcing saves from free-kicks.
It was only when Finn broke the deadlock with 18 minutes played that cracks began to appear in the Lilywhite exterior.
The new Rovers captain hasn't enjoyed the most auspicious of beginnings to his reign, but he was the outstanding player on the field, and he took his goal with class.
He linked up with another former Lilywhite, Simon Madden, profiting from the right-back's run and cut-back to find the corner of Gary Rogers' net with the outside of his right boot.
Graham Burke should have made it 2-0 before the half-hour as he lined up a free header from Gary Shaw's cross, but the ball fortuitously ricocheted off Vemmelund's heel and sat up for Rogers to gather.
If that was a let-off, Dundalk didn't heed the warning, and Burke was the architect of the second goal, curling a corner kick deep to the far post, where McAllister was waiting in space to head inside the post.
Dundalk had some half-chances of their own, Massey shooting first-time at Tomer Chencinski before the break and Patrick McEleney seeing his shot blocked by Madden just after, but the reigning champions appeared ill-equipped to deal with hosts who were first to every ball.
What was so surprising about Stephen Kenny's side's first-half display was how little fluidity and quality on the ball they displayed, and they showed little improvement after the break despite controlling possession as Rovers were content to sit back and see what they had to offer.
John Mountney was Dundalk's best performer on the right wing – his run forced Rovers winger Trevor Clarke into a yellow card within the first ten minutes – and he continued to be after the break.
His run beyond Luke Byrne and cross from the right wing fizzed across goal, beating Chencinski and, crucially, the Dundalk attackers when even the merest of touchest would have halved the deficit.
Aside from that, Dundalk offered little in attack and spent long periods pinned into their own half as the Hoops' intelligent pressing game shut down their midfield passing game.
Kenny cut a dejected figure on the touchline, outwith a couple of fairly optimistic penalty shouts in the final half-hour, as his side showed displayed little of the verve and bravery with which they've been associated under the Tallaght native.
Meenan saw a second yellow in injury time, after earlier been booked during an altercation with Paddy Barrett after Finn had been fouled by Mountney, for a somewhat blatent dive.
And Vemmelund looped in McEleney's delivery to ensure Rovers remain stuck on just one clean sheet in the league this season, but there was no time for a comeback.
Kenny's Dundalk, who have become noted for their resilience and willingness to fight to the final whistle whatever the score, looked tired and out of ideas.
After three league titles on the spin, they can be forgiven for looking a little listless, but it would be unedifying to see Irish football's outstanding side surrender their crown so meekly.
Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, David Webster, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne; David McAllister (Sam Bone 89), Ronan Finn, Darren Meenan, Trevor Clarke; Graham Burke (Brandon Miele 80), Gary Shaw (Sean Boyd 80).
Subs not used: Kevin Horgan (gk), Danny Devine, James Doona, Dean Dillon.
Booked: Gary Shaw (2), Trevor Clarke (10), Darren Meenan (74, 90+4).
Sent off: Darren Meenan (90+4).
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Paddy Barrett, Niclas Vemmelund, Sean Hoare, Dane Massey; Stephen O'Donnell (Chris Shields 32), Conor Clifford (Ciaran Kilduff 71), Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy, John Mountney; David McMillan (Thomas Stewart 81).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Brian Gartland, Shane Grimes, Jamie McGrath.
Booked: Stephen O'Donnell (32), Sean Hoare (69), Paddy Barrett (74).
Referee: Rob Rogers.
Attendance: 4,500 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers).
