- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Feb 16 2018
It was like déja vu all over again for Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park as they conceded three goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes to slide to a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Bohemians.
Keith Long's side finished Friday night on top of the Premier Division after a brace from Dan Casey, either side of Paddy Kavanagh's strike, precipitated a remarkable collapse from the seemingly cruising Hoops.
Rovers goalkeeper Kevin Horgan – surprisingly given the nod ahead of the experienced Canadian international Tomer Chencinski – was directly at fault for two of those goals after Casey had levelled with a stunning header.
Ronan Finn had fired the visitors into an early lead with a well-taken finish inside the box but the Hoops rarely looked like taking control of the match as their opponents showed greater desire and intent, and were full value for their victory.
The way the game played out mirrored almost exactly the sides' June 2015 encounter when, having led early on through Marty Waters, Rovers imploded in similar fashion thanks to Derek Prendergast and a double from Dean Kelly back then.
The game had begun in predictable derby fashion with loose touches on both sides and some meaty challenges – though referee Paul McLaughlin sensibly limited use of his cards to just one caution.
Rovers' new signing from Cork City Greg Bolger had set an early example of the intensity he was intent on bringing to his first appearance, arriving late on Keith Buckley and was lucky not to be booked for his trouble.
Graham Burke and Keith Ward both saw dangerous inswinging crosses well dealt-with by the opposing defence before net hold-up play from Dinny Corcoran saw Ward flash the games first shot over the bar with the outside of his right boot.
Corcoran was to be the recipient of a much more promising opportunity on the 20-minute mark as Buckley's inswinging corner found him unmarked at the back post, but with time on his side he thrashed at the ball first-time and saw his effort spin away from goal.
Three minutes later, the Hoops took the lead slightly against the run of play, and, predictably, it was part-beauty, part-chaos.
Bolger's diagonal free kick was won in the air by the dominant Gary Shaw, and an audacious overhead kick attempt by Burke had Shane Supple beaten but the ball bounced back off the far post.
Finn may have been in an offside position when the initial shot went in, but the flag stayed down as the former Dundalk man finished impeccably on the half-volley into an unguarded net.
If Bohs were a touch unfortunate to find themselves behind, they required the excellence of captain Derek Pender to prevent them falling further in arrears.
Joel Coustrain's enticing low ball in from the right was bound for the inrushing Brandon Miele, who would have had a simple tap-in but for the skipper getting in front of his man and sweeping the danger.
Burke tried his luck with another speculative effort from wide on the right, while Kevin Devaney thought he should have had a penalty for handball when his effort was blocked by Ally Gilchrist, but neither side came close to adding to the score before the break.
Ward had a good chance to level four minutes after the break when he took the ball through two challenges before space opened up in the box, but his scuffed effort rolled wide of the target.
And Dinny Corcoran could have levelled just before the hour when Oscar Brennan nodded down a free kick in his direction, but his shot on the turn was too close to Horgan to cause him undue stress.
The steady stream of Bohs pressure did finally tell midway through the half as they won a corner n the right hand side and Casey outjumped Lee Grace to nod Ward's delivery in off the post.
Bradley responded immediately by replacing goalscorer Finn, who was struggling with what looked like a calf issue, with David McAllister, but the Hoops found themselves behind with just nine minutes remaining.
A long punt from Supple was flicked on by Brennan and Kavanagh raced through on goal, composing himself before lashing the ball past Horgan, who shouldn't have allowed himself to be beaten at his near post.
The Galway native was at fault again moments later as the Gypsies sealed the win with a remarkable third. He came for a Ward centre only to stop, backpeddle and then found himself all at sea as Casey had only to loop his header back over the ‘keeper into an empty goal.
Burke attempted another spectacular effort in the dying moments as Rovers looked to salvage something from the game, but his well-struck effort from 35 yards veered just wide of the target as the shellshocked Hoops sank to a humiliating reverse.
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Derek Pender, Dan Casey, Rob Cornwall, Darragh Leahy; Oscar Brennan, Keith Buckley, Keith Ward (Philip Gannon 86), Paddy Kavanagh, Kevin Devaney (Eoghan Stokes 62); Dinny Corcoran (Rob Manley 90+3).
Subs not used: Colin McCabe (gk), Dan Byrne, Ian Morris, JJ Lunney.
Booked: Paddy Kavanagh (90+1).
Shamrock Rovers: Kevin Horgan; Ethan Boyle, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Ally Gilchrist; Greg Blger, Ronan Finn (David McAllister 75), Brandon Miele, Joel Coustrain, Graham Burke; Gary Shaw (Daniel Carr 82).
Subs not used: Tomer Chencinski (gk), Sam Bone, Joey O'Brien, Aaron Bolger, Sean Boyd.
Booked: Ethan Boyle (56).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 3,640 (capacity).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dan Casey (Bohemians).
