- Sam McKeever
- Sat, Apr 14 2018
Sam McKeever reporting from Tallaght Stadium.
View photo gallery of the game from Peter Fitzpatrick.
Bohemians recorded just their third ever win at Tallaght Stadium as Darragh Leahy's goal in the 98th minute earned them a vital 2-1 win over their Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers.
Dan Carr had given the home side the lead midway through the first half before Dan Byrne equalised for the Gypsies 20 minutes from time.
Bohs started on the front foot and were rewarded with the first chance of the game as Danny Grant was put through on goal one on one with Horgan, but he dragged his shot wide of the post.
Rovers started to get the upper hand in the game after the early assault from Keith Long’s side and nearly carved out a chance of their own.
A ball was fizzed into the box by Brandon Miele, finding the feet of Carr, but he was stopped in his tracks before he was about to pull the trigger as Ian Morris put in a fantastic last-ditch challenge.
Keith Ward was next to have a good effort on goal as he was given plenty of time to shoot as the Rovers defence backed off. He released a dipping strike that had to be smartly tipped over by Kevin Horgan.
The next big chance went to the away side as former Pats player JJ Lunney cut in from the left hand side and his effort was well saved by Horgan, who could only parry the ball away to Keith Ward. Ward then blasted the ball past the post from six yards out, to the disbelief of the Bohemians support.
Moments later Rovers opened the scoring as a ball down the right from Ethan Boyle found Graham Burke, who put a fantastic cross to find Dan Carr in the centre of the box.
Carr brushed off a Bohs defender before connecting with a first-time flick towards goal, which was enough to beat Bohemians keeper Shane Supple.
A penalty appeal early in the second half was waved away by referee Robbie Harvey as Danny Grant manged to dribble his way into the box before being tripped up by Luke Byrne.
Appeals were loud from both players and supporters but were waved away. The TV Cameras showed Byrne clearly tripping up Grant before the ball went out for a goal kick.
Bohs were really putting the pressure on in the second half but didn’t create any clear cut chances, Keith Long brought on his impact sub Dinny Corcoran and he nearly had an instant impact.
The striker flicked a Ward corner on at the front post and found Grant, but he could only muster a cross that was blocked by Sean Kavanagh.
Keith Long’s side kept pushing and finally got their reward with just 20 minutes to go. Eoghan Stokes cut in from the left to find Dylan Watts on the right and the midfielder delivered a fantastic cross to pick out the run of Dan Byrne, who volleyed past Kevin Horgan to send the Bohemians fans into raptures.
Rovers came close to restoring the lead just a couple of minutes later a dangerous ball across the six-yard box by Ethan Boyle was just missed by Gary Shaw before Kavanagh had the chance to poke it home, but he hesitated at the vital moment and gave the Bohemians defence a chance to clear.
Stephen Bradley’s side thought they had a winner just five minutes from the end a free kick from former Fulham man Sean Kavanagh was floated towards the back post.
Lee Grace headed the ball down, causing panic in the Bohemians defence, and it bounced up for Gary Shaw who thought he scored with a header from close range but Supple did brilliantly to divert it away from goal with a fingertip save.
Joel Coustrain almost nicked a winner for the Hoops during nine minutes of added time that were added due to crowd trouble.
He went on a fantastic run and cut in from the right and found himself in acres of space he hit a fantastic strike with his left foot which curled just past the post with Supple scrambling in the Bohs goal.
Bohemians snatched a late winner with just a minute to go in added time. The ball played across the box from Grant looked to be going out for a throw until full-back Darragh Leahy popped up at the back post and finished like a centre forward.
His shot beat Kevin Horgan and rippled the net to send Keith Long, the Bohemians bench and supporters into ecstasy as they secured their second win over Shamrock Roverstheir rivals this season.
Shamrock Rovers: Kevin Horgan; Ethan Boyle, Luke Byrne, Ally Gilchrist, Lee Grace; Greg Bolger, Ronan Finn, Sean Kavanagh, Brandon Miele (Joel Coustrain 53), Graham Burke; Dan Carr (Gary Shaw 65).
Subs not used: Tomer Chencinski (gk), Roberto Lopes, David McAllister, Aaron Bolger, Joey O’Brian
Booked: None.
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Darragh Leahy, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne (Philly Gannon 82), Keith Buckley; Danny Grant, Keith Ward, Ian Morris, J.J Lunney (Dinny Corcoran 60), Dylan Watts; Eoghan Stokes (Karl Moore 88)
Subs not used: Colin McCabe (gk), Paddy Kavanagh, Patrick Kirk
Booked: Eoghan Stokes (16), Philly Gannon (85)
Referee: Robery Harvey
Attendance: TBC
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dan Carr (Shamrock Rovers).
