- Seán O'Connor
- Tue, Jun 22 2021
Seán O’Connor reports from Dalymount Park
Bohemians beat Shamrock Rovers in their second Dublin derby of 2021, and with it, ended their winless league run of four matches against their rivals.
One hundred lucky Bohs supporters were at Dalymount Park on Monday night to see their team beat the league champions. Georgie Kelly’s second half strike was enough to seal all three points, as Bohs rise to fourth in the table.
After starting the game poorly, the Gypsies could have found themselves a goal or two down but for the fine form of goalkeeper James Talbot, whose brilliant saves kept Rovers out. After finishing the half with a flourish, they began the second even better, with Kelly netting his eleventh goal of the season. Rovers did everything to find an equaliser, but Bohs stood firm and collected their eighth win of the season.
It may be a cliché at this point, but it cannot be stressed enough how much of a difference it makes to have supporters in the ground again. Rovers took the pitch first, amid all sorts of colourful language that only a Dublin Derby brings out of the home supporters.
Danny Mandroiu was jeered in particular, on his return to play against his old employers.
Then the Gypsies came out on to the pitch prior to kick-off, suddenly 100 loyal fans sounded like a few thousand as the ‘The Auld Triangle’ rang out in Phibsboro.
On the ten-minute mark, Liam Scales found himself five yards from goal, but sent his effort high and wide. Rovers kept up the pressure through Rory Gaffney who wiggled his way past three Bohs shirts to go one on one with James Talbot. His effort deflected onto the crossbar and wide, amid cries from Talbot, questioning why his back line had started so slowly.
Perhaps Rovers’ best chance of the first half came from Gaffney, who broke down the right wing and shot at goal. Talbot got down low to his right and brilliantly pushed the ball to safety.
Five minutes later Gaffney broke through again, this time after Keith Buckley gave a loose ball away to Graham Burke. Gaffney opted to square it rather than shoot, but saw his pass go out for a goal-kick. Bohemians were beginning to worry as the league champions flexed their muscles.
After the half hour mark, Bohs got themselves into the contest, and began to ask questions of the visitors’ back line. Ali Coote’s free kick had Alan Mannus worried for a second and he had to go full stretch before it graced the side netting.
The Gypsies sent in a few crosses, none of which troubled the imposing Mannus. Both sides were making rough challenges, with Lee Grace, Chris McCann and Sean Hoare all picking up bookings in the first half.
The second half began as the first ended, with hard challenges flying in from left, right and centre. Bohs started much better, and McCann went down five minutes after the restart and had to be replaced by Ronan Finn.
The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half. Liam Burt’s fantastic pass found Georgie Kelly, who spun past Roberto Lopes and slotted the ball past Mannus. Kelly’s goal – coming back on the four he got last Friday - sent the 100 home fans wild, one of which was ejected from Dalymount after celebrating on the pitch.
Talbot had to be alert again soon after when Mandroiu tried his luck from outside the box, the Bohs number one getting down to his right to save yet again. Aaron Greene replaced Grace after the hour mark, as Stephen Bradley played his cards in an attempt to get back into the Dublin Derby.
Bohemians were by no means sitting on their 1-0 lead, and it was clear they fully intended to put the game to bed. Ross Tierney, Kelly, and Burt continued to trouble the Rovers back line.
With ten minutes remaining Talbot was called into action again, making another superb save from Burke before clawing Greene’s follow up to safety. Greene’s effort was flagged offside, but Talbot did excellently nonetheless.
As referee Neil Doyle blew for full time, the school end of the Jodi stand erupted with a roar. It felt for a moment as if Bohs had won the league going off the celebrations. Some were ecstatic while some openly wept. How those supporters have longed for an evening like this again. It is what football is all about.
The result lifts Bohemians up to fourth, while Rovers lose top spot to St Patrick’s Athletic (on goal difference).
Bohemians: James Talbot; Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall (James Finnerty 85), Ciaran Kelly, Tyreke Wilson; Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney, Keith Buckley (C); Ali Coote, Georgie Kelly, Liam Burt (Keith Ward 80).
Subs not used: Stephen McGuinness; Andy Lyons, Anto Breslin, Conor Levingston, Promise Omochere, Bastien Hery, Jamie Mullins.
Booked: None
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Lee Grace (Aaron Greene 64), Roberto Lopes (C), Sean Hoare; Sean Gannon, Gary O’Neill, Chris McCann (Ronan Finn 52), Liam Scales,; Danny Mandroiu, Rory Gaffney, Graham Burke.
Subs not used: Leon Pohls; Dean Williams, Adam Wells, Daragh Nugent, Max Murphy, Conan Noonan, Aidomo Emakhu.
Booked: Lee Grace (13), Chris McCann (26), Sean Hoare (40)
Referee: Neil Doyle
Attendance: 100
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: James Talbot (Bohemians)
