- Ryan Kilbane
- Mon, May 15 2023
Ryan Kilbane reports from Tallaght Stadium
Shamrock Rovers extended their winning streak to six after a 3-2 victory over St Patrick’s Athletic in Tallaght Stadium. A double from Richie Towell and a Lee Grace header were enough for Stephen Bradley’s men who inflict the first defeat of Jon Daly’s interim reign with the Saints.
Goal were probably to be expected as the Premier Divisions two highest scorers faced off and this Monday night fixture didn’t disappoint.
Rovers started the brighter and pinned Pats back in the opening minutes through a combination of possession and the high position of their wing-backs.
The first half-chance of the game fell to Towell just two minutes in. After some good interplay between Graham Burke and Hoops skipper Ronan Finn down the right, the latter pulled it back for Towell but his eventual shot was blocked behind for a corner.
Two stoppages to the game in quick succession disrupted the flow slightly. The first as Chris Forrester went down for treatment and the second after a clash of heads between Pico Lopes and Eoin Doyle moments later. All were okay to continue.
The Hoops had the better of the play momentarily after the interruptions, but the visitors began to get a foothold as the game approached the 20-minute mark.
Jamie Lennon was central to all that was good from Pats in the opening half; his crunching tackle on Gary O’Neill started a move which saw Forrester play in Jay McClelland who blazed wide when through on goal.
On the 27th minute mark the away side pressed Rovers high again and this time they got their reward. From a Rovers goal-kick Graham Burke had the ball robbed by Lennon and it ended up with Mark Doyle who drove forward.
His shot looked to be a tame one but it took a deflection off Lopes and rolled past the helpless Leon Pohls continuing in goal with Alan Mannus ongoing absence.
This shot the Hoops back into life and they resumed control of the half, despite not creating too much from open play and at times forcing the final ball. The champions were level though just before the break. Neil Farrugia chased down what looked like a lost cause and won a corner off Sam Curtis who was attempting to shepherd the ball out.
The resulting set peice was played to Burke whose shot was tipped behind by Dean Lyness. The second corner, however, was nodded in by Lee Grace who climbed highest in the six-yard-box.
It was an even enough start to the second half, with Eoin Doyle going close for the visitors before Rovers went ahead on 67 minutes. Towell started and finished the move which saw him claim his third goal of the season.
The former Dundalk man played an incisive ball inside to Burke who turned and spread it wide to Finn. He shaped to shoot but then crossed and Towell who continued his run and diving forward headed it past Lyness at the back stick.
For a stage, it looked like the game may peter out, but it burst back into life on the 83rd minute. The impressive Sam Curtis tried a shot from 25 yards. Pohls uninspiringly parried the ball, but it landed straight at the feet of substitute Ben McCormack who slotted home.
Similar to the first half the Pats goal seemed to embolden the Hoops. They almost struck back instantly but Johnny Kenny miss-hit his attempt when scoring looked easier. Moments later Stephen Bradley’s side did have the ball in the net, though it was disallowed and remained 2-2 momentarily.
Jack Byrne had scored but the ref had already blown his whistle for a foul on Kenny by Tom Grivosti in the box. No goal but a peno to Rovers. Towell dispatched the spot-kick and the home side had the lead they kept till the final whistle.
The champions will be looking to extend their winning run in the league as they host Drogheda United on Friday in Dublin 24 while Pats travel across the Liffey to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne.
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Daniel Cleary, Lee Grace, Pico; Graham Burke (Markus Poom 79), Jack Byrne, Neil Farrugia, Ronan Finn (Sean Kavanagh 79), Gary O'Neill, Richie Towell; Rory Gaffney (Johnny Kenny 78).
Subs not used: Toms Leitis, Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Darragh Nugent, Conan Noonan, Aaron Greene.
Booked: Gary O'Neill (77).
St. Patrick's Athletic: Dean Lyness; Anto Breslin, Sam Curtis, Tom Grivosti, Jay McGrath (Thomas Lonergan 90); Mark Doyle, Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon, Jason McClelland (Serge Atakayi 64), Adam Murphy (Ben McCormack 72); Eoin Doyle (Conor Carty 72).
Subs not used: David Odumosu, Noah Lewis, Jake Mulraney, Thijs Timmermans, Carl Axel Sjoberg.
Booked: Sam Curtis (59).
Referee: Damien MacGraith
Attendance: 6,212
extratime.com Player of the Match: Richie Towell (Shamrock Rovers)
