- Extratime Team
- Mon, Nov 04 2024
Shamrock Rovers ensured the Premier Division title chase remained intact until the final weekend with a gritty 1-0 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park on Sunday evening thanks to a second half Dylan Watts strike.
The former Bohemians midfielder netted his second winner in the Wee County in nine days when he cracked the ball to the net just before the hour mark. Dundalk will be disappointed in the manner of the concession as they failed to clear both Jack Byrne’s corner kick and Graham Burke’s subsequent cross ahead of Watts’ low angled finish from inside the box.
For their part, the Lilywhites had the best of the opening exchanges with a number of half chances before Jad Hakiki cracked the bar with a volley- an ex Shelbourne player putting a dent in Rovers’ title challenge would have been befitting of a fairytale story. However, as many of the Oriel Park faithful could attest this season, these can be in short supply in the town of late. Equally sparse were home goals scored on the Carrick Road in 2024 with only nine netted in seventeen previous outings- four of which came in their last victory, a July win over Drogheda United.
However, as the half drew to a close they had another sight of the Shamrock Rovers goal with the fleet footed Robbie Mahon scampering onto a perfectly weighted through ball to arrow a low first time shot towards Leon Pohls’ bottom right hand corner. The former Tadcaster Albion netminder wasn’t in the mood for giving up a potential fourth league clean sheet in five games and stretched to his right to beat the ball away. Referee Rob Harvey, who incidentally had been the man in the middle when The Hoops were defeated by Dundalk in the FAI Cup last season, blew his whistle to draw the half to a close and leave Stephen Bradley’s troops needing a goal to stay in the title race.
And so it proved to be in the second period. Buoyed by the half time arrivals of Darragh Burns and Graham Burke, the current champions bossed proceedings ahead of Watts’ breakthrough strike. Indeed, the hosts were indebted to their netminder for keeping them in the game as Ross Munro beat away a ferocious Watts drive with the minutes ticking away.
Little did it matter in the end as a sold out away end celebrated a crucial victory, after seven minutes of additional time, courtesy of a solitary strike from their number seven and their seventh league win since defeating Dundalk at Oriel Park in July.
Dundalk: Ross Munro; Mayowa Animasahun, Hayden Cann, Sean Keogh, John Mountney; Aodh Dervin, Jad Hakiki (Ryan O'Kane 65), Daryl Horgan, Robert Mahon (Dara Keane 65), Koen Oostenbrink (Vincent Leonard 83); Eoin Kenny.
Subs not used: Felix Goddard, Andrew Boyle, Luke Mulligan, Norman Garbett, Scott Brady.
Booked: Hayden Cann (69), Sean Keogh (73), Scott McGill (90), John Mountney (90).
Sent off: None.
Shamrock Rovers: Léon-Maurice Pöhls; Daniel Cleary, Lee Grace, Pico; Jack Byrne (Markus Poom 85), Neil Farrugia, Joshua Honohan (Darragh Burns 46), Daniel Mandroiu (Aaron McEneff 54), Gary O'Neill (Graham Burke 46), Dylan Watts; Johnny Kenny (Aaron Greene 63).
Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Trevor Clarke, Darragh Nugent, Marc McNulty.
Booked: Daniel Cleary (32).
Sent off: None.
Referee: Rob Harvey
Attendance: 2224
extratime.com Player of the Match: Dylan Watts
