A MOCKING CHORUS of “Bohs are going down” from the visiting Shamrock Rovers supporters enwrapped Dalymount Park in potentially the final Dublin derby at the historic home of Irish football on Friday night.
Goals from Brandon Miele and Trevor Clarke plummeted Keith Long’s side back into the relegation zone with their sixth Premier Division defeat in seven games, as Rovers attempt to close the gap between them and second place at the other end of the table.
A rarity for League of Ireland games, tickets for the derby had sold out long before kick-off, with 3,622 fans packing into the stands despite torrential rainfall prior to kick-off.
The vandalisation of Rovers’ revered monument in Milltown which commemorates their historic stadium with red paint earlier last night only added to the fierce atmosphere which threatened to boil over in the biggest derby in domestic Irish football.
Miele got proceedings underway with just seven minutes on the clock. Graham Burke’s inviting cut-back saw the midfielder curl a gloriously struck effort sizzling into goalkeeper Shane Supple’s bottom corner, sending a sold out away end into a joyous frenzy.
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It didn’t take long for the visitors to double their lead. Less than ten minutes later the highly rated 19-year-old prospect Clarke stuck the ball beyond Supple from outside the penalty area — the ball again curling with menace until it cracked the back of the net with the score now reading 2-0 with 26 minutes on the clock.
Bohemians supporters feared the worst was yet to come with over an hour of football still to play, memories of their 4-0 Dublin derby defeat to St Pat’s at Dalymount still lingering from earlier in the campaign. But they regained a level of composure to make it to the break without conceding again, however not threatening Hoops goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski either.
Indeed, an absence of goals has been the persistent issue for Long’s men this season. Striker Dinny Corcoran is the club’s top goalscorer in the league this season with five, but the side have managed just 10 all season.
There's green smoke at Dalymount Park as the Hoops players huddle. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Corcoran made his long-awaited return to the side following almost two months on the sidelines. However, it was Oscar Brennan who posed the biggest threat in front of goal for Bohemians.
Twice the midfielder came close in the second half, first with a chested volley which flew over Chencinski’s crossbar. The second was an effort that bounced just wide of the goalkeeper’s post as the Gypsies mounted a resilient second-half fightback, which had Bradley’s side pinned into their own half for large periods of the second half.
With former Bohemians captain Roberto Lopes holding a back four disciplined and solidified, Rovers held strong and did not falter until the growing pressure and dominance in possession which the hosts maintained in the closing stages.
In a game of few clear-cut chances at goal, a late snapshot from Ian Morris was denied by a low dive from Chencinski, as Rovers saw the game out for a third victory over their rivals this season.
Stephen Bradley’s side now move up to fifth in the Premier Division, five points away from champions Dundalk in a European spot while Bohemians fall into the bottom three with just one win in their last seven Premier Division outings.
BOHEMIANS: Shane Supple, Derek Pender (Dylan Hayes 70), Rob Cornwall, Daniel Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Kaleem Simon (Jamie Doyle 71), Oscar Brennan, Fuad Sule, Ian Morris, Paddy Kavanagh, Dinny Corcoran.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Tomer Chencinski, Simon Madden, David Webster, David McAllister, Luke Byrne, Trevor Clarke, Roberto Lopes, Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele (Sean Boyd 76), Graham Burke, Gary Shaw (Michael O’Connor 93).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
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Hoops earn Dublin derby bragging rights at sold-out Dalymount
Bohemians 0
Shamrock Rovers 2
Aaron Gallagher reports from Dalymount Park
A MOCKING CHORUS of “Bohs are going down” from the visiting Shamrock Rovers supporters enwrapped Dalymount Park in potentially the final Dublin derby at the historic home of Irish football on Friday night.
Goals from Brandon Miele and Trevor Clarke plummeted Keith Long’s side back into the relegation zone with their sixth Premier Division defeat in seven games, as Rovers attempt to close the gap between them and second place at the other end of the table.
A rarity for League of Ireland games, tickets for the derby had sold out long before kick-off, with 3,622 fans packing into the stands despite torrential rainfall prior to kick-off.
The vandalisation of Rovers’ revered monument in Milltown which commemorates their historic stadium with red paint earlier last night only added to the fierce atmosphere which threatened to boil over in the biggest derby in domestic Irish football.
Miele got proceedings underway with just seven minutes on the clock. Graham Burke’s inviting cut-back saw the midfielder curl a gloriously struck effort sizzling into goalkeeper Shane Supple’s bottom corner, sending a sold out away end into a joyous frenzy.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to double their lead. Less than ten minutes later the highly rated 19-year-old prospect Clarke stuck the ball beyond Supple from outside the penalty area — the ball again curling with menace until it cracked the back of the net with the score now reading 2-0 with 26 minutes on the clock.
Bohemians supporters feared the worst was yet to come with over an hour of football still to play, memories of their 4-0 Dublin derby defeat to St Pat’s at Dalymount still lingering from earlier in the campaign. But they regained a level of composure to make it to the break without conceding again, however not threatening Hoops goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski either.
Indeed, an absence of goals has been the persistent issue for Long’s men this season. Striker Dinny Corcoran is the club’s top goalscorer in the league this season with five, but the side have managed just 10 all season.
Corcoran made his long-awaited return to the side following almost two months on the sidelines. However, it was Oscar Brennan who posed the biggest threat in front of goal for Bohemians.
Twice the midfielder came close in the second half, first with a chested volley which flew over Chencinski’s crossbar. The second was an effort that bounced just wide of the goalkeeper’s post as the Gypsies mounted a resilient second-half fightback, which had Bradley’s side pinned into their own half for large periods of the second half.
With former Bohemians captain Roberto Lopes holding a back four disciplined and solidified, Rovers held strong and did not falter until the growing pressure and dominance in possession which the hosts maintained in the closing stages.
In a game of few clear-cut chances at goal, a late snapshot from Ian Morris was denied by a low dive from Chencinski, as Rovers saw the game out for a third victory over their rivals this season.
Stephen Bradley’s side now move up to fifth in the Premier Division, five points away from champions Dundalk in a European spot while Bohemians fall into the bottom three with just one win in their last seven Premier Division outings.
BOHEMIANS: Shane Supple, Derek Pender (Dylan Hayes 70), Rob Cornwall, Daniel Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Kaleem Simon (Jamie Doyle 71), Oscar Brennan, Fuad Sule, Ian Morris, Paddy Kavanagh, Dinny Corcoran.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Tomer Chencinski, Simon Madden, David Webster, David McAllister, Luke Byrne, Trevor Clarke, Roberto Lopes, Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele (Sean Boyd 76), Graham Burke, Gary Shaw (Michael O’Connor 93).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
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