Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
---|---|---|---|
2 July 2021 | 8:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Rovers deliver against Dundalk
Four well-taken goals, a former player coming back to haunt his old club, a game with a competitive edge that can only be brought to life with a crowd.
This game in Tallaght had it all as Shamrock Rovers showed why they are currently champions as they beat rivals of old Dundalk 3-1.
The home side’s three goals are one for the highlight reel as Liam Scales, Sean Gannon and Aaron Greene cancelled out Pat Hoban’s early opener. This win was much need for Stephen Bradley whose side had faltered a little since the resumption following the mid-season break.
Dundalk got off to the perfect start when Patrick Hoben opened the scoring, a clever through ball by Michael Duffy saw Hoban hit a low shot past Mannus to opening his 110th goal in this career. He almost made it 2-0 to the visitors when Jurkovskis' cross picked out Hoban six yards from goal but his header and rebound were both saved by Alan Mannus excellently. There was also shouts for a penalty but they were waved away by Damien McGrath.
The home side took the game to Dundalk and started to edge the game as the half wore on and Liam Scales equalised with a brilliant strike after he won a 50/50 ball with Patrick Hoban and struck a half volley that Abibi could only watch it fly past him. Rovers continued to press with Rory Gaffney looking threatening at all times but it was former Dundalk player Sean Gannon that came back to haunt his old club as on the stroke of half time he turned the game on its head with a perfectly struck volley from a Richie Towell free-kick and flew into the net.
The second half saw Shamrock Rover's restart where they left off looking to test the Lilywhites rear guard at every opportunity. Ronan Finn’s turn and sprint on the box was cut out by Alessio Abibi while Sean Hoare dipping volley just went over. Aaron Greene had a fantastic opportunity after he found himself one on one with Abibi who saved wide for a corner, the resulting corner saw Liam Scales put his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
Dundalk did continue to press on the counter-attack but Shamrock Rover's alert to their use of width on the Tallaght surface closed in on Duffy and Daniel Kelly at every opportunity to foil their attacks. Danny Mandriou shows how dangerous he can be from range for the Hoops with a well-taken effort that just went over the bar.
Greene sealed the game and the points as he picked up the second ball from a free-kick and drilled it low past Abibi to put the game beyond doubt. Daniel Kelly had a good chance to get the scoreline back to one but his shot from a corner went wide of Mannus’ post.
It was an entertaining game that was a great advertisement for the league and with fans returning it was a much-needed boost for both sides to have fans backing them in the stadium.
Timeline
12' | 9. Patrick Hoban | |
33' | Greg Sloggett Wilfried Zahibo | |
22. Liam Scales | 36' | |
2. Sean Gannon | 45' |
Past Meetings
(Series 12)
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers |
(Series 3)
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk |
(President's Cup)
1 - 1*President's Cup
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk |
(Final)
2 - 4FAI Cup
Aviva Stadium Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk |
(Series 13)
0 - 4LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers |
(Series 4)
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk |
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
0 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
2 - 5LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
0 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
7:45 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Dundalk FC |
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
Officials
Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
---|---|---|
Damien MacGraith | Chris Campbell Dermot Broughton | John McLoughlin |
Ground
Tallaght Stadium |
---|
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
A cross from the Scales on the left falls to Hoare on the edge of the area and his volley just dips over the bar. All Rovers this half so far.
A cross from the Scales on the left falls to Hoare on the edge of the area and his volley just dips over the bar. All Rovers this half so far.
Ronan Finn nearly adds a third for the home side as he latched onto a cross from the right, his turn with pace was excellent but Abibi was alert to the danger.
And we are back underway. McEleney restarts the game for Dundalk.
HALF TIME: By all accounts, this has been an excellent game, three well-taken goals with little give between the sides. Fantastic goals from Sean Gannon and Liam Scales have cancelled out Pat Hoban\'s strike.
Another impeccable strike. Sean Gannon with a pin point volley on the edge of the area after it fell to him from a Richie Towell free kick. Thia game is no turned on its head.
For a foul Leahy gets booked.
From a corner, Nattestad rises highest but it flashes wide, this in fairness is a cracking game of football. Both teams are really showing for it.
What a strike. Scales picks up the ball on the edge of the area and lets one fly from the edge of the area and Abibi could do nothing to stop it.
Zahibo comes on to replace him.
Sloggett comes off after injury.
Sonni Nattestad does brilliantly hook a leg out and divert a cross into the box. But the second ball falls to Gaffney who tries to curl one home but Andy Boyle makes an excellent block to deny a certain goal with Abibi off position.
Dundalk should be 2-0 up as Jurkovskis' cross picked out Hoban six yards from goal but his header and rebound are both saved by Alan Mannus excellently.
Shouts for a penalty turned down by Damien MacGraith after Michael Duffy capitalised on a slip by Liam Scales and somehow it results in a free out to the hosts.
And Dundalk take the lead! Michael Duffy steals the ball of Richie Towell and lays it perfectly to Hoban who slots it past Mannus at the near post.
Another snap shot in the area from Gaffney saw Abibi outstretched but it flashes wide of the near-side post.
Opening five minutes and it has been all Rovers, dynamic and pacy. Dundalk have found it hard so far to get out of their own half.
The first sight on goal sees a through ball almost reach Gaffney but it just evades him.
And we are underway here in Tallaght, Richie Towell gets his first competitive touch of his Shamrock Rovers career kicking us off here.
And here come the teams, Dundalk in their GNR kit which is in dedication to historian Jim Murphy from Dundalk. Shamrock Rovers in the familiar green and white hoops.
Once the darling of Oriel Park, Richie Towell is now a hoop. After spells at Brighton, Rotherham and Salford he has returned home for the first time in six years to play in the League of Ireland. His last act was on these scores was to score the winning goal in the FAI Cup Final for Dundalk FC against Cork City on the 8th of November 2015.
Tonight is the first time since October 28th 2011 Dundalk travel to an away fixture without Chris Shields being at the club
The big news from the Dundalk camp is that Will Patching is straight back into the Dundalk side following his return from a loan spell at Derry. It will be his 10th Dundalk appearance and just his 3rd league start.
Good Evening from Tallaght Stadium for Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity League. Ciaran Callan here reporting from the West Stand we the game with more subplots than a bad soap opera is about to unfurl.