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Date Time League Season
14 April 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

Ringsend Derby Finishes A Stalemate In Tallaght

A thrilling 2-2 draw saw Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne split the points in their Ringsend Derby in Tallaght this evening.

The away side dominated the opening period and went 2-0 through a Graham Burke own goal and a composed Matty Smith finish.

Rovers who had struggled to unlock a compact Shelbourne defence eventually found a route into the game and began to pile the pressure on, Burke amending his own-goal with a beautiful curling
effort.

A grand-stand finish saw Pico Lopes head home from a free-kick to salvage a point for the home side.

The opening minutes saw the visitors dominate proceedings. Although the home side had more of the ball, they were slow to create anything meaningful while Shels in contrast were direct and always looking to wreak havoc as soon as they picked up the ball.

Damien Duff’s men reaped the rewards of their bravery in the 20th minute, when a short corner saw Tyreke Wilson pick up the ball and flash it across the Rovers box, deflecting off Graham Burke’s outstretched leg and whizzing past the unsuspecting Alan Mannus in net.  

Rovers struggled desperately when they went in search of the equaliser, an off-colour performance from Jack Byrne failing to unlock an extremely compact Shels backline, his crosses routinely over-hit and off the mark.  

Neil Farrugia went closest for the hosts in the first half when he cut on his left foot and unleashed a rasping effort that just fizzed over the bar and left Conor Kearns frozen.

Referee Neil Doyle made a big call at the brink of half-time as Matty Smith darted into the box and looked to have been pulled down by Sean Hoare, Doyle waving away Shels pleas instantly.

As the game went on Shels showcased their supreme competency in the dark arts-complete with excruciatingly slow throw-ins and goal kicks, players spending plenty of time on the floor, and Damien Duff’s animated antics on the sideline.  

Stephen Bradley brought on a double-header substitution at haf-time in an effort to add some cutting-edge, Richie Towell and Gary O‘Neill coming on for Dylan Watts and Sean Kavanagh.

The alterations certainly shifted the dimensions of the game, leaving Rovers more exposed with Sean Hoare and Lee Grace forming a lone back two. They were soon left completely isolated when Shels broke with blistering pace and found Matty Smith in the box, the Scotsman keeping his composure as he slotted home to make it 2-0.

The Hoops responsded instantly, Farrugia laying the ball off for Graham Buke on the edge of the box, Burke producing a curling effort that glided into the upper left corner and had Kearns well beat.  

From there on, the hosts continued to pile on the pressure, condemning Shles to defend for their lives. Pico Lopes rose up from a free kick and headed home to make it 2-2 and set up a grandstand finish.

Johnny Kenny was left rueing what could’ve been when in the dying embers of the match a Jack Byrne cross glanced the side of his head from six yards out, the Celtic loanee unable to get enough contact to direct the ball towards goal.

Rovers face the difficult task of attempting to return to the win column as they make the trip to Richmond Park to face a resurgent St. Patricks Athletic.

Shels will be hopeful of building on a solid start to the season when they square off against a meandering Dundalk side next Friday.  

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus Goalkeeper
3Sean Hoare Defender
5Lee Grace Defender
6Daniel Cleary 4 Defender
7Dylan Watts 16 Midfielder
10Graham Burke Forward 52'
20'
11Sean Kavanagh 17 Defender
19Markus Poom Midfielder
20Rory Gaffney 24 Forward
23Neil Farrugia Midfielder
29Jack Byrne Midfielder
30Toms Leitis Goalkeeper
4Roberto Lopes 6 Defender 78'
8Ronan Finn Midfielder
9Aaron Greene Forward
15Darragh Nugent Midfielder
16Gary O’Neill 7 Midfielder
17Richie Towell 11 Midfielder
24Johnny Kenny 20 Forward
34Conan Noonan Midfielder

Shelbourne

1Conor Kearns Goalkeeper
4Andrew Quinn Defender
5Shane Griffin Defender
6JJ Lunney Midfielder
7Brian McManus 32 Midfielder
10Jack Moylan 37 Midfielder
11Matty Smith 15 Forward 52'
13Tyreke Wilson Defender 85'
17Shane Farrell Forward
27Evan Caffrey Forward
29Paddy Barrett Defender 80'
19Scott Van Der Sluis Goalkeeper
12Jad Hakiki Forward
15Kyle Robinson 11 Forward
23Luke Byrne Defender
26Gbemi Arubi Forward
28David Toure Defender
31Luke Browne Defender
32Kameron Ledwidge 7 Defender 64'
37Kian Leavy 10 Midfielder
  • Full-time in Tallaght. Shamrock Rovers 2-2 Shelbourne.

  • 90'

    Lee Graces rifles a shot against the side-netting! Shels try to see out the game as Kyle Robinson comes on for Maty Smith.

  • 90'

    Five minutes of added time to be played here in Tallaght.

  • 83'

    Leavy replaces Moylan.

  • 80'

    Barret carded for a late tackle.

  • 78'

    Goal! Pico Lopes heads home from an in-swinging freekick and makes it 2-2!

  • 74'

    Rovers continue in search of an equaliser and are certainly piling the pressure on Shels, the visitors defending for their lives!

  • 68'

    The fourth substitution so far for Rovers. Pico Lopes replaces Daniel Cleary.

  • 65'

    Shane Farrel nearly makes it 3-1 as drills the ball across the Rovers box and just glances the post.

  • 63'

    Gaffney seems to have picked up a knock and is replaced by Johhny Kenny.

  • 59'

    Ledwidge replaces McManus.

  • 54'

    Goal! Rovers respond instantly as Farrugia lays the ball off on the edge of the box and the number 10 produces a curling effort that sees Conor Kearns beat.

  • 52'

    Goal! Rovers gets sliced up on the counter-attack and Smith slots the ball home to make it 2-0!

  • 51'

    It's oh so close for Richie Towell, who makes a diving header to connect to Jack Byrne's inswinging cross. Towell's effort grazes past the left post and brings half of the stadium to it's feet due to inches in between.

  • 46'

    And we're back! Stephen Bradley makes a bold decision and introduces a double-header substitution, Richie Towell comes on for Sean Kavanagh and Gary O'Neill replaces Dylan Watts.

  • Half-time in Tallaght. Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Shelbourne.

  • 45'

    Rovers have started to lap on the pressure and Shels are more than happy to soak it all up, their players going yard-for-yard and not giving the Hoops an inch.

  • 41'

    Big call from referee Neil Doyle as Smith darts into the box and looks to be caught behind by Sean Hoare, Doyle waving away the penalty pleas instantly.

  • 39'

    Farrugia cuts in on to his left foot and unleashes a rasping effort that just fizzes over the bar.

  • 36'

    Shes continue to keep a grip on the game and are demonstrating their competency in the dark arts, complete with the excruciating slow goal kicks and throw-ins.

  • 30'

    Byrne trys to float in a looping cross for Rory Gaffney to head on to, the ball drastically overhit and goes out for a Shels goalkick. The number 29's been off-colour so far this evening and his side will need him at his best if they're beak down the Shels defence.

  • 25'

    Shels lead certainly hasn't been against the run of play. Rovers may have had more of the ball but they've been slow to create anything meaningful, while Shels have been far more direct and have reaped the rewards.

  • 20'

    Goal! Shels lay off a short corner that's flashed into the box, and Graham Burke leaves his leg outstretched, the ball deflecting off him and flying past a blind-sighted Alan Mannus.

  • 15'

    Farrugia manages to find a way into the Shels box, practically ploughing his way through the oppositions players but as the ball bobbles around, he hacks Lunney down and concedes a free kick.

  • 13'

    No chances of significance as of yet, but Shels have looked the more comfortable outfit and have enjoyed a few corners and set pieces.

  • 8'

    A misfired cross from Jonathan Lunney flys out of play for a Rovers throw-in.

  • 5'

    Smith gets up to direct a header towards Alan Mannus' goal, his effort lacking any real pace to challenge the Rovers keeper.

  • 1'

    And we're off! The visitors get play underway.

  • Matty Smith netted in Shels 2-1 win over Sligo on Monday. Damien Duff admitted that he can sometimes be too harsh on the Scotsman, but he insists that it's all in good faith. Speaking to Daniel McDonnell of the Independent, Duff said: "I’m so pleased for Matty Smith. I was very, very hard on him on Friday night. It probably hurt him, but the one thing I knew I'd get out of him, as he's a tough, tough man from Scotland... I knew I'd get a reaction. He is a brilliant player in the league and maybe he lacked that bit of belief recently. But we kissed and made up over the weekend, me and Matty, and he was absolutely immense on Monday night. I don't think anyone can disagree with that."

  • Shelbourne will miss Gavin Molloy after he picked up an ankle injury against UCD last week.

  • Rovers' bench is strengthened by the return of Richie Towell and Aaron Greene. Neil Farrugia comes back to the starting XI after being rested against UCD.

  • Shels boss Damien Duff backs his team to get a big result, as long as they play with confidence and refuse to compromise their play: "Our mentality never changes. We’re going to win the game. Boys will take that approach in and they need to go there with genuine belief as well. Our lads will be highly motivated, they’ll need to play with calm and confidence, they are good enough to go there and win, I firmly believe that they’re good enough, they need to believe it too.”

  • Rovers manager expects Shels will set up with that trademark low block, compact shape, saying: “I don't see much changing from their point of view and we’ve got to respect that because there’s more than one way to win a football match.” We’ve got to respect that and it’s up to us to find a way to unlock that, and go and create and score some goals.”

  • Welcome along to tonight's match report of Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne. This Ringsend Derby is set to be a big one. Since the sides last met in March and played out a drab stalemate, Rovers have gone on to enjoy a rich vein of form with three wins in their last three. Shelbourne have struggled to find the back of the net but have solidified their reputation as being a tough team to beat, having conceded only five goals this campaign.

Past Meetings

(Round 3)
1 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne FC 1-1 Shamrock Rovers FC

(Round 5)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne FC 0-0 Shamrock Rovers FC

(Round 32)
3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers 3-2 Shelbourne

(Round 24)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

(Round 18)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne

(Round 9)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 18)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 9)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne

Ground

Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W

Alex is a second-year Journalism student at DCU. As well as being a soccer enthusiast, he's also an avid athletics fan, competing in the sport for over ten years.