A dramatic opening night to say the least as the Premier Division season began in earnest, Derry City taking the early advantage ahead of St Pats, also a night of stalemates with three games deadlocked including the meeting of Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.
Bohemians 2-2 Sligo Rovers, Dalymount Park
James Clarke’s header four minutes into stoppage time gave Bohemians a last gasp share of the spoils at Dalymount Park.
With just five minutes elapsed in Dalymount it was delirium for the home faithful as Sten Reinkort marked his debut with a sweet finish inside the area within the opening five minutes. Sligo found their reply with 24 minutes on the clock as Reece Hutchinson saw the ball land in his path after good play down the left and he found the target.
As both teams pressed on following that Sligo goal, it was the visitors who would find the net again. Following a corner that landed to the feet of Fabrice Hartmann, the German used his dancing feet to glide past a host of Bohs defenders before slotting the ball home from six yards for the lead in stoppage time.
Into the second half and both sides certainly came close to netting in that second half, the hosts had a plethora of chances to equalise, the equaliser did arrive deep in stoppage time, Dylan Connolly floating a ball from the right channel which McManus leaped high into the air and rippled to the net to send Dalymount into absolute chaos.
Derry City 2-1 Drogheda United, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
Pat Hoban marked his move to the Brandywell by opening his tally as goals from the debutant and Ronan Boyce gave Ruaidhrí Higgins side all three points.
A testing opening half but neither side could find the breakthrough in a barren opening 45 minutes. With just two minutes elapsed in the second half Boyce would hit the breakthrough, Hoban with the assist as the ball broke to the edge of the area he found Boyce to rifle a left footed strike past Andrew Wogan.
Ryan Brennan missed a penalty for Drogs to reply minutes later, then just after the hour mark the prolific Hoban struck. Will Patching stung the palms of Wogan, the ball pounced by Hoban and he rolled home from six yards to double The Candystripes lead. Drogheda did pull a goal back when defender Evan Weir struck to the top corner inside the area, despite that goal Drogheda offered little threat to Derry as the hosts held firm for the win,
Galway United 0-1 St Patrick’s Athletic, Eamonn Deacy Park
Jamie Lennon’s strike early in the opening half secured an opening night win for St Pat’s as Galway suffered defeat on their return to the Premier.
Pats struck early to get off to the optimum start, Chris Forrester with a floated cross into the area which Garry Buckley could not deal with, allowing Jamie Lennon the chance to strike from close range into the top corner of Brendan Clarke’s goal.
Not the start Galway envisioned in this one, while they settled into the game after going behind, they could not convert a host of chances while Clarke was again tested in that opening half but well versed to make the save.
A quiet start to the second half, little notable chances with the biggest moment arriving in the 79th minute when Stephen Walsh saw a straight red after for supposed dissension after Galway had appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee. Galway will look to bounce back next week
Sean Boyd scored the equalising goal and then got sent off minutes later as Shelbourne came from 1-0 down to share the spoils in the RSC.
The Blues in party mode ahead of kick off and they had quite the start as Maleace Asamoah raced down the right wing and struck to the far bottom corner past Conor Kearns as he cut in from the right channel.
Shels battled in the opening half but in testing conditions in the RSC they were unable to equalise, Waterford had a host of chances also but the score remained 1-0 at the break.
Waterford started the second half brightly but were unable to make headway to grab a vital second goal, Shels started to knock the ball around well and with 78 minutes elapsed Boyd would equalise. Shane Farrell got the ball into his path from a deflected cross and Boyd tapped in to equalise. Boyd would receive a straight red in the final minutes but it did little to change the outcome.
Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Dundalk, Tallaght Stadium
Aaron Greene netted in the second half for a share of the spoils as Dundalk frustrated the five in a row chasing Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght this evening.
A new look to Stpehen O’Donnell;s side as he fielded five debutants and they performed well for their first outing. Allowing Rover plenty of time on the ball they looked frustrated and losing Neil Farrugia to a suspected collarbone injury is a massive blow on the opening night.
Rovers had chances but with 33 minutes gone the visitors struck home. Jamie Gullan, one of their debutants, struck a free kick into the top left corner past Leon Pohls for the lead. Rovers pressed on but Dundalk thwarted them with George Shelbey impressing in net.
Dundalk almost made it two to the good with 57 minutes elapsed, Ryan O’Kane saw his header hit the inside of the post and came back out. Pohls very much beaten. Trevor Clarke was another of the Hoops players who was forced off, another worry on the opening night.
Stephen Bradley had to utilise his bench in this contest, a half time change was Aaron Greene, shy of the hour mark Conan Noonan delivered a free kick into the area which Greene turned in at the near post to equalise.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.