Hoops hit Dundalk and take big strides towards title

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Shamrock Rovers took another big step towards the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title with a comfortable win over an underpowered Dundalk at Oriel Park.

Three goals in eight minutes before the break by Jack Byrne, an own goal by David McMillan and a penalty by Aaron McEneff practically closed the victory for Stephen Bradley’s team with Byrne adding a second with four minutes to go to extend his lead. at the top of the table to eight points with only five games to play.

Reigning champion Dundalk, who came into the game following his penalty shootout win over Moldovan champion Sheriff Tiraspol 72 hours earlier, made 10 changes to his team with an eye on the Europa League play-off match at the Thursday against KÍ Klaksvik at Aviva Stadium. .

Captain Chris Shields was the only survivor of Filippo Giovagnoli’s men, as he missed the clash with the Faroe Islands team due to suspension.

The lineup showed where Louth’s men’s priorities lie after the FAI rejected attempts to postpone the game.

Their 26-game unbeaten streak in the league at home, dating back to a 2-1 loss to the Hoops in August 2018, has ended what was their toughest home loss since a 5-0 loss to Kilkenny City in July 2005.

For the Rovers, they now only need eight points to be crowned champions for the first time since 2011.

The visitors were largely up front early on with Graham Burke seizing a chance in the 10th minute before Aaron McCarey did well to deny Ronan Finn six minutes later.

Dundalk managed to create a nice opening of his own in the 31st minute when Nathan Oduwa stormed down the left past Lee Grace before backing up towards McMillan, but a clever save from Alan Mannus denied it.

In five minutes, the Rovers had the lead. Finn found room on the right to backtrack to Jack Byrne, who despite softening his initial attempt, still had time to get the ball home despite the efforts of McCarey and Shields.

Byrne almost immediately returned the favor to Finn when he jumped from midfield to face the former Dundalk player on the right, but the 33-year-old overcame his effort.

However, he was 2-0 in the 41st minute when a Byrne corner kick saw Scales drift away from Will Patching with his header heading into the net in front of the unfortunate McMillan.

Jordan Flores then fired on a good chance for the home team to respond immediately, but the game effectively ended as a competition in the 44th minute when the Rovers were awarded a penalty after Patching claimed to have removed Lee Grace from another corner from Byrne.

Aaron McEneff then stepped forward to place the kick from the resulting spot past McCarey to make it 3-0 at halftime.

The second half was largely a dead rubber affair. The Rovers had a couple of half chances charged by Shields early in the half, while Dundalk came closer to scoring in the 72nd minute when Joshua Gatt was picked in space at the edge of the box only to shoot wide.

The Rovers would complete their victory with six minutes remaining when Byrne circled McCarey from the left before shooting brilliantly into an empty net from an acute angle.

Dundalk: Aaron McCarey; Andrew Quinn (John Mountney 59), Chris Shields, Andy Boyle, Cameron Dummigan; Joshua Gatt, Will Patching (Val Adedokun 83); Daniel Kelly (Jamie Wynne 70), Jordan Flores, Nathan Oduwa; David McMillan (Stefan Colovic 59).

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Ronan Finn (Rhys Marshall 82), Joey O’Brien, Liam Scales, Lee Grace, Neil Farrugia (Sean Kavanagh 82); Gary O’Neill, Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff; Graham Burke (Dylan Watts 76); Aaron Greene (Dean Williams 86).

Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).



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