Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Bohemians
SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium
By Jamie Moore
Shamrock Rovers won the Dublin bragging rights and their first points of the season at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.
Second half goals from Brandon Miele and sub Michael O’Connor broke what had been a stubborn Bohs resistance in the wind and rain of Dublin 24.
Georgie Poynton gave Bohs’ hope with 90th minute penalty but it was too little too late.
The Hoops shaded the first half on possession but failed to really trouble Shane Supple.
The opener came in the 58th minute.
Simon Madden and Sean Boyd combined to find Miele, who skipped inside Derek Pender and smashed his shot beyond Supple.
Bohs then could have equalised and gone ahead in a three minute spell shortly after Rovers’ goal.
An Ian Morris long throw found it’s way to the back post and sub Dean Casey, his effort was brilliantly saved by Hoops’ stopper Tomer Chencinski.
Morris then crashed his header off the post from Lorcan Fitzgerald’s perfect corner but that was as good as it got for Keith Long’s team.
Ryan Connolly got to the end line and squared for sub Michael O’Connor to finish to the net first time, with the help of the crossbar.
O’Connor then almost doubled his tally for the night, but saw his clever flick blocked on the line by Fitzgerald.
Rovers added injured to Bohs’ injury, by bringing on ex Gypsie Roberto Lopes, which was met by a choice reaction from the fans who used to adore him.
Poynton’s injury time penalty let to a nervy final few minutes for Rovers.
Ref Rob Harvey pointed to the spot after Stephen Best had been dragged to the ground.
Bohs also had a late shot for another penalty waved away.
It’s a first win of the season for Stephen Bradley’s team who host Derry next Friday.
Bohs are at home to Bray and will be searching for their first points of the season.
We’ll have reaction from both managers on Now That’s What I Call Sport this Sunday morning from 9am.
