By Gerard Mulreaney (@gerardmulreaney)
It’s taken 27 months, but it’s finally happened. After seven defeats and one draw, Shamrock Rovers have overcome their fiercest Dublin rivals Bohemians, to claim all three points.
In front of over 7,000 patrons, a league record at Tallaght Stadium, Rovers had a returning star to thank for the victory. Irish International Graham Burke, back at the club on loan from Preston North End, headed the winner in the first half. He got on the end of a superb left-footed cross by Sean Kavanagh, splitting the Bohs defence, and heading it low to Talbot’s left-hand side and into the bottom corner.
26: GOAL!!!
Shamrock Rovers lead after a fine header from Graham Burke.
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Rovers dominates the first half, as Bohemians failed to get going, and Jack Byrne had a great chance to put the Hoops in front early on. A cross from Kavanagh was half cleared and Byrne let fly, only to see his effort flash past the post.
Bohemians did offer more of a threat in the second half, and after a corner from the right Rob Cornwall’s header beat everyone bar the goal-scorer Burke. Conor Livingston also had a wonderful volley skim the outside of the post from all of 30 yards.
Rovers manager Stephen Bradley was understandable delighted after the game, “it’s a derby, and we won, so we’re happy. In the first half we were excellent, in the second half we had to dig in and we did that. That’s our fifth game in fifteen days. It’s been a long, hard schedule for the players, and I think it showed in the second half. They showed tremendous character and togetherness to come through.”
The result means that Rovers remain four points behind leaders Dundalk, who have two games in hand.
Picture Credit: Shamrock Rovers FC