Shamrock Rovers activate the model to take one other step in the direction of title with complete win over Dundalk

If Thursday’s lesson in Ferencvaros was a dent to the ego, this was the perfect method for all concerned with Shamrock Rovers to revive their confidence.

ong time period, this was the sport that mattered most this week. With Europa Convention League group stage soccer assured regardless, Hungary was a free hit that ended up delivering a number of undesirable punches.

But it’s the standing of champions that permits Stephen Bradley’s facet to learn from back-door routes in Europe.

That’s why within the aftermath of Thursday, minds instantly shifted to the go to of their important title rivals. Certainly, the second-half subs within the Groupama Area had been conceived with this top-two conflict in thoughts.

All of it labored out ultimately for Bradley, along with his group exhibiting the savvy that has made them the primary facet on their very own patch to go seven clear on the high with a sport in hand.

The ultimate scoreline didn’t fairly replicate the stability of play, however Rovers confirmed composure on the decisive moments to clinically put this sport to mattress, executing a game-plan to attend and discover the appropriate time to go direct and punish Dundalk’s excessive line.

They’re in that place now with 10 video games remaining. Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell didn’t declare the race over, but admitted he didn’t count on Rovers to slide up.

This sport was successfully determined by a pair of first-half counter-attacks from the Hoops, discovering weak spot in Dundalk at a time the place the guests maybe thought they had been beginning to get on high.

Risk

Entrance pair Rory Gaffney and Aaron Greene weren’t able to stretching the Ferencvaros rearguard midweek, however they discovered Dundalk far more accommodating defensively.

The strong-running thirtysomethings had been a risk from the outset, and Ronan Finn may have put the hosts forward inside a minute, but the opener adopted a interval the place Dundalk owned the ball.

Nevertheless, an interception and move out of defence from Dan Cleary – certainly one of 4 ex-Dundalk gamers within the Rovers beginning XI – allowed Gaffney to open out and get away from Robbie McCourt earlier than crossing for Greene to attain.

For McCourt, who made a determined lunge to attempt to take down Gaffney, it was successfully the final act with damage ending his contribution early.

With Andy Boyle suspended and Brian Gartland injured, O’Donnell was so gentle on defenders that to usher in playmaker Keith Ward in his place and swap Robbie Benson to left-back with Darragh Leahy shifting inside. Dundalk did have loads of the ball, but Rovers weren’t too perturbed by that as they had been in a position to soak stress after which threaten each time they shifted the ball ahead shortly.

With Patrick Hoban a big absentee, O’Donnell went with John Martin by way of the center and he had a purpose chalked off for a foul on Dan Cleary.

Dundalk fell asleep from the resultant free; it was all too simple for Greene to nip into house in behind and execute the right move for Richie Towell to energy previous Nathan Sheppard.

Towell, a one-time Lilywhite favorite, was booked for celebrating in entrance of away followers that had been on his again from the outset.

O’Donnell’s facet had a mountain to climb and he was animated on the sideline all through, along with his group persevering with to get pleasure from territorial stress with out ever trying like that they had the requisite leading edge.

Alan Mannus was ultimately referred to as into motion simply after the hour mark, acrobatically stopping a Ward free from discovering the highest nook.

Historical past repeated within the aftermath with a close to miss punished by one other direct advance, with Greene as soon as once more breaching the excessive line and ready for the perfect time to tee up Gaffney for his purpose. That was sport over, with Mannus producing an exhibition of goalkeeping within the remaining quarter to stop Dundalk from registering a comfort.

Shamrock Rovers – Mannus, Hoare, Cleary (Ferizaj 79), Grace; Finn (Farrugia 59), O’Neill, Watts (Kavanagh 67), Lyons; Towell; Gaffney (Emakhu 67), Greene (Byrne 67).

Dundalk – Sheppard, Macari, Bone, McCourt (Ward 25), Leahy (Mountney 73); Lewis, Sloggett (Adams 64); Bradley, Benson, O’Kane (Hauge 45); Martin (McMillan 64)

Ref – Rob Harvey