JOHNNY ON THE SPOT
Kenny’s late strike earns first Rovers win
LOAN star Johnny Kenny stepped off the bench late on to fire Shamrock Rovers to a belated first win of the season.
The Celtic striker slotted home from a Darragh Burns cross with six minutes remaining to get the champions up and running at the fifth time of asking.
Had Galway held firm for a point, Rovers may have trotted out the line that nobody in the camp was panicking at another slow start.
But with league leaders Shelbourne streaking clear and showing no signs of easing off the gas, Rovers just couldn’t afford to drag their heels any longer.
So super sub Kenny’s intervention was worth its weight in gold on a night when the Hoops dominated but were struggling to make it count.
But weighing in with late winners has been a recurring theme of Stephen Bradley’s teams over the years – and there was no fluke about this victory.
Galway defended manfully but Rovers spent the bulk of the second half camped high in the hosts’ half and, while they lacked quality at times, they got their reward.
The Tribesmen lacked punch in attack and made a tactical change on the half-hour with Aodh Dervin brought on to replace Karl O’sulliavan.
But once Rovers found their stride, they were in control and Graham Burke and Dylan Watts ran amok in midfield.
And the champions created numerous chances before the break with Burke drilling a long range shot at Brendan Clarke.
The experienced goalkeeper then dug his team-mate Al-amin Kazeem out of trouble when a Lee Grace punt forward hit off his foot, with Burke applying the heat.
Clarke made a crucial save and Kazeem did enough to get a touch on the ball as Burke was winding up to slot home to the unguarded net.
Josh Honohan planted a header from a Watts corner a yard over Clarke’s crossbar and Galway were looking devoid of ideas.
But Dervin’s arrival injected fresh purpose and it allowed David Hurley – who almost scored from a corner – and skipper Conor Mccormack to become more influential.
And the John Caulfield’s side should have made more of a lightning quick breakaway involving Mccarthy and Stephen Walsh.
Lopes was the only covering defender but Walsh was so eager to get involved, he kept staying offside and Mccarthy couldn’t play him in. In the end, Vincent Borden was teed up on the edge of the area but there was no conviction behind his low drive.
Burke maintained his quest for the opener into the second half but cut a frustrated figure at times with shots from distance failing to register.
A low shot from Watts was no match for Clarke while Lopes hooked a scrambled effort at goal, from a corner, only for the goalkeeper to gather once again.
Rovers needed a jolt and some fresh ideas, so Bradley brought on Kenny and Conan Noonan for the closing 20 minutes
But while Rovers were searching for answers Galway were still in the hunt and, with the clock ticking down, they lurked with intent.
None more so than Walsh who, with nine minutes remaining, had Galway fans on their feet only for his header – off a Hurley free – to skim inches wide. But the Hoops were only luring Galway into a false sense of security as they pounced with devastating effect with six minutes to go.
Watts clipped a sweet ball over Kazeem for Burns and Kenny expertly met his first-time cross to beat Clarke and belatedly point Rovers in the right direction.