CROWD PLEASERS
Rovers send majority of first 10,000-plus attendance this century home very happy
THE next time the FAI goes to Government Buildings with a begging bowl, they should also bring a recording of this famous night in Tallaght.
A state-funded ground, packed to the rafters and an occasion to match.
And gate receipts north of the €125,000 prize money that Shamrock Rovers earned when they won their fourth Premier Division in a row last year.
This one will be remembered for decades to come by those in attendance, as the majority of the 10,094 crowd revelled in Shamrock Rovers’ second-half slaughter of rivals Bohemians.
They did so in the comfort of a modern, four-sided stadium that could so easily be a feature elsewhere around the country if authorities show the same vision as South Dublin County Council.
They are reaping the rewards for their investment in the early noughties – and more recently when they added a towering north stand to the stadium.
Just as their anchor tenants are benefiting from their own shrewd footballing investments, such as the decision to secure striker Johnny Kenny on-loan from Celtic for another year.
Or the swoop for Darragh Burns from MK Dons, or the compensation they paid Cork City for last night’s man of the match Josh Honohan. Kenny made it two goals in two games when he opened the scoring last night, while he was involved in the build-up for Burns’ strike.
And veteran Hoops striker Aaron Greene made it three when he finished moments after his arrival off the bench.
Declan Mcdaid’s consolation with the final touch of the night might have frustrated Shamrock Rovers’ defenders and goalkeeper Leon Pohls, denying them a clean sheet.
But that will be a footnote on a night when we saw a record Tallaght Stadium attendance and a first five-figure crowd since the turn of the century.
Sure, it took a while for this one to get going. But when it did, it was one-way traffic in the direction of Bohemians goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka’s end.
Two goals early in the second half, within four minutes of each other, sealed this one.
Whatever Hoops boss Stephen Bradley said at half-time had its desired effect, as his side raised their levels considerably.
They duly went ahead on 49 minutes when Honohan’s cross was headed clear by Jevon Mills, but only as far as Watts, whose
wayward shot was controlled by Kenny. He finished neatly past Chorazka from close range.
Kenny was played onside by Paddy Kirk, who found himself in no man’s land again four minutes later for Rovers’ second.
Kenny produced a fine run down the left and played the ball inside to Burke, whose turn and dash to the end-line left Lilander in his wake.
Burke found Burns completely unmarked 10 yards from goal, with neither Kirk and Dayle Rooney close enough to him, and the on-loan star drilled the ball into the net.
It was 3-0 with 16 minutes remaining when Greene with his first touch completely outmuscled defender Aboubacar Keita to poke Darragh Nugent’s low cross home.
Rovers could have had more goals, with chances spurned as the 90 minutes sped to a close.
For new boss Alan Reynolds, it was a chastening experience after a positive start by his side.
But they did claim a consolation in the closing seconds when Pohls went walkabout as Danny Grant sent the ball up the right and Mcdaid finished from 20 yards.
Bradley (left) said: “In the first half we were off it, we had a look at it at half-time and felt if we penetrated when the spaces were there we could hurt them.”
And Bohs manager Reynolds admitted of his new side: “There’s loads of work to do.”