Dan’s the Man as Hoops edge out Dundalk
Lift-off: Danny Mandroiu celebrates scoring the first goal for Rovers with his team-mates
DANNY Mandroiu’s first Shamrock Rovers goal set the champions on their way to a 2-1 win over rivals Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium.
Dylan Watts doubled the lead late on before Patrick Hoban pulled one back in the dying minutes to set up a big finish.
When these sides met here last February, a Puskas-nominated Jordan Flores stunner went viral but Jack Byrne’s solo strike sealed the three points.
This time, Mandroiu’s goal 10 minutes before half time wasn’t quite in the same category as Flores’, but it turned a game that was otherwise tense and tight.
Some of the early tension was due to the bad injury suffered by Dundalk stalwart Brian Gartland after only a minute.
The defender seemed to twist his knee awkwardly and was replaced by Greg Sloggett.
The first chance of the game fell to Rovers midfielder Chris McCann, as he saw his shot tipped over the bar by Dundalk keeper Alessio Abibi.
Patrick Hoban could have opened the scoring moments later as he was picked out in the centre by Michael Duffy, but Sean Hoare managed steer it wide.
The breakthrough was well worth waiting for. Mandroiu picked up the ball in space 25 yards and, with space to stride into, he smashed a shot into the corner past a helpless Abibi.
Rovers should have doubled their lead within a minute of the restart as Graham Burke’s clever stepover released Mandroiu. The playmaker then set up Aaron Greene, who was judged to have strayed offside.
Dundalk went close through substitute Ole Erik Midtskogen before Duffy capped off a fine counter attacking move by smashing a shot off the bar.
Rovers substitute Watts later found himself in space 20 yards out and drilled a shot past Abibi.
Hoban gave Dundalk hope as he bundled the ball home but Rovers ran down the clock with ease. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Grace, Hoare, Scales; Gannon (O’Neill 73, McCann, Finn, Kavanagh; Mandroiu (Gaffney 78), Burke (Watts 64), Greene. Scorers: Mandroiu 35, Watts 77. DUNDALK: Abini; Gartland (Sloggett 5 (Ogedi-Uzokwe 73), Boyle, Cleary; Dummigan, Shields, Stanton, Jurkovskis (Leahy 82); O’Kane (Midtskogen 46), Duffy, Hoban. Scorer: Hoban 89. Referee: Paul McLaughlin.