SSE Airtricity League Underpar Rovers are outclassed at Tallaght Stadium THEGAME
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers
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LIGO Rovers can’t let this woeful 3-0 loss define their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season for 2024 – especially with 27 games to go in the campaign – but a defeat of this nature, when it happens to be against Shamrock Rovers, always stings.
Still, there was no getting away from the stark fact that the champions were superior at a blustery Tallaght Stadium last Friday night, an outcome that was kickstarted by Graham Burke’s stupendous first-half goal and later embellished by a brace from ex-Rovers striker Aaron Greene.
There was little that Rovers could have done to prevent Burke’s goal, it was that good, but it was disappointing that any potential second-hald revival was nullified when Aaron Greene scored after 50 minutes.
Rovers went to Tallaght looking to purge themselves of a galling result endured on their last visit to the capital – a 3-0 capitulation against St Patrick’s Athletic on April 1 at Richmond Park. The Bit O’Red were without a player injured in that loss, centre-back Nando Pijnaker, with Charlie Wiggett taking the New Zealand international’s place and right-back JR Wilson also returning.
Rovers started the game fourth in the standings and ahead of their opponents, winners of the last four titles, on goal difference.
They were compact early on, with Ollie Denham’s defensive work summing up the visitors’ overall vigilance, and goalkeeper Ed McGinty dealt with a low shot from Darragh Burns.
But the home side’s momentum was building. Graham Burke went close with a header – that McGinty held – and then a free-kick that was deflected over.
Markus Poom was the next Shams player to try his luck – after getting a pass from Darragh Burns he popped a shot goalwards that Ed McGinty superbly parried.
A Niall Morahan goal-line clearance kept out Graham Burke’s flick – from an Aaron Greene cross – as Rovers were forced to repel increasing waves
Smit, Kailin Barlow and Wilson Waweru – failed to ignite a late recovery for Rovers, who saw first-hand the resources available to the hosts as they brought on the likes of Trevor Clarke, Richie Towell and Sligo man Johnny Kenny.
The winners, without Jack Byrne, Rory Gaffney and Aaron McEneff, had opportunities to extend their advantage in the closing stages. Trevor Clarke pulled a shot wide and Richie Towell was foiled by Ed McGinty. There was a goal hint at the other end for Rovers substitute Rein Smit who looked to break clear on goal until stopped by Roberto Lopes’ well-timed tackle. Rovers have dropped to sixth in the standings but are just four points behind second-placed Derry City.
BEST FOR ROVERS: Connor Malley. It was a difficult night for Malley and his teammates, with very little working out for them, but the midfielder attempted to spark some sort of momentum.
TURNING POINT: The home side’s second goal. At 1-0 Rovers had a chance, however slim, but when their opponents doubled their advantage five minutes into the second-half it was game over.
of Shams pressure, even with Connor Malley and Will Fitzgerald working hard to get their team involved.
Another Shams chance – this time a Markus Poom header – preceded a world-class strike from Graham Burke, who netted powerfully with a precise shot from distance in the 38th minute. This certainly marked his 200th appearance for the Hoops.
Rovers managed to keep it at 1-0, despite goalscorer Graham Burke and then Darragh Burns both going close, and the second-half offered a clean slate of sorts.
But a looping shot from Aaron Greene, with the ball taking a wicked deflection off Ollie Denham, doubled Shams’ lead in the 50th minute.
There was no way back for Rovers after that and, prior to Aaron Greene making it 3-0 with a smoothly-taken goal after 63 minutes, there were chances for Fabrice Hartmann, whose effort was way off, and Max Mata, who guided a header into Leon Pohls from a Will Fitzgerald cross.
The 75th minute introduction of four substitutes – Owen Elding, Rein