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The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Super substitute Rory Gaffney sends Shamrock Rovers 11 points clear at top of Premier Division with win over Waterford
RORY GAFFNEY came off the bench to give Shamrock Rovers a huge three points in their bid to regain the Premier Division title. The hosts had looked to be steamrolling their way to the trophy by going 11 games unbeaten before falling to defeat in the 2 Rory Gaffney scored the winner for Shamrock Rovers against Waterford Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile 2 Shamrock Rovers are not 11 points clear at the top of the Premier Division Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile But Stephen Bradley's men got back on track thanks to Gaffney's second-half finish. Before the match, Bradley claimed the Bohs loss could prove to be a 'kick up the a***' for his men. And this seemed the case as his side went close to opening the scoring within the first five minutes. Graham Burke got to the endline before standing up a deep cross to the back post to Danny Grant. Read More on Shamrock Rovers The wing-back chested the ball down under pressure before hitting the foot of the near post, with his effort somehow staying out. Having been sidelined since April with a calf problem, Andy Boyle was welcomed back to the He was booked for hauling down Michael Noonan near the halfway line as the teenager — 18 years his junior — looked to be clear through on goal. In his first trip to Tallaght as Blues boss, John Coleman made one enforced change to the side that drew 2-2 at home to champions Shelbourne on Monday, with Conan Noonan unavailable against his parent club. Most read in Football And his side responded well to the early onslaught. Wing-back Jesse Demspey found space down the left and cleverly cut back to the edge of the area into the path of James Olayinka. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict Attempting to sweep the ball home, his strike was well turned away by Ed McGinty before Josh Honohan cleared under pressure. Both sides exchanged strikes from range as they sensed an opener was within touching distance. Honohan's right-footed curler, as he cut inside from the left, was brilliantly tipped around the post by Stephen McMullan at full stretch. The impressive Olayinka then showed awareness to turn two men and drill a powerful effort straight into McGinty's midriff. The visitors fashioned one of the clearest chances to break the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Tommy Lonergan got in behind the Rovers rearguard. Dan Cleary came across to force the frontman wide, leaving poacher supreme Pádraig Amond free inside the six-yard box. But with the angle against him, Lonergan opted to go himself, shooting straight at McGinty as Amond looked on in disbelief. TEN OUT OF TEN The hosts, roared on by the majority of the 4,014 in Tallaght Stadium, continued to prod for an opening but were met by a well-organised sea of blue that carried a threat on the break. With nothing between the sides as the second half wore on, the introduction former PFAI award winners Jack Byrne and Gaffney showed the strength in depth at Bradley's disposal. Seeing them coming into the mix also lifted the crowd. And Gaffney took just ten minutes to have a crucial impact. The 35-year-old rolled back the years as he showed lightning-quick reactions to race on to a spill by McMullan — who had initially failed to hold a stinging Danny Mandroiu strike from 25 yards — and tap home with 15 minutes to go. Rovers pushed for a second and Maxim Kovalevskis, impressive again off the bench, showed great feet to cut inside and square to Gaffney. But he saw his thunderous effort bravely blocked to safety . Rovers held on for what could be a pivotal win in the title race as attention turns to another European adventure and the start of an FAI Cup tilt over the month of July. SUN STAR MAN Danny Mandroiu (Shamrock Rovers) SHAMROCK ROVERS : McGinty 7; Cleary 7, Lopes 8, Grace 7: Grant 7 (Kovalevskis 76, 7), Watts 7 (Gaffney 65, 9) Healy 7, Mandroiu 9 (Nugent 88, 7), Honohan 7; G Burke 7 (Byrne 65, 7), Noonan 7 (O'Neill 88, 7). WATERFORD : McMullen 7; Boyle 7, Leahy 7, Burke 7 (Coyle 80, 7); Horton 7, McDonald 7 (McMenamy 69, 7), Glenfield 7, Olayinka 8, Dempsey (White 71, 7): Lonergan 7, Amond 7. REFEREE : P Norton (Dublin) 6.
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gaffney the hero as Shamrock Rovers extend lead at summit
Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers 1 Waterford 0 Supersub Rory Gaffney proved the hero as he was in the right place at the right time to notch a valuable winner and extend his side 11-point clear at the summit. Rovers could have been in front within the first five minutes when Graham Burke stood up an inviting cross to the back post that found Danny Grant. The wingback, under some pressure, showed good composure to chest the ball down but saw his low strike somehow hit the foot of the near post before rolling across goal and eventually cleared. Waterford's Jesse Demspey found some space down the left and smartly teed up James Olayinka, who burst forward from midfield and saw his sweeping strike was sharply turned away by Ed McGinty. Both sides started to sense blood as the game began to open, with chances coming at both ends. Firstly, Josh Honohan cut inside from the left, and bent a lovely effort to the far post but was denied by Stephen McMullan at full stretch. The visitors went straight down the other end and Olayinka turned two men before unleashing a powerful effort straight into McGinty's midriff. Waterford then spurned one of the clearest openings of the evening when Tommy Lonergan got in behind the Rovers rearguard and looked to be in on goal. On the cover, Dan Cleary forced the front man slightly wide, leaving Padraig Amond free in the process, but his strike partner selfishly went for goal with the angle against him and shot straight at McGinty. The hosts continued to be patient in their search to break the deadlock but were met by a well-organized sea of blue. The introduction of two former PFAI award winners in Jack Byrne and Rory Gaffney showed the strength in depth at the disposal of the Bradley and lifted the crowd in the process. The 35-year-old Gaffney reacted quickest to a spill by McMullan - who had initially failed to hold a stinging Danny Mandroiu strike from 25-yards, and tapped home with just 15 minutes remaining. Rovers pushed for a second and fellow substitute Maxim Kovalevskis showed great feet to cut inside and square to Gaffney, but he saw his thunderous effort bravely blocked. Rovers saw out the remaining minutes in what could prove a pivotal victory in the title race as his side's attention now turns to both another European adventure and the start of an FAI Cup tilt. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Danny Grant (Maxim Kovalevskis, 76'), Dylan Watts (Rory Gaffney, 65'), Matt Healy, Danny Madroiu (Darragh Nugent, 87'), Josh Honohan; Graham Burke (Jack Byrne, 65'), Michael Noonan (Gary O'Neill, 87'). Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke (Trae Bailey Coyle, 80'); Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Dean McMenamy, 69'), Sam Glenfield, James Olayinka, Jesse Dempsey (Kyle White, 71'): Tommy Lonergan, Padraig Amond. Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).
