Shamrock Rovers 1
Bohemians 0
Rory Gaffney was the hero for Shamrock Rovers as the Hoops returned to the top of the table with a tightly-contested win over their bitter rivals Bohemians.
The striker was right place, right time just past the midway point in the first half as he smashed home from close range.
It was always likely to be an electric atmosphere at Tallaght Stadium as the game, the first full house since crowds came back, sold out shortly after going on sale on Monday.
While it takes very little to light the touchpaper on this but the presence in the Rovers XI of Andy Lyons, following his move from Bohs in the off-season, made doubly sure.
He was one of three in the Rovers line-up to have recently made the switch from Dalymount Park, along with Dylan Watts and Roberto Lopes, while Danny Mandroiu was on the bench.
The ‘notorious boo boys,’ as one paper hack dubbed the Bohs support back in the day, had plenty of targets for their ire. Luckily for Lyons, he started on the opposite side of the pitch.
And he was one of the bright sparks for Stephen Bradley’s side as they controlled the first half and deservedly hit the front after 25 minutes.
Gaffney had already had a couple of half-chances by then, having outmuscled Ciaran Kelly early on before chipping across the face of goal.
Bohs had a couple of efforts of their own. Jordan Flores - whose goal for Dundalk in the last full house here was nominated for a Puskas Award - shot over from distance.
Stephen Mallon forced Alan Mannus into his first save as he got on the end of a cross from the right, but his header was no trouble for the Hoops stopper.
Within 90 seconds, Rovers were in front as Kelly was caught in possession by Graham Burke and Rovers made the visitors pay the price.
The ball was worked quickly through feet and wide to Ronan Finn and the skipper’s cutback was deflected into the path of Gaffney to rifle home his first of the season.
A mistake from Talbot from a similar situation has Bohs’ fans fearing the worst but, after spilling the cross, he managed to get up and snaffle the loose ball.
Talbot then pulled off a super stop to deny Gaffney as Watts’ deflected shot looped towards the Galwayman, and his header was turned onto the post and Gaffney handled the rebound.
Bohs were aggrieved just before the break as an inch-perfect Dawson Devoy ball saw Kris Twardek in behind Lee Grace and, in the ensuring tussle, both men fell. No penalty.
With a game to chase, Bohs came out and pushed after the break, with Devoy testing Mannus from distance before Mallon’s cross clipped the top of the crossbar.
A mistake from Lopes could, and probably should, have saw Twardek level but Barry Cotter, on for captain Ronan Finn, threw himself in the way to prevent a certain goal.
Bohs wouldn’t get another chance and it would be Rovers who finished on the front foot, with Mandroiu twice going close to sealing the win.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Sean Hoare, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Ronan Finn (Barry Cotter 70), Gary O’Neill, Dylan Watts, Andy Lyons; Graham Burke (Danny Mandroiu 70), Jack Byrne (Richie Towell 77), Rory Gaffney (Aaron Greene 67).
Bohemians: James Talbot; Rory Feely, Grant Horton, Ciaran Kelly, Tyreke Wilson; Dawson Devoy, Jordan Flores (Jordan Doherty 77), Ali Coote; Kris Twardek, Stephen Mallon (Jamie Mullins 82), Ryan Cassidy (Liam Burt 64).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
