Rovers regain upper hand against Bohs

Soccer - League of Ireland Review:The ball is firmly back in Shamrock Rovers' court as results went their way this evening to leave fate back in their own hands heading into next weekend's final round of matches.

While Rovers were 2-0 winners over Drogehda United in Tallaght, Bohemians came unstuck against Galway United to lose 3-2 at Terryland Park.

The results mean Rovers take over at the top with 64 points compared to Bohs, who are two behind on 64 with one game left.

That said it's still not a formality for the Hoops, who must travel to Bray next Friday, while Bohs host Dundalk. Crucially Rovers hold a better goal difference of four.

Thomas Stewart and Gary Twigg gave Rovers the goals they needed on a night when their opponents were relegated to the First Division.

The first half was a tense affair before Rovers played with more freedom after the break.

The opening goal came when a Drogheda free kick only went as far as Danny Murphy who hooked a cross and found Craig Sives charging in on the right of the Drogheda box.

Sives’ angled header bounced inside Robert Duggan where, just inches from the goal, Stewart arrived like a train to head over the line.

Just after the hour mark continuous Rovers pressure brought a deserved second goal. Chris Turner played a perfect diagonal ball into the feet of

Twigg who took a touch, turned inside a defender, and cracked a low shot between Douglas and his near post.

In Galway Jason Molloy grabbed the home side’s winner in the 90th minute to leave the Bohs contingent totally dejected.

Ken Oman pretty much presented the night’s opening goal to the locals with a clumsy body check on Jason Molloy that prompted an immediate penalty decision from referee Tommy Connolly after which Derek O’Brien calmly sent Barry Murphy the wrong way.

The equaliser came just after the midway point in the half when Owen Heary crossed from the right and Paul Keegan turned a powerful header low past Barry Ryan.

Galway went ahead just before the break when Jason Molloy sneaked in.

In the second period the visitors then set about grabbing a second when Jason Byrne ultimately delivered it from the penalty spot after mark Quigley had succeeded in going over Tom King’s outstretched leg inside the area.

Molly then got in for his second and Galway's late winner to hand the initiative back to Rovers.

Airtricity League Results

Premier Division
Dundalk 0-2 Sporting Fingal
Galway United 3-2 Bohemians
St Patrick's Athletic 2-0 Bray Wanderers
UCD 1-2 Sligo Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Drogheda United

First Division
Waterford United 3-2 Athlone United
Limerick 0-1 Shelbourne
Cork 1-2 Salthill Devon
Derry City 2-2 Finn Harps
Longford Town 1-2 Wexford Youths