AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Dundalk 2 Shamrock Rovers 1: DISGRACEFUL SCENES marred this thrilling encounter between Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park last night.
Dundalk won the game 2-1 with another hugely impressive result that moves them clear at the top of the Premier Division, but the night will be remembered for the reaction of the Shamrock Rovers fans to the dismissal of James Chambers and then manager Michael O’Neill with 10 minutes to go.
O’Neill’s departure sparked outrage among the travelling support who resorted to firing bottles and pieces of wood onto the field of play, leading to the game being held up for seven minutes. Over 40 Gardai and stewards were forced to confront the Rovers fans.
After dominating the first half, Dundalk took a well deserved lead in the 53rd minute. Garry Breen, who just seconds earlier had forced Alan Mannus into a fingertip save, headed a Ross Gaynor corner back into the six-yard box where Neale Fenn was on hand to turn the ball home.
Rovers almost hit back just 60 seconds later when James Chambers rattled the post with a free-kick. Aidan Price hooked the rebound goalwards but Wayne Hatswell was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Goal number two arrived in the 55th minute. Ross Gaynor’s cross found Fenn hovering around the penalty spot. His effort was blocked by Danny Murphy but JJ Melligan pounced and slid the ball home from close range.
Rovers got their way back into things 10 minutes later when Gary Twigg tapped home at the far post after Aidan Price flicked on Stephen Rice’s long throw.
The dismissal of Chambers for a second bookable offence all but ended their hopes of a comeback and in truth they deserved nothing out of a game that the home side controlled for the majority of the 90 plus minutes.
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Kelly, Burns, G Breen, Hatswell; Maher, Melligan (McGuigan, 92 mins), Miller; Kuduzovic, Fenn (J Breen, 86 mins), Gaynor.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Flynn, Price, Murray, Murphy; Chambers, Turner (Baker, 65 mins), Bayly (Rice, 39 mins), Cahill (Dennehy, 60 mins); Twigg, Stewart.
Referee: D Hancock(Dublin)
