SOCCER AIRTRICITY LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION: Bray Wanderers 1 Shamrock Rovers 2:SHAMROCK ROVERS made a winning return to the scene of their clinching a first title in 16 years just under a year ago to move a fair stride towards retaining it yesterday afternoon.
Twelve months ago, Rovers needed their nearest rivals to slip up prior to their travelling to the Carlisle Grounds on what was then the last day of the season. As Bohemians did then, Sligo Rovers appear to have duly obliged as their seven-match unbeaten league run came to an end at St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday night.
While there is still a fortnight of the season to run, Rovers have nonetheless seized the initiative and are now a point clear with Thursday’s home clash with third-place Derry City in hand.
Striker Karl Sheppard was the catalyst yesterday, scoring twice, the second an 89th-minute winner, if only to add to the drama.
“It’s a massive three points for us,” said manager Michael O’Neill afterwards. “We played well in the first half. We set our stall out to play in the opposition’s half as often as possible and we did that, to be fair, and probably should have been more than one ahead (at half-time). We had chances we’d have expected to do better with and we didn’t.
“Ultimately, in the second half we were edgy and we didn’t handle it as well as we could have done. And then we lose a poor goal. It was just a free-kick and it goes in and shows you how fragile a lead is. So when you lose a goal you start to wonder.
“But the players dug in and turned it around and it was a great winning goal. Good play by Ciarán (Kilduff) and Karl.”
The feel-good factor from overnight was amplified when Rovers took a seventh-minute lead.
Good work on the right between Gary McCabe and Pat Sullivan saw the later put over a terrific cross. Chris Turner’s close-range header was acrobatically tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper Darren Quigley. But Sheppard reacted instinctively to the rebound to head home.
They might have doubled that on 16 minutes. Sheppard picked out strike partner Gary Twigg in space just inside the box. The goal bound shot was bravely blocked by central defender Shane O’Connor.
Scarcely in the game, Bray stunned the big Rovers following to equalise on 64 minutes when captain Gary Dempsey’s free-kick on the left touchline floated all the way to the net at the far post.
Two minutes later Turner got his body in the way to block Danny O’Connor’s shot from Dean Zambra’s cross.
McCabe’s spectacular dipping volley came back off a post back at the other end on 78 minutes before Rovers got their deserved winner a minute from the end. Sheppard darted to the near post to get a good contact with his head to substitute Kilduff’s cross.
BRAY WANDERERS:Quigley; Doyle, S O'Connor (Knight, 70), Shields (Webster, 35 mins), Massey; Mulroy, Dempsey, D O'Connor, Waters; Zambra; Murphy (Shaw, half-time).
SHAMROCK ROVERS:Brush; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson; McCabe (Kilduff, 81 mins), Turner (Rice, 90 mins), Finn, Dennehy (Ricketts, 71 mins); Sheppard, Twigg.
Referee:Dave McKeon (Dublin).
