Soccer

Graham Burke’s late winner caps 19th title for Shamrock Rovers

Home side unveil Jack Byrne before a league record crowd at Tallaght Stadium of 7,765

Shamrock Rovers’ Ronan Finn lifts the SSE Airtricity League trophy. Photo: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Fri Nov 19 2021 - 22:04

Shamrock Rovers 2 Drogheda United 1

Shamrock Rovers were crowned champions for a 19th time in front of a packed-out Tallaght Stadium as they claimed a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium.

7,765 packed in - a league record for the stadium - to witness a game that had all the hallmarks of an end-of-season match with little at stake for either side.

Graham Burke scored twice in the second half as the Hoops sealed a club record 78 points and 24 wins to finish 14 points clear of second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic.

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Rovers unveiled Jack Byrne, whose re-signing on a two-year deal was announced this morning, before kick-off.

And the home crowd said farewell to defender Joey O’Brien, who received a standing ovation after playing his final game before taking up a role as Damien Duff’s assistant at Shelbourne.

Both sides exchanged half-chances in the early stages with Burke stabbing a shot just wide before Doyle shot narrowly over from the tightest of angles.

Doyle put the visitors in front a minute before half time from the spot after Seán Hoare was penalised for tugging his former St Patrick’s Athletic teammate Darragh Markey’s shirt.

The Hoops were level within four minutes of the restart as Danny Mandroiu’s pinpoint through-ball sent Burke clear.

Burke controlled the ball with his first touch and raced through before slotting the ball calmly past Ireland under-21 keeper David Odumosu in the Drogs goal.

Rovers pushed on for victory and Dylan Watts shot over from the edge of the box before a super intervention from Daniel O’Reilly prevented a certain goal.

Mandroiu ran through on goal and stabbed the ball cutely past Odumosu, but defender O’Reilly did brilliantly to block the ball and clear with one movement on the line.

Markey curled just wide for the visitors, while Doyle stung the palms of Alan Mannus, who has also signed a one-year extension, with a shot late on.

It was Burke who delivered the decisive blow two minutes from the end, however, as he powered home a Dylan Watts corner.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Joey O'Brien (Max Murphy 76); Ronan Finn (Roberto Lopes 60), Richie Towell (Conan Noonan 78), Chris McCann (Aidomo Emakhu 60), Aaron Greene (Barry Cotter 60); Dylan Watts, Graham Burke, Danny Mandroiu.

Drogheda United: David Odumosu; Killian Philips, Joe Redmond, Daniel O'Reilly; James Brown, Gary Deegan, Dane Massey (Luke Heeney 70), Conor Kane; Mark Doyle (James Clarke 77), Darragh Markey (Mohammed Boudiaf 77), Dinny Corcoran (Abu Obakhan 60).

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).