Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne: Jack Byrne has Hoops ahead in vital title clash

Shamrock Rovers

Shelbourne

Read Dan McDonnell's report from Whitestown Way: 

Shamrock Rovers sporting director and coach Stephen McPhail, speaking to RTÉ: "Happy days, it was a big three points at this vital part of the season so we move on to Drogheda in a couple of weeks' time.

"It was a massive performance from the group because there was a lot of pressure on the game. As you mentioned before the game, if we lost we might have been dead and buried.

"There's probably four or five teams who all think they're in it. We're in it and we've been there before so let's look forward to the next few weeks." 

Full-time: Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Shelbourne So there you have it, Rovers get the better of their Dublin rivals to move to within two points of the leaders while Shels' poor run of results continues. 

With a goal and an assist, Neil Farrugia was a key player this evening and earned the man of the match award, while Hoops' superior bench played a major role. 

A late opportunity for Shels to halve the deficit but Honohan is on the line to make a last-ditch block. 

Rovers are after a third and Burke blazes a strike over after getting into a decent area. 

Shels go on the attack but it ends in Pohls coming off his line to collect. The Hoops keeper has had a fine game. 

What an occasion for U-17 player Dan Ring, who scored and assisted to help Shels claim the Mark Farren Cup final earlier today before making his way across Dublin to link up with the senior team. 

Six minutes of additional time to go... 

As the minutes tick away, it's looking like Rovers have put themselves right back into this title race.

The latest from Dan McDonnell in Tallaght:

A superb backheel from Graham Burke tees up Neil Farrugia for the insurance goal. Rovers are moving within two points of Shels with three games to go. 

'Can you feel it slip away?' is the chant from the Rovers fans as Shels' grim run of form is about to be extended to one win in 10 games.

HUGE GOAL! 

The Rovers touchline, minus Bradley, erupts as they double their lead late on. 

It's magnificent play by Burke to nutmeg Ledwidge and play Farrugia through. He does the rest with a clinical finish across Kearns. 

Harry Wood has come so close to finding an equaliser. The Shels substitute blasts an effort that flies just over the crossbar. 

It's hard to see if Pohls got a touch but Shels have been awarded a corner. 

One of the problems with having a squad filled with quality players is keeping them all happy. Dan McDonnell:

Darragh Nugent coming on for Rovers and Richie Towell isn't too impressed with that – he heads down the tunnel as he now won't be involved.

Down the other end, Shels win a free-kick around 25 yards out from goal. 

Boyd takes responsibility but it's a disappointing effort, sailing well over. 

Hoare's long throw in lands in the danger area and Burke puts his head in his hands as Kearns claims the ball. 

But Rovers win back possession and substitutes Green and Burke are involved, with latter having a blocked shot. 

Byrne then curls a cross into the box and Kearns is on hand to take. 

We've a pause in play as Shels keeper Conor Kearns goes down. Whether he is genuinely injured or not, we're unsure, but it has given both management teams to bring their players in for some team talks heading into the final quarter of an hour.

And Dan McDonnell has spotted something below him:

Duff tells Gary O'Neill where to go after the Rovers midfielder listens in on the team talk.

The Hoops have shown the talent at their disposal as Dan McDonnell explains:

The strength of Rovers bench evidenced by that treble change – Neil Farrugia can now switch to the right side, which will challenge Shels as they were coping reasonably well on that side. 

Shels sub Harry Wood is now left of their front three and wouldn't be renowned for his defensive strength either – Joey O'Brien has just had a strong word with him after an earlier error.