Shamrock Rovers keep title hopes alive as Shels' stumble goes on

A smartly taken first half Jack Byrne strike, coupled with a tidy late Neil Farrugia finish sent the Hoops into second as a crowd of 7,861 were treated to a feisty encounter as Damen Duff’s depleted Red’s stuttering run extended to just one win in 10.

As expected the home side dominated possession early on their carousel of classy midfielders and attackers moved the ball with intent.

And with less than 20-minutes on the clock they got the goal their dominant start deserved. Neil Farrugia, having been incorrectly booked minutes previously instead of Danny Mandroiu, showed a clean pair of heels to makeshift right back John O’Sullivan before smashing in a low cross to find Jack Byrne, who darted to the near post and finished first time with the outside of his right boot into the near top corner - for just his first goal of the season.

As the game began to open, both sides went close to netting just before the half hour mark. Dylan Watts, the hero of Thursday night with his dramatic late equaliser against Apoel, picked up a slack clearance from Kameron Ledwidge on the edge of the area but under pressure shot straight at the grateful Conor Kearns.

Sean Boyd went straight up the other end and forced Leon Pohls into an incredible finger tipped save, as the ex-Hoops man hit a rasping first time effort that looked to be arrowing into the bottom corner.

The second half followed a familiar pattern to the first with the home side enjoying the majority of possession but the score remained at 1-0 entering the final stages with the game finely poised as the tension began to ramp up.

Growing in confidence that a result could be salvaged, the visitors had a good opportunity from a Boyd free kick 25-yards out that sailed over before substitute Harry Wood produced a spectacular volley that looked to have been tipped over by Pohls.

But as they chased the game, Damien Duff’s charges were undone by a moment of magic from Graham Burke who cleverly backheeled a through ball that cut out a coupleof reds defenders, to the feet rampaging Farrugia who cut in from the right and bent the ball into the far bottom corner to make sure of the three points and ensure the breathtaking title race rolls on.

Shamrock Rovers: L Pohls; S Hoare, R Lopes, D Cleary; D Burns (J Honohan, 68’), D Watts (A McEneff, 78’), G O’Neill, J Byrne (D Nugent, 83’), N Farrugia; D Mandroiu (G Burke, 68’) J Kenny (A Greene, 68’) 

Shelbourne FC: C Kearns; J O’Sullivan, S Gannon, K Ledwidge, T Wilson; A Coote (D Williams, 75’), M Coyle, E Caffrey, J Martin (D Ring, 90+2’), R Tulloch (H Wood, 63’); S Boyd 

Ref: N Doyle