Shaw double keeps Rovers' European hopes alive
Galway United were sucker-punched in their relegation battle as they went down to a 2-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers - a Ronan Murray penalty outdone by a fantastic Gary Shaw double.
Shane Keegan’s men were the better side in the opening 45 minutes, putting pressure on Rovers throughout, with relatively new signing Rory Hale instrumental in setting the tempo with some terrific pressing in the middle of the park.
Hale, indeed, enjoyed the first snapshot of the evening in the sixth minute before former United man Lee Grace was forced into a goal-line clearance a minute later after a Marc Ludden throw-in put pressure on Tomer Chencinski.
Stephen Folan got the first shot on target in the 11th minute when he tried his luck from just inside the Rovers half, but the ambitious effort was easily gathered by Chencinski. Seven minutes later, Gavan Holohan was applying pressure with a right-footed effort 20 yards from goal, but again the Hoops shot-stopper was equal to it.
Rovers created chances through Brandon Miele and Ronan Finn on the counter attack, but it was the home side who looked the better team, creating clear-cut chances almost at will. Jonah Ayunga should have buried the ball into the back of the net when Ryan Connolly was dispossessed by Holohan, but the Kenyan international’s effort was directed marginally over the bar.
United got the breakthrough, however, when a penalty kick was awarded after a Rovers player handled the ball inside the area and Murray made no mistake to score his 14th goal of the season.
Murray could well have nabbed another minutes later after some fine work from Devaney on the right wing saw him jink his way into the area before cutting the ball into the United no.19’s feet but he could only flick it over the upright from close range.
There were penalty claims from the United faithful shortly before the break, too, when a Rovers player looked like he could have handled the ball inside the area again but neither referee nor linesman spotted it.
Following the restart, Rovers looked a different side and started to play a bit, fashioning opportunities through a half-chance from Shaw and a long-range shot from Miele that drifted wide of the mark – but it was David McAllister who came closest of all with a diving header that saw Winn produce the save of the night.
Rovers sieged the United box and after some real pressure they found their breakthrough courtesy of a Shaw header in the 78th minute when he connected wonderfully with a throw-in from the visitors’ stand end to procure the all-important equaliser.
The closing minutes saw the Dubliners produce chance after chance to earn the win – Ludden was forced into a goal-line clearance while substitute James Doona fashioned a pop-shot from range.
However it was to be Shaw who proved the hero on the night for Rovers as he again put the finishing touch to some pinball football in the United box to score the vital winner with one minute of normal time remaining.
Galway United: Conor Winn, Colm Horgan, Marc Ludden, Alex Byrne, Gavan Holohan, David Cawley (Paul Sinnott 60), Jonah Ayunga (Eoin McCormack 84), Kevin Devaney, Rory Hale (Conor Melody 80), Ronan Murray, Stephen Folan
Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski, David Webster, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Ryan Connolly (James Doona 51), Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele (Michael O’ Connor 67), Gary Shaw, David McAllister (Cameron Kin 77), Trevor Clarke, Graham Burke
Referee: Anthony Buttimer
Rodrigo Tosi spot-kick edges Limerick past Bohs
Limerick gave themselves breathing room in their fight against the drop thanks to a one-nil win over Bohemians at the Markets Field.
A Rodrigo Tosi penalty was enough to clinch the three points, though Limerick were indebted to their goalkeeper Brendan Clarke, who saved Georgie Poynton's first-half spot-kick o keep the hosts' lead intact.
Goal-starved Limerick opted for more firepower, pairing top goalscorer Tosi with latest import Peter Berki up top. One notable change was captain Shane Duggan being dropped. Bastien Hery and Lee-J made up their two-man midfield.
Bohs were forced into changes with the suspensions of both Oscar Brennan and Paddy Kavanagh. They, along with Dinny Corcoran exited the side that fell to Finn Harps in the FAI Cup.
The game started at an electric pace with the hosts desperate for points. Neil McDonald’s been in charge of the Blues for a full series of games – with his first coming in a 2-1 win in Dalymount Park. After the opening stages, he would have been confident of a similar result.
A clever piece of improvisation from Stephen Kenny gave Ogbene a chance. The former Cork City winger scooped the ball between Rob Cornwall and Warren O’Hora – before the 20-year-old striker raced clear. Going one-on-one with Supple, the Bohs ‘keeper got down well to deny him.
Two minutes later, Ogbene had another golden opportunity after good link-up in midfield. New signing Peter Berki teed up the speedster, but a poor touch took him wide. Supple was once again out wide to get a block on his goalbound effort.
However, the hosts would not be denied a third time in a row. Stephen Kenny broke free down the right and his early cross caught a young Gypsies centre half partnership by surprise.
Tosi tried to break free of a challenge from Rob Cornwall, but was dragged to the ground in the process. Referee Jim McKell had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. After a delayed run-up, Tosi rolled the ball down the middle of the goal and into the net.
However, Bohs grew into the game and were awarded a penalty kick themselves just after the half-hour mark for a similar offence. Poynton stepped up, but would be denied by a brilliant Brendan Clark save.
Clarke dived to his left to claw away the driven spot-kick, before Limerick cleared the resultant loose ball.
The second half was a nervy affair for the Blues – far nervier than it should have been. Chiedozie Ogbene was guilty of wasting a handful of decent chances right in front of goal.
Bohs grew into the game through the influence of Fuad Sule of Keith Ward but failed to find the equaliser they craved.
The Blues move into seventh spot – four points above the drop zone.
Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Barry Cotter, Joe Crowe, Tony Whitehead, David O’Connor; Stephen Kenny (Dean Clarke, 63), Bastien Hery, Lee-J Lynch, Chiedozie Ogbene; Rodrigo Tosi, Peter Berki (Garbhan Coughlan, 67).
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Dan Casey (Dylan Hayes, 76), Warren O’Hora, Derek Pender; George Poynton (Keith Dalton, 84), Fuad Sule, Ian Morris, Keith Ward; Ismahil Akinade, Ciaran O’Connor (Lorcan Fitzgerald, 64).
Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary)
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