Blues put up spirited display in Tallaght defeat
Waterford FC's Ben McCormack tries to get past the challenge of Shamrock Rovers' Jack Byrne during their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at Tallaght Stadium. Photos: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
The dramatic conclusion to the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season may have resulted in Waterford FC suffering a spirited 2-1 defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, but the champions relinquished their crown to Shelbourne through a late, late Harry Wood goal in Derry.
A lazy leg from Rovers defender Roberto Lopes inside three minutes on Connor Parsons earned the skipper a yellow card from referee Neil Doyle, but Dean McMenamy’s free-kick was straight into the Rovers defensive wall.
It was the champions that struck for the breakthrough goal just a minute later. Graham Burke found space out on the left to play the ball forward that saw Blues defender Shane Flynn knock the ball for Johnny Kenny, who raced clear to chip the ball past the advancing Sam Sargeant.
Ben McCormack sent in a left-wing corner on 12 minutes that saw keeper Leon Pohls punch clear for Barry Baggley, who in turn teed up Shane Flynn, but he blazed a first-time right-footed shot high over the crossbar.
Rovers keeper Leon Pohls was called into action to make a big save to keep his side in front seven minutes later when the ball broke to Connor Parsons inside the penalty area, but his shot into the ground from 12 yards was well kept out.
The hosts had a chance to double their lead on 25 minutes when some neat play saw Jack Byrne fed the ball out to the right for Darragh Burns, who sent in a teasing delivery that found goalscorer Kenny, but he couldn’t convert from close-range.
Dean McMenamy went close at the other end from a quick counter down the right as the midfielder, against his former club, picked up possession of the ball 25-yards from goal, but he fizzed a shot wide of the far post.
It took a last ditch tackle from Blues defender Shane Flynn to deny the hosts a second goal as Graham Burke burst into the area from the right and looked likely to score on 33 minutes before Flynn’s left-wing delivery found Parsons eight minutes later, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
With Shelbourne still scoreless away to Derry, Stephen Bradley’s side put their hands firmly on the title when they added a second goal on 54 minutes. Darragh Burns swung over a right-wing cross that found Neil Farrugia at the back post, and after his thunderous effort came crashing back off the crossbar, Dylan Watts was on hand to fire home the rebound.
It could have got even better for the hosts two minutes later when Johnny Kenny let fly with an effort from distance, but Sam Sargeant got behind the ball to make a fine save as their fans anxiously continued to check things at the Brandywell.
Kenny had a chance to kill the game totally for Rovers on 61 minutes when he found himself unmarked inside the area, but he screwed a right-footed shot wide before Barry Baggley had a weak effort saved by keeper Pohls two minutes later as the skipper tried to drag his side back into the game.
But the mood inside Tallaght Stadium change on 69 minutes as Waterford pulled a goal back. A neat move down the right saw Darragh Power set up Ben McCormack down the right, and he crossed into the centre for Padraig Amond to brilliantly finish for his 14th goal of the season past Rovers fans had their hands in the heads three minutes later as Amond was denied by the crossbar when he got on the end of a super Darragh Power right-wing cross as his looping header that had keeper Leon Pohls beaten struck the top of the woodwork.
Amond went agonisingly close once again to levelling the tie on 77 minutes as the Blues peppered the home goal. Barry Baggley swung over a left-wing cross that broke nicely for the striker on the right-side, but his left-footed volley cleared Pohls’ crossbar by inches.
The dramatic moment in the title race came at Brandywell with 86 minutes on the clock as Shelbourne grabbed the winning goal to win the league crown for Damien Duff’s side through Harry Wood and although Rovers fans celebrated minutes later thinking Derry had level, but they didn’t.
Pohls, Lopes, Grace, Honohan; Burns, O’Neill (Poom 81), Byrne (McEneff 68), Burke (Greene 68); Watts, Kenny (McNulty 81), Farrugia.
Sargeant; Power, Horton, Radkowski, Leahy, Flynn (Burke 61); McMenamy (McDonald 72), Baggley, McCormack; Parsons (Pattisson 80), Amond.
Neil Doyle (Dublin).
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