Irish football round-up: Rovers frustrated, Linfield win League Cup
There wasn’t much by way of goalmouth action on Friday night as the games at both the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium and Tolka Park finished goalless, while Drogheda came away from the Bellfield Bowl with a 1-0 win over the students of UCD.
On the other side of Dublin, Bohemians returned to the early summit with a 2-0 derby victory over St Patrick’s.
The one game played on Saturday night was a much more entertaining affair as hosts Sligo Rovers scored a stoppage time equaliser against Cork City.
In the Northwest, visiting Dundalk frustrated Derry City, despite the hosts dominating proceedings and having the bulk of the chances. Jamie McGonigle tested Dundalk ‘keeper Nathan Shepperd on a number of occasions, while Will Patching missed a glorious chance late on as he missed the ball completely after good build-up play from the Candystripes.
Get all of our stats from Derry City v Dundalk here!
The other goalless game at Tolka Park between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers in the Ringsend derby means the defending champions are still winless after four draws and a loss in their first five games. Rovers had the slight edge in the first 45 against Damien Duff’s side with half-chances for Neil Faruggia and Rory Gaffney.
The second half was much the same as Shels held firm despite an onslaught of pressure from the visitors and the game petered out into a stalemate. Social media footage has circulated of Rovers’ players having heated conversations with visiting fans after full-time as the Tallaght club sit eighth and still searching for an elusive three points.
Get all of our stats from Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers here!
The next game for Stephen Bradley’s men is another Dublin derby at home to St Patrick’s who sit one place below them after losing 2-0 to Bohemians. Declan Devine’s Bohs overtake Derry to regain their place at the top after five games played.
Of course, no titles are won at this stage of the season but, after a disastrous season on and off the pitch last season, the men from Phibsboro are enjoying every minute of a start to the season that is in stark contrast to their bitter rivals from across the River Liffey.
On Friday night at Richmond Park, a Jonathan Afolabi header in the first-half broke the deadlock in front of a packed away end. With ten minutes to go, Jamie Lennon received a second yellow for Pats who have now lost three in a row after a draw and win to start the season.
Bohs sealed the game in stoppage time with a goal from substitute Dean Williams who stroked the ball into an unguarded net after being slid in by Grant Horton. They will fancy their chances of a fifth win in six as they welcome basement boys UCD to Dalymount Park next week.
Get all of our stats from St Patrick's v Bohemians here!
The students survived at the expense of Finn Harps last season after a monumental end-of-season effort, but it looks like it will be another steep uphill battle for Premier Division safety for them. After beginning the season with a very credible point at Oriel Park against Dundalk, UCD have lost their next four and were seen off 1-0 at home to Drogheda on Friday night.
The Drogs were made to work for their second win of the season but, eventually, broke down the resistance with a quarter of an hour remaining; 19 year-old defender Emmanuel Adegboyega headed home from Dayle Rooney’s free-kick for the only goal of the game at the Bellfield Bowl.
Out west on Saturday night, Max Mata’s 93rd minute penalty rescued a point for hosts Sligo Rovers after visitors Cork City held a 2-0 lead going into the last ten minutes. The Rebels were a goal to the good at the break thanks to Jonas Hakkinen’s opener before Ruairi Keating doubled their lead on the hour mark.
Teenager Eanna Clancy halved the deficit on 80 minutes before New Zealander Mata’s spot-kick ensured that spoils were shared at the Showgrounds.
Get all of our stats from Sligo Rovers v Cork City here!
In the First Division, embryonic club Kerry suffered a harrowing defeat as they fell 9-1 at Eamonn.
Deacy Park against early pace-setters Galway United. Ed McCarthy bagged a first-half hat-trick as the hosts led 5-0 at the break while doubles from Stephen Walsh and substitute Ibrahim Keita completed a miserable evening for Kerry who are searching for their first win in their short history.
Elsewhere, there were goalless draws in Ballybofey between Finn Harps and Wexford and between Bray Wanderers and Longford United. Cobh Ramblers scored three in the second-half for an excellent away win in Limerick against Treaty United, while Waterford also won on the road at Athlone Town.
Northern Ireland
There were just three Danske Bank Premiership fixtures with the Bet McLean League Cup final between Coleraine and Linfield at Windsor Park taking the centre stage.
In East Belfast, Glentoran hit another low point with a toothless display losing 2-0 to Glenavon. Goals either side of the break from Connor McCloskey and Matthew Fitzpatrick secured a welcome three points for beleaguered boss Gary Hamilton while it has all-but extinguished any faint hopes of a title charge for Rodney McAree’s Glens.
In the relegation battle at the Newry Showgrounds, Portadown came away with a stunning 4-3 victory with not one, but two stoppage time goals from Josh Archer and Bennie Igiehon. The game was level at 2-2 at the break before Brian Healy’s goal ten minutes from time looked to have won it for Newry, only for the late, late show to rob them of anything at all. It has well-and-truly reignited Niall Currie’s side’s safety bid.
The Ports are still bottom but are now within five points of Dungannon above them after the Swifts were downed 1-0 by Carrick Rangers thanks to a stunning long-range effort from David Cushley.
Linfield beat Coleraine 2-0 in the League Cup final at the National Stadium on Sunday. Joel Cooper opened the scoring soon after the half-time break, before Chris Shields doubled the Blues' lead from the spot on the hour mark.
