SO, AFTER AN afternoon of uncertainty, tonight’s big Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium is on.
Heavy rainfall in Dublin 24 prompted a pitch inspection at 4pm. Officials decided to give it another 90 minutes as ground staff worked on the surface, and just after 5 o’clock it was deemed playable.
The pitch looks pretty cut-up in places but appears fine in others. Work to improve the playing surface is still going on with kick-off just under an hour away.
Earlier this week, Hoops boss Stephen Bradley told me what the derby means to him:
“Leading up to derby day, everyone at the club is talking about it. I was up watching my young fella train last night with the U8s and all the parents and coaches are saying to me ‘Bohs this week’. It’s everywhere you go.
“It’s just a different game. As a player, you knew that and you would feel it when you came out to warm up. The crowd was bigger, there was more of an atmosphere and you knew they would be up for it.
It’s one of those feelings that you love as a player as it’s like a league decider or a cup final. It feels like a really big game and as a player if you don’t want to be part of that well then you shouldn’t be playing.”
Here are the teams. The big news for the home side is that former Bohs captain Roberto Lopes is dropped to the bench with Hoops skipper Ronan Finn coming in after his second-half cameo last Friday night.
Sean Boyd replaces Michael O’Connor up front.
Similarly, Keith Long makes two changes — Rob Cornwall and Philly Gannon get the nod ahead of Oscar Brennan and Keith Ward.
Shamrock Rovers: Chencincski; Madden (c), Webster, Devine, Clarke; Connolly, McAllister, Finn, Miele, Meenan; Boyd.
Bohemians: Supple; Pender (c), Byrne, Cornwall, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh, Morris, Gannon, Poynton; Doyle, Corcoran.
Teams are about to arrive out onto the pitch. There’s a decent crowd here but the ground isn’t quiet full.
KICK-OFF – Dinny Corcoran gets us underway. Rovers shooting into The Square end, Bohs playing into the Kiltipper end. Both sides wearing their home colours.
We’ve just had the first chance on goal and it goes to Bohs. Jamie Doyle gets onto a cross and heads on target from outside the box. It’s an easy one for Chencinski though.
Rovers play a short corner and Miele drills the ball across. Devine makes contact with his head but sends it high and over.
Dan Byrne is down receiving treatment at the moment. The defender appeared to go over on his ankle after a cross from Boyd.
He’ll be okay to continue, however.
Rovers enjoying the early attacking play here. Clarke finds Miele and he sends over a lofted ball but it’s slightly over-hit.
Fitzgerald’s free-kick from 30 yards out reaches Byrne at the back post and he heads into the side-netting. Decent chance.
The rain is coming down again and you can see the ball holding up in several spots around the pitch.
Great run down the left by Clarke and he’s taken out just outside the box by former Hoops defender Cornwall.
Miele standing over the free-kick. He manages to curl the ball up and over the wall, but it’s straight at Supple.
Best chance of the night so far. Clarke gets forward well and drives a strike across goal. It’s just outside the far post.
YELLOW CARD – Doyle swings a leg at Madden and misses the ball. Free-kick to Rovers and the Bohs man goes into referee Robert Harvey’s book.
Half-time: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Bohemians
SECOND HALF – And there are two Bohs changes. Byrne and Corcoran are off with Stephen Best and Dean Casey on in their place.
Good play from Clarke on the left flank sets up Connolly, and his cross is aimed at Boyd at the front post. The Rovers striker can’t get a vital touch, however.
Supple down to save after Madden’s left-footed cross is deflected towards goal.
Rovers look much more likely to score. Boyd does brilliantly out wide and cuts the ball back to Meenan. His shot is blocked, before an effort from Miele is deflected away.
Moments later, Meenan fizzes a ball across the goal.
GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Bohemians (Brandon Miele)
The home side are ahead, and it was coming. Madden’s ball isn’t dealt with and it falls to Miele. He has the composure to step inside Pender and blast past Supple. Well-deserved.
OFF THE POST! Bohs hit the woodwork — Morris’ header coming close from a Fitzgerald corner.
TWO ROVERS SUBSTITUTES – Michael O’Connor is on for Boyd and James Noona replacing goalscorer Miele.
GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Bohemians (Michael O’Connor)
The Hoops double their advantage. Doona broke down the left, found Connolly and he picked out the run of substitute O’Connor, who smashed in off the bar.
ANOTHER SUB – Former Bohs favourite Roberto Lopes is on for Connolly.
Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Bohemians (George Poynton)
PENALTY TO BOHEMIANS… Devine and Best go down in the box and a spot-kick is awarded. Poynton steps up to slot past Chencinski.
Full-time: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Bohemians
