Shamrock Rovers lifted the Airtricity League Premier Division title for the first time since 1994 on a dramatic night at the Carlisle Grounds.
Needing just a point to pip great rivals Bohemian to the silverware, the Hoops played out an entertaining 2-2 draw against brave Bray Wanderers.
With the Carlisle Grounds a sell-out, several hundreds more thronged to the seaside venue for a crowd in excess of the expected 3,000.
Having been ineffective in the first half, Michael O’Neill swapped his wingers Thomas Stewart and Billy Dennehy after the break.
And the second period was only 13 seconds old when Rovers completed their comeback.
In a move started by Enda Stevens along the left, Dessie Baker fed Gary Twigg. He set up the unmarked Stewart who placed a first time left foot effort low beyond Matt Gregg’s dive.
With the Rovers fans celebrating a Dundalk equaliser against Bohs, Bray went and made it 2-2.
Richie Baker rolled a ball for Daire Doyle to run onto in the box. His
delivery picked out substitute Gary Shaw with the Under-19 international glancing a diving header across Alan Mannus to the far bottom corner of the net.
Having not read the script, the home side had deservedly taken a 20th minute lead.
Chris Shields’ through-ball saw the Hoops defence called for offside on Shane O’Neill, but referee Alan Kelly played advantage as Jake Kelly ran through.
The September Player of the Month coolly lobbed a stranded Mannus from 16-yards for his 18th goal in all competitions this season.
Wanderers thought they’d doubled their lead on the half-hour mark.
Dempsey’s quickly taken free saw Jake Kelly break form the edge of the box and fire low across Mannus to the far corner of the net.
However, their celebrations were cut short by assistant referee Martin Moloney’s flag.
But the Tallaght outfit showed their credentials by drawing level in
the 41st minute through the mercurial Gary Twigg with virtually their first effort on goal.
Craig Sives lofted a ball from the halfway line that saw Shane
O’Connor crucially slip as he went to head the ball.
That sent Twigg clear. He rounded Matt Gregg and toe-poked from a tight angle into the net off the covering Adam Mitchell for his 50th goal in a Rovers jersey.
Having fallen 2-1 behind, Wanderers were a fraction away from finding a 58th minute equaliser.
After Sives was penalised fore hauling back O’Neill, Gary Dempsey’s 25-yard free flew inches the wrong side of the upright.
Bray Wanderers: 1 Matt Gregg; 2 Dave Webster, 4 Adam Mitchell,
5 Shane O’Connor, 3 Dane Massey; 7 Daire Doyle, Gary Dempsey (16 Richie Baker 61 mins), 8 Graham Kelly, 11 Jake Kelly (14 Gary Shaw for Jake Kelly 52 mins); 9 Chris Shields (12 Colm Tresson 81 mins), 10 Shane O’Neill.
Subs not used: 15 David Tyrrell, 25 Brian Kane.
Shamrock Rovers: 1 Alan Mannus; 13 Pat Flynn, 4 Craig Sives, 5 Aidan Price (19 Danny Murphy 81 mins), 3 Enda Stevens; 20 Billy Dennehy, 6 Stephen Rice, 18 Chris Turner, 23 Thomas Stewart; 10 Dessie Baker (22 Neale Fenn 67 mins), 9 Gary Twigg (8 James Chambers 59 mins).
Subs not used: 7 Stephen Bradley, 16 Pat Jennings.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
