Shamrock Rovers took a momentous step towards retaining their SSE Airtricity League title as Rory Gaffney's 95th minute volley sealed an invaluable victory in the wind and rain of Tallaght Stadium.
Only 10 minutes earlier it looked like the title race may go down to the wire, with Shane Farrell’s brilliant brace giving Shelbourne a 2-1 lead with mere minutes of normal time to go.
However, Daniel Cleary popped up in the box to score his second of the game before Gaffney stole the show to restore the Hoops’ lead to five points with four games remaining.
Shelbourne have long since achieved Damien Duff’s ambition of staying in the division, but this result leaves them without a single win in their last nine league games.
The critical moment in the title race?
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 9, 2022
With added-time already up, Rory Gaffney wins it with a sublime volley.
Derry City looked to have hope when Shels led twice, but once again Shamrock Rovers act when it matters most. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/gaxbkr7BrH
Stephen Bradley openly admitted that he rested key players during Thursday’s 3-0 defeat away to Molde and made six changes to reintroduce Sean Gannon, Dylan Watts, Graham Burke, Gaffney, Neil Farrugia and Jack Byrne to his starting eleven.
Earmarking this game as crucial to retaining their league title, the Hoops looked fired up from the start.
And the evening’s opening chance soon fell to Farrugia, who blasted a shot over the bar, following good work from Gaffney just inside the Shelbourne box.
However, just moments later the home side were behind.
Directing a bullet header from midfield, JJ Lunney found Farrell in behind the Rovers defence, and the 22-year-old coolly converted past Alan Mannus.
A goal down, Rovers began to look nervy. Matty Smith did well to capitalise on a mistake before being shouldered over by Daniel Cleary in the box – Shelbourne appeals for a penalty were confidently waved away.
And Tallaght Stadium was able to let out a collective sigh of relief when Cleary headed home the equaliser from a Byrne corner in the 27th minute.
Both sides struggled to get a hold on the game as the weather continued to deteriorate.
But it was the visitors who went into half-time the happier as Farrell snatched his second of the game moments before the break.
Mark Coyle whipped the cross from midfield and Farrell met it on the half-volley to caress the ball into the bottom left corner – the 22-year-old’s sixth league goal of the season.
The Hoops patiently built possession throughout the second-half but were repeatedly thwarted by their visitors’ rigid defensive banks.
The Reds looked happy to settle for counter attacks, while Duff acted as the sideline composer of his defensive forces.
Sean Hoare nearly had the ball in the net midway through the half, but for the strong hand of Brendan Clarke proving equal to his back-post strike.
And the equaliser did finally come through the craft of Farrugia on the right wing. Aaron Greene met the 23-year-old’s cross with a fierce header, which Clarke could only parry to the feet of Cleary to slot home.
The chance for a winner seemed to have passed as Greene twice failed to convert one-on-ones in the final minutes.
But it was in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Byrne’s corner made its way to Gaffney at the back post, which he expertly volleyed into the far corner.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Sean Gannon (Sean Hoare, 46), Lee Grace (Roberto Lopes, 46), Daniel Cleary; Neil Farrugia, Andy Lyons; Gary O'Neill (Aaron Greene, 62), Dylan Watts; Graham Burke, Jack Byrne; Rory Gaffney.
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; John Ross Wilson, Luke Byrne, Stephen Negru, Shane Griffin; Kameron Ledwidge (Gavin Molloy, 46), JJ Lunney (Josh Giurgi, 46), Mark Coyle (Aaron O’Driscoll, 93); Shane Farrell (Aodh Dervin, 75), Matty Smith; Sean Boyd (Dan Carr, 75).
Referee: Rob Harvey.
