Shamrock Rovers claimed the points on results day as they kept their bid for four successive Premier Division titles on track with a hard fought win over Dundalk.
Pico Lopes glanced Dylan Watts' delicious delivery into the far corner for his second goal of the season to put the league leaders ahead just after the hour and they held on for their fifth home league win in a row.
Dundalk manager Stephen O’Donnell was seething with the concession from a corner on a night where his side were punished for being profligate in front of goal and saw their outside title chances ended.
GOAL – Rovers break the deadlock as centre-half Pico Lopes meets Dylan Watts' corner to put the league leaders ahead #rtesoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 25, 2023
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Stephen Bradley’s charges were returning to action after two weeks off following a difficult summer while Dundalk were looking for a first league win in Tallaght Stadium since 2019.
The opening half hour was a case of the calm after the storm with Shamrock Rovers smothering their visitors in midfield without really threatening to open the scoring. Their best effort a Rory Gaffney shot that skidded off the greasy turf and into the chest of Nathan Shepperd.
Despite playing second fiddle, Dundalk carved out the best opportunities of the half with a golden chance falling to John Martin who inexplicably headed onto the foot of the post from two yards after a deflected Archie Davies shot.
John Martin misses a golden opportunity to put Dundalk into the lead with a close range header #rtesoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 25, 2023
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Moments earlier the lively Daniel Kelly saw a goal bound shot bravely blocked by Lee Grace while the Lilywhites fashioned a series of openings on the counter attack with Martin, Kelly and Daryl Horgan showing their potential as a front three.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first ended with Dundalk creating another chance on the break as Horgan drove towards the Rovers back three and slipped in Martin who was too sluggish to take advantage and hit a tame effort at Alan Mannus.
Both sides had seismic gaps in their midfield as the game became frantic and the Hoops almost made Dundalk pay for their profligacy in front of goal. Liam Burt recycled a Graham Burke cross to set up Dylan Watts who flashed a shot wide moments before Gaffney headed home only to be denied by the offside flag.
Rory Gaffney has the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag is up #rtesoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 25, 2023
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As champions do, they punished the wastefulness of the opposition as Lopes held off Louie Annesley in the box to glance Watts’ glorious ball into the far corner.
The depth of the Shamrock Rovers bench paid dividends for the hosts who exerted more control in the second half and almost doubled their lead through a stinging Gaffney effort from distance that was tipped wide by a full stretch Shepperd.
Dundalk saw another chance go begging as substitute Sam Durrant went on a mazing run across the box but shot straight at Mannus which summed up their night.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Daniel Cleary, Ronan Finn (Trevor Clarke 71), Lee Grace, Sean Kavanagh, Pico; Gary O'Neill, Dylan Watts (Richie Towell 76); Graham Burke (Johnny Kenny 71), Liam Burt (Markus Poom 53), Rory Gaffney.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Louie Annesley, Darren Brownlie, Archie Davies, Hayden Muller (Robbie McCourt 80); Daryl Horgan, Daniel Kelly, Connor Malley (Cameron Elliott 80), Greg Sloggett (Alfie Lewis 63), Johannes Yli-Kokko (Sam Durrant 75); John Martin (Patrick Hoban 63).
Referee: Neil Doyle
