Matchday four at the Tallaght Stadiium resulted in a 0-0 draw between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk. Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley admitted his frustration at his side’s failure to break the stalemate on rainy night in west Dublin. “We started rea
Matchday four at the Tallaght Stadiium resulted in a 0-0 draw between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk. Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley admitted his frustration at his side’s failure to break the stalemate on rainy night in west Dublin. “We started really well and then after twenty minutes they had a twenty minute spell where they were pretty good.” The outcome might have been different if Austrian recruit Orhan Vogic (who started up-front for the suspended Aaron Greene) had converted an early chance but his effort was deflected for a corner. Rovers rearranged rearguard coped reasonably well with Dundalk’s creative men. Roberto Lopes moved to right back with Joey O’Brien in the centre and Trevor Clarke at left back. Michael Duffy did cause some trouble down the Lilywhites left and it was his free-kick (after he was fouled by Lopes) that enabled Sean Hoare to power a header off the Rovers crossbar in the 17th minute. But the game remained scoreless at half time. “Second half, I thought we were excellent,” said Bradley afterwards. “I’m frustrated that we didn’t go on to win the game in the second half because I thought our play deserved it. But it wasn’t to be.” Greg Bolger and Ronan Finn impressed in a Rovers midfield five that maintained a high press that had Dundalk reeling at times. But the truth is that although Rovers laid siege to the new South Stand goal, they carved out few real chances after the break, alhough the double champions survived a Rovers penalty shout against Sean Hoare for an alleged handball. But Daniel Kelly might have won it for Dundalk with a shot that screamed over Alan Mannus’ crossbar and the double champions made their own spot-kick claim when Sean Gannon went down in the area. Rovers move on to another Tallaght Stadium assignment – against Finn Harps on Monday night while Dundalk will welcome Waterford to Oriel Park on Friday.
