Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Dundalk
Shamrock Rovers were trying to pass Dundalk to death until Jack Byrne and Danny Mandroiu said enough is enough and plunged the knife together.
The champions were good value for their fourth win on the spin but found stubborn Dundalk difficult to break down until Mandroiu sealed the deal in the 66th minute.
But it was Ireland ace Byrne’s sublime assist that already had the Rovers fans on their feet before his partner-in-crime coolly slotted home in front of the South Stand.
Mandroiu could have opened his account before then and was a menace throughout, not least for Dundalk stalwart Brian Gartland who walked on a second yellow late on.
In a rebuilding phase, Dundalk’s season is unlikely to hinge on results at Tallaght Stadium as they drop from third to fifth but the Hoops are building momentum.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said: “Our aim was to start this round of games better than we did the first, and we've done that.
"The way Dundalk set up, they tried to frustrate us so we knew we had to be patient and keep moving them and eventually the spaces would open up.
“Thankfully they did in the second half and we punished them.”
Bradley added: “Gary O'Neill did brilliantly to win the second ball for us and it was a brilliant ball from Jack. And you'd fancy Danny one on one every day of the week.
“He looks back to where he was last year. He looked really dangerous tonight and his movement all night caused them problems.
“And I think tonight was the best we have seen of Jack and there were times in the second-half when he was unplayable.”
Dundalk’s bright start wasn’t really a sign of things to come for the visitors who were forced to play a containing game once Daniel Kelly headed off the crossbar in the fourth minute after the Hoops failed to deal with Keith Ward’s whipped freekick.
Thereafter, it was all Shamrock Rovers but the longer the two-time champions went without scoring, the more confidence the Lilywhites banked for a second-half revival.
Dundalk manager Stephen O’Donnell said: “From a work rate view, I’m delighted. I thought we looked very dangerous and had the best opportunities of the first-half.
“Second-half, I would have liked more of a goal threat and really back ourselves to play and really drag them around the pitch.
“But I didn’t think they created much at all before the goal went in. We were quite comfortable in the game and the goal came out of nothing - but they’ve quality.”
Still, Dundalk lived dangerously.
Nathan Shepperd has made a string of stellar saves in his brief stint so far with Dundalk and produced another down low to keep out Sean Hoare’s header.
Soon after, he denied former Dundalk favourite Sean Gannon at his near post while Dylan Watts flashed the follow-up shot a yard wide of the far post.
Dundalk, with Kelly playing as the lone striker with Hoban, McMillan and Martin all on the bench, were struggling to break out of their own half.
And Mandroiu twice had them on the rack with lively shots from outside the box that were not far away.
But although Dundalk were so preoccupied with keeping a lid on Rovers, given the chance they reminded their hosts of the threat that lurked within.
Kelly forced Alan Mannus to save at close range from a dangerous Ward ball into the box.
Had Mandroiu found Aaron Greene with his attempted backheel from eight yards, there’s no doubt Rovers would have nabbed the lead just after the break.
For all their possession, Rovers were lacking a cutting edge and Bradley introduced Andy Lyons, Barry Cotter and Aidomo Emakhu on the hour.
And those around them fed off that new lease of life as Rovers took the lead in the 66th minute when Byrne split Dundalk’s cover with a killer ball from midfield.
Mandroiu timed his run in behind Brian Gartland to perfection before slotting home.
Watching events unfold, Lilywhites boss Stephen O’Donnell was hoping for a similar response when he unleashed club stalwarts Hoban and McMillan with 18 to go.
But just as they entered the fray, Emakhu whipped a shot across the face of goal as the champions looked to cement their advantage.
That second goal never came, but they were dominant and Dundalk’s frustration was compounded when Gartland walked two minutes from time.
Their long search for a first away win rumbles on while Rovers fans roared ‘Bring on the Bohs’ ahead of Friday’s derby.
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