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Dublin Live
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David Donnelly

WATCH: Cheeky Aaron Greene nabs fan's hat after euphoric late Rovers winner at Shelbourne

Cheeky Aaron Greene nabbed a fan's hat amid the euphoria of his last-minute winner in Shamrock Rovers' 2-1 derby win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

The substitute sent a rocket into the roof of the net to move the Hoops back within three points of league leaders Derry City, who travel to Finn Harps on Saturday evening.

For much of the second half, it appeared Rovers were set to be frustrated after Shane Farrell had finished at the back post to cancel out Andy Lyons' second-minute opener.

Stephen Bradley's substitutions proved to be just the tonic as injury time approached, however, as Danny Mandroiu and Greene were all involved in the spectacular winner.

A loose pass in midfield from Aodh Dervin was picked off by Lyons and he found Mandroiu wide on the left. He shrugged off the challenge of Aaron O'Driscoll before finding Greene.

The striker still had a lot to do as he used his first touch to wrongfoot the retreating Dan Hawkins before rifling a beauty of a strike past a stricken Brendan Clarke.

Shels supporters may have felt robbed by the late goal but it was a Rovers fan who lost the clothes of his back - or hair - as Greene pulled a hat off one of the ecstatic away fans in the Ballybough End.

Greene has form for eccentric celebrations: after scoring a winner at Sligo Rovers in the last game before lockdown, he stooped to eat from a box of chips that had been thrown on the pitch by an irate Sligo fan.

Such a dramatic conclusion seemed unlikely when Rovers went ahead in the second minute as Lyons' dream week continued with his third goal in two games.

The wing back placed a tidy finish inside Brendan Clarke’s left-hand post after latching onto Richie Towell’s pass just inside the box to give Rovers a 1-0 half-time lead.

Rovers initially looked to have coughed up possession as Rory Gaffney’s slip allowed Aaron O’Driscoll to pick up Jack Byrne’s long ball.

Rory Gaffney was able to dispossess Jordan McEneff in midfield, however, and via a lovely bit of footwork he found captain Ronan Finn, who spread it wide to Towell.

The former Dundalk and Brighton man’s precise through ball found Lyons who dropped a shoulder to get away from Luke Byrne and planted a shot low past Clarke.

Rovers had most of the ball for the duration but, bar a lovely passing move that should have seen Lyons make it two, they didn't create enough clear chances.

And they looked set to be condemned to a third draw of the season when Damien Duff's side hit back, Farrell netting a tidy finish on the hour, but Greene had other ideas. Let's hope the fan got his hat back in the end.

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