Shamrock Rovers win Irish cup semi Dublin derby

The night started with a lot of smoke and flairs in this fiercest of rivalry in Irish football between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, in a do or die contest in the FAI Cup Semi Final at the home of Irish football, the historic Dalymount Park.

Both teams have struggled in the Cup in the last decade – Bohs have not been in the cup final since 2008; Rovers have being missing from Irish football’s showpiece occasion since 2010. Bohs started favourites having enjoyed a remarkable record over Rovers in recent times, winning 7 of their last 8 encounters.

Referee Rob Hennessy delayed kick off by a few minutes to let the smoke from the flairs clear the stadium. The atmosphere was red hot in the stadium, with all tickets sold out weeks ago for this Dublin derby.

Rovers got off to a lightning start after just 4 minutes. Jack Byrne delivered a corner, finding Graham Burke peeling off to the front post, and he flicked a header inside the post!

The game couldn’t restart immediately, as Rovers fans chucked a few more green flares on to the pitch in celebration.

In the first half, Rovers were comfortable with very few chances for both teams. The second half started like the first, a very scrappy and tense affair with Rovers staying in control of the game. 

In the 70th minute, Bohs Paddy Kirk made a great clearance off his line after Buckley was robbed in midfield. Byrne rolled the ball to Burke who chipped Talbot but Kirk somehow managed to sprint back and head the ball over his crossbar. A great clearance to keep Bohs in the game.

But in the 76th minute, Bohs Danny Mandroiu was shown a red card for going over the top of the ball on Cavanagh. With 10 minutes to left to go, Finn flew down the wing and sent a superb cross across the penalty area, which was finished first time by Greene. Rovers went 2-0 up to kill the tie.

A fully deserved win for Rovers – they return to the FAI Cup Final for the first time since 2010. It was a pretty poor game but a great atmosphere created by a capacity crowd of 7,500.

It’s been 25 years since Shamrock Rovers lifted the Cup and they will find out on Sunday who they will play in the Final after the other semi final is completed between Sligo Rovers and the league champions Dundalk.

It has been a long wait for the hoops fans, it just might be their year!!!