It was an early contender for the game of the season at Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers claimed a fantastic victory in a five-goal thriller against Dundalk. Elsewhere, Derry City secured a huge 2-0 win over Bohemians, Cork City narrowly beat Fi
It was an early contender for the game of the season at Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers claimed a fantastic victory in a five-goal thriller against Dundalk. Elsewhere, Derry City secured a huge 2-0 win over Bohemians, Cork City narrowly beat Finn Harps and Shelbourne secured the points in the Dublin Derby against St. Patrick's Athletic. Shamrock Rovers 3-2 Dundalk It was one of the great adverts for the SSE Airtricity League. The two best teams in the country going head-to-head in front of a record crowd at Tallaght Stadium lived up to it's huge billing as Rovers secured a 3-2 win over Dundalk. Dylan Watts put Rovers ahead with 20 minutes gone before Jordan Flores scored the goal of the season two minutes later to level. A bullet of a corner was matched by his outrageous volley which brought back memories of Zidane in the Champions League Final in 2002, but only better. A great contest took another turn after the break as Pat Hoban provided a beautiful finish over Alan Mannus to put the Champions in front in the 63rd minute. Rovers continued to look for openings and it was Roberto Lopes who headed home from a corner in the 71st minute to level. An amazing contest was decided with seven minutes left as Republic of Ireland international Jack Byrne turned and swept home from 25 yards to clinch the points. Result: Shamrock Rovers 3-2 Dundalk - (Watts 20', Lopes 71', Byrne 83'. Flores 22' Hoban 63') Derry City 2-0 Bohemians Derry City got their first win of the season with a big second-half performance against Bohemians. After a goalless first-half, Stephen Mallon found the break-through with a fantastic run and finish in the 63rd minute. The two teams, both of which will be in European action this season, put on a fantastic end-to-end spectacle but the Candystripes won it in the final minute. Walter Figueira secured the victory with a fantastic finish over James Talbot to the delight of the Brandywell support. Result: Derry City 2-0 Bohemians - (Mallon 63', Figueira 90') Cork City 1-0 Finn Harps Cork City secured their first three points of the season thanks to a fantastic display against Finn Harps. Harps thought they had taken the lead in the final moments of the first-half but it was chalked off for a foul on keeper Liam Bossin. Bossin was substituted with a suspected concussion as a result of the challenge. The Leesiders scored the only goal of the game just after the break when Alec Byrne nodded home a corner at the near post to secure a big home win for Neale Fenn's side. Result: Cork City 1-0 Finn Harps - (Byrne 46') Shelbourne 1-0 St. Patrick's Athletic Shelbourne claimed their second win of the campaign and their first at Tolka Park with a fantastic performance against ten-men St. Patrick's Athletic. One goal was enough to win the game as Jaze Kabia headed home from a corner in the 22nd minute, much to the delight of another sold-out Tolka Park. With 20 minutes left, Rory Feely was sent off and the home side held out against the ten-men to claim the Dublin Derby spoils. Result: Shelbourne 1-0 St. Patrick's Athletic - (Kabia 22')
League of Ireland
