SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE ROUND-UP
Shaw back among the goals
By Daire Walsh
GARY Shaw’s Shamrock Rovers renaissance continued at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening, after he emerged as a second half substitute to secure a precious 2-0 win for the Hoops over Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
Following an earlier Dylan Watts opener for the hosts, Shaw was on hand to fire home from close-range for his second goal in the space of five days. The Kildare native has endured a frustrating campaign to the date and, despite his heroics away to Waterford last Sunday week, was once again restricted to a cameo appearance against the Bit O’Red.
However, having now displayed his worth to manager Stephen Bradley in two tightly-contested top-flight encounters, the former Longford Town striker can expect to play a prominent role for Rovers in the closing stages of the season.
Newbridge man Shaw has played second fiddle for much of 2018 to Dan Carr, who has been deployed in a lone striker role by Bradley. Given both players have similar attributes, it was always likely to be a battle between the two for front-line supremacy.
Carr was once again preferred to Shaw for the visit of Sligo to south Dublin, and joining him in the starting line-up were recent recruits Watts and Aaron Greene.
Shaw had to wait patiently for his chance, as even though Carr was withdrawn on 69 minutes (hot on the heels of Watts’ breakthrough), it was Brandon Kavanagh who was called upon to replace him. He was eventually given his opportunity to shine 14 minutes from time, deputising for Greene in the Rovers attack.
With Sligo reduced to 10 men because of Seamus Sharkey’s 81st-minute dismissal, Rovers set about putting the tie to bed. Indeed, after Mitchell Beeney couldn’t hold onto Ronan Finn’s speculative long-distance effort, Shaw was in the perfect position to finish off the rebound.
This victory ensured that Rovers have now gone six games unbeaten in the Premier Division – five wins and one draw. They have also kept clean sheets in each of these matches, which leaves them just one point adrift of third-place Waterford FC.
The Blues were also in action on Friday, but suffered a 2-1 defeat to Munster rivals Limerick at Market’s Field. When Athy’s Rory Feely was introduced off the bench for Waterford, the two sides were deadlocked at a goal apiece. There were also red cards for Eoin Wearen (Limerick) and David Webster (Waterford) to go alongside goals from Billy Dennehy and Bastien Hery. Yet, just when a stalemate appeared to be on the cards, Shane Duggan produced an 83rd-minute winner for Limerick.
Meanwhile, there were mixed results for the Kildare contingent in the First Division over the course of the weekend. Paul Hunt (Clane) and Aaron Brilly (Kilcock) were on the receiving end of reversals for Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town.
There was better news for Athy man Mark Hughes and his Shelbourne side, however, as he played the full 90 minutes in their 6-1 home thrashing of Longford Town.