Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers made a mockery of any sense of vulnerability with a comfortable 2-0 victory over the form side in the Premier Division.

Rovers, minus the injured Jack Byrne and suspended Danny Mandroiu, quickly clicked into gear. Gaffney and Watts had also been denied by a combination of goalkeeper Clarke and centre-back Aaron Driscoll at the start of the second half. Rory Gaffney’s second came courtesy of a sublime swivel to create space in the box, followed by a firm low shot that Brendan Clarke got down to but couldn’t keep out.

Shamrock Rovers have moved eight points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after beating Shelbourne 2-0 at Tallaght Stadium.

Harps again were first off the mark in the second half, thanks to Eric McWoods, however, a goal late into additional time from Eoin Toal clawed back a draw for Derry. At Oriel Park, Dundalk moved up to second with a 1-0 win over St Patrick's Athletic, the goal coming from Daniel Kelly, while Sligo Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side UCD, with Dylan Duffy matching Karl O'Sullivan with second-half scores. A goal in the second minute from Richie Towell left the visitors shell-shocked, before another from Rory Gaffney in the 31st was enough to bag the win.

Two first-half goals from Richie Towell and Rory Gaffney were the difference, as the Hoops extended their lead to eight points.

A Sean Boyd miss-hit shot from a free-kick was the closest the Reds came in the second half. Rovers emptied the bench on 78 minutes with four subs coming on. He gathered the rebound and smashed an effort goal-bound but Clarke again got to it. Lyons crossed for Gaffney but Clarke blocked his close-range effort before Watts was denied by a last-ditch Aaron O’Driscoll block. The striker would have his goal minutes later, though. Two first-half goals from Richie Towell and Rory Gaffney were the difference.

Their week started with an unexpected blip away to Drogheda United but normal service has resumed for Shamrock Rovers, who strolled their way through the ...

A nice move down the left started by Graham Burke resulted in a cross into the box by Rory Gaffney and, as the Shels defence were caught out by Dylan Watts' dummy, Richie Towell was left free to score his first of the season. There was more good news for the Hoops as title rivals Derry City dropped points again, leaving Dundalk as their closest challengers. The game wasn't even two minutes old when Rovers went in front.

Goals from Richie Towell and Rory Gaffney gave Rovers a comfortable win on Friday night.

But the writing had been on the wall from the very first minute when Towell scored early doors and Shels never laid a glove on them, failing to register a shot on target. He demanded more and more from his team, and they rallied before the break but the chances were scrappy at best. But Clarke was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons moments later when the Hoops doubled their lead on 31 minutes. But they knew after 66 seconds that this wouldn’t be their night as Richie Towell opened the scoring on the break, in a one-sided opening half. But notwithstanding their shock defeat in Drogheda on Monday, Rovers are swatting aside the challengers with a familiar sense of ease. The fact in-form Dundalk have a game in hand on the Hoops offers neutrals some hope that the title race won’t become a procession with half the season still to play.

First-half goals from Richie Towell and Rory Gaffney helped Stephen Bradley's side gain all three points and extend their lead at the top of the table before ...

Rovers were in the mood as they continued to put pressure on the Shelbourne defence until the first half came to a close. Friday’s victory sees Rovers extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points, with Dundalk currently in second place. Gaffney found space on the right touchline and teed a ball up for Towell whose first-time shot from inside the box found the bottom left corner with great precision to put his side 1-0 up.