Oct 25,2024
Shamrock Rovers recorded their first UEFA Conference league phase victory with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Irish League champions Larne at Windsor Park.
Stephen Bradley's side took an early lead thanks to Josh Honohan’s third-minute strike, and they were in total control by the 33rd minute as they added two more through Johnny Kenny and Graham Burke’s flicked effort, which was helped over the line by Larne’s Tomas Cosgrove.
Chris Gallagher pulled one back for the home side straight after the break, however, it proved no more than a consolation as Burke added a fourth in the 54th minute to secure a vital three points for the Hoops as they eye the knock-out phase of the competition.
It was a perfect start for Rovers who took control of the contest in the opening seconds as they showed real composure knocking the ball around for the first two minutes before Burke took advantage of Joe Thomson’s slip in midfield.
The Rovers attacker burst forward before cutting inside to skip into the penalty area, where his flicked effort was deflected away from the goal.
However, the ball landed perfectly at the feet of Honohan arriving late from the left and the wing-back slotted it home from ten yards out.
Larne looked for an immediate response, however, Rovers sat in for a few minutes and easily dealt with the more direct style of play from the home side.
They finally crafted an opportunity in the 11th minute as they worked the ball across the edge of the box before Benji Magee raced to the byline and drilled a dangerous ball across the face – a moment’s panic in the Hoops back line but the ball was quickly cleared.
A moment later Rovers almost capitalised on a long hopeful ball over the top, but the bounce just took it beyond the ever-eager Kenny leading the line.
In the 19th minute, Larne again attacked as Sean Graham’s cross found Andrew Ryan, however, the striker was inches away from connecting properly at the front post.
But Rovers were showing their class in possession, constantly playing through the Larne lines, most notably on the right with Burke, Danny Mandroiu and Darragh Burns combining well.
And their dominant play was rewarded in the 24th minute as Kenny helped the ball home from close range following a set-piece out on the left.
The ball into the box was helped forward by the advanced Roberto Lopes, allowing Burke to get to the by line before clipping across the face for the striker to nod home and double the lead.
Nine minutes later it looked like the three points were already secured as the Hoops went three clear.
Another set-piece, this time from the right, as Poom’s guided corner was glanced on by Burke at the near post before Cosgrove helped it over the line while under pressure from Honohan.
The referee blew for a free out, however, he was soon summoned to the pitch-side screen to review the angles, which cleared the attacking Hoops player and the goal was awarded.
The huge travelling contingent of more than 1600 Rovers fans were certainly enjoying themselves in the upper tiers of the Belfast stadium as their side pushed further ahead in this unofficial all-Ireland decider.
The intensity completely dropped off as the home side grafted for a way back into the game, but they were unable to trouble the solid Rovers defence.
One last chance for Larne to make an impact on the stroke of half-time, yet Ryan smashed his free into the wall before the ball back into the box offered Cian Bolger a chance, however, the captain was under pressure and could not guide his header on target.
The home side came out all guns blazing for the second half and while they had an immediate penalty appeal turned down, the subsequent corner led to their opening goal of the Conference league phase.
The Hoops had ample opportunity to clear the danger, however, the low clearance fell to Gallagher on the edge of the box, and he slammed it low to the keeper’s right, and while Leon Pohls got a hand on the effort, the power took it into the back of the net.
But Larne’s brief belief was firmly finished seven minutes later as they gifted Rovers a fourth goal.
Thomson attempted to work the ball across the pitch to switch the play deep inside his own half only for Burke to anticipate, intercept, and execute with a perfectly placed effort from the edge of the box, that went in off the inside of the post.
Rovers had the ball in the back of the net for a fifth time in the 58th minute as Lopes crashed a header off the bar, before Kenny slammed a half-volley home from eight yards out, however, this time VAR would not come to the aid of the Dublin side as there was an infringement in the build-up.
Rovers emptied the bench midway through the half, perhaps already turning their attention to Sunday’s vital league clash away at Dundalk as Dylan Watts, Jack Byrne and Trevor Clarke enjoyed a late run out.
But Larne kept going and only for a vital Lee Grace saving tackle Ryan would surely have added a second to offer an air of respectability to the scoreline.
Rovers attempted to finish on the front foot and Darragh Nugent and Clarke both tested the keeper in the 78th minute, however, Rohan Ferguson was up to the task on both occasions.
Larne substitute Matthew Lusty cracked a fine shot on goal with five minutes remaining, however, Pohls got a strong hand behind the low effort and this time he kept it out.
One more chance for the home side as Pohls denied Ryan as the four minutes of injury time came and went, as the Hoops march on in this competition, maintaining their unbeaten start, and now hope to fight for a fifth league title before they return to European action in November.
Larne: Rohan Ferguson; Levi Ives, Cian Bolger (capt), Sam Todd, Tomas Cosgrove (Shaun Want 90); Joseph Thomson (Jordan McEneff 60), Christopher Gallagher, Sean Graham, Benji Magee (Matthew Lusty 73), Dylan Sloan (Mark Randall 73); Andrew Ryan
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Roberto Lopes (capt), Lee Grace, Daniel Cleary; Joshua Honohan, Darragh Burns (Trevor Clarke 73), Aaron McEneff (Jack Byrne 73), Markus Poom (Dylan Watts 73), Danny Mandroiu (Darragh Nugent 60); Graham Burke (Conan Noonan 66), Johnny Kenny
Referee: Vasileios Fotias (GRE)
