Gavin Cummiskey’s report from the Aviva has landed.
“Ross Tierney’s goal settled this unique Dublin derby before a record League of Ireland attendance of 33,208 at the Aviva Stadium.
“The Bohemians attacker’s finish came from the type of play that has seen Shamrock Rovers prosper across their epic 15-match run to the knockout rounds of the Uefa Conference League.
“But Bohs got the job done here with Alan Reynolds’ team equipped to make a dramatic upturn in fortunes this season.”
Read Gavin’s full match report below:
[ Ross Tierney on target as Bohemians beat Shamrock Rovers at the AvivaOpens in new window ]
Ross Tierney is named Player of the Match, speaking to Virgin Media: We knew Connor is great one on one, we left him there and luckily it dropped in the six-yard box and I was there. It’s great, not just for us, but for the league. We didn’t play the occasion, we played the game. It’s good to play on the big pitch, it’s great to see how many fans we have. It’s only looking forward from here.
Alan Reynolds: We rode our luck their a bit in the second half, but the fans were unbelievable. We had to dig in December in training, we stood up to it in the end. We’re delighted for everyone in the club, but it’s only the start. Parsons gives us something different, we know Lys [Mousset] will get fitter and he will. We need to build on that, we will get ready for Derry.
90+5 mins: One last chance for Rovers, Grant puts the cross straight into the keeper’s hands after Burke had driven at the defence. Burke doesn’t deserve to be in the losing side today, but too many below-par performances by others.
Full-time: Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
Big win and three points for Bohs! They just about hung on in the second half but get the victory.
A historic occasion for the League of Ireland, 33,208 at the game.
90 mins: Some late Rovers pressure but Bohs first to every ball and tackle. Watts tries to make something happen and Noonan gets a glancing header towards goal but easy for the goalkeeper.
Then Burke wiggles his way around the Bohs defence, Healy puts in a teasing cross and Talbot ends up saving with his face. But it’s offside.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
87 mins: Free-kick in a dangerous area for Rovers from about 30 metres out as the game had hit a lull last few minutes. On comes Keith Buckley for Bohs to a big applause. Poor free-kick by Burke, straight at the wall.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
82 mins: Cornwall has had a fine game at centre-back and makes another saving tackle under pressure.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
76 mins: A few nice touches by Ozhianvuna, growing into the game. Burke sents him down the wing and he wins a corner. From it, Grant appeals for a penalty for a McDonnell handball but would have been a little harsh and not given.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
71 mins: Another 16-year-old comes on for Rovers, Victor Ozhianvuna will get a run out. McEneff on too.
Wow massive chance, the two 16 year olds should score! Ozhianvuna has a chance from a few yards out but can’t get it in, then falls to Noonan who misses too. Burke with the ball in causing havoc.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
67 mins: Good ball into the box, well worked, Parsons with the cross, headed away to Tierney who kicks it well over the bar.
Then McGinty has another nervy moment, Lopes doesn’t deal with the ball, McGinty ends up outside the box and just about grabs it to survive.
Now Mandroiu is down, the injuries are looking concerning with Molde to come.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
63 mins: Cynical play by Tierney as Grant explodes into space and Tierney grabs his shirt back. From the free-kick, Grant again flies through and Noonan nearly gets on the end of it. Another injury for Rovers, Honohan bangs into Lopes.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
60 mins: Great piece of play from the captain Devoy as Rovers had a dangerous counter attack, Noonan was played in behind but Devoy followed the run and put him under pressure.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
54 mins: Mousset comes off, decent first half but looked leggy in the second half. On comes Colm Whelan who makes an impact by winning a free-kick.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
51 mins: Chance for Rovers after a weak pass back by Mountney, Noonan is on to the ball like a flash and tries to turn Talbot but the keeper makes an excellent tackle with his feet to clear it.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
48 mins: Bit more intent by Rovers at the start of the second half. Watts floats a ball into Noonan but Talbot comfortably collects.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
45 mins: Another chance for Bohs, Rooney nearly wiggles in a ball across the goal but blocked out for the corner. Good corner and McGinty got nowhere near it, dangerous.
Half-time: Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
Good game at the Aviva Stadium, Bohs well deserving of their lead and the better team so far. Maybe some hangover for Rovers from Thursday’s European game. But all to play for in the second half. The goal again:
44 mins: Chance for Rovers, the lively Burke played in behind with the chance but Talbot knocks it away, was a sort of cross-shot, scooped up with his left but didn’t fall to anyone.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
42 mins: More pressure on Rovers as Parsons causes havoc down the left and then Mountney puts in a dangerous cross.
Then Rovers lose is again playing out from the back, Devoy intercepting Lopes, and Rooney takes a smart shot but it’s a fine save by McGinty, it was going in the corner. Healy comes on for the injured O’Neill.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
38 mins: More injury worries for Rovers and Gary O’Neill goes down.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
35 mins: Sloppy play out from the back by Rovers and Rooney has a chance but he can’t keep his balance inside the box. Bohs looking sharp.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
30 mins: Great pace to the game now. Another yellow card, this time for Bohs as Smith fouls Grace after a heavy touch.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
27 mins: GOAL FOR BOHEMIANS! Fantastic goal, good team move. Brilliant touch by Mousset, showing his class, then Parsons skins Lopes and tries to curl it in, it’s a great save by McGinty but Tierney scores the rebound.
More bad news for Rovers as Adam Matthews needs a stretcher after a serious injury when trying to stop the goal. On comes Danny Grant.
Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
23 mins: Best chance of the game, more life after a cagey opening! Burke beats Mountney on the wing, cut back and falls to Mandroiu but his shot is blocked. Then Bohs come up the field and Mousset almost gets through after a shimmy.
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
20 mins: Long spell of possession for Shamrock Rovers leads to Cleary playing a through ball in behind for Noonan but it was well defended by Cornwall.
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
15 mins: Another yellow card for Rovers, this time for Mandroiu after a good dribble by Devoy.
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
10 mins: Nicely worked play by Rovers leads to a shot from outside the box by Burke but it’s straight at the keeper.
Burke gets another similar shot straight at the keeper after a fantastic driving run by Watts.
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
7 mins: Dangerous cross from the corner after good play by Parson on the left won it but Rovers survive.
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
3 mins: Poor tackle by Cleary and an early yellow card as Devoy gets a crunching tackle.
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
The match is about to begin, great atmosphere at the Aviva.
On Friday, Shelbourne got their title defence off to a winning start but it wasn’t all plain sailing as the lights went out at Tolka Park. Here was the match report:
[ Shelbourne beat Derry City as Tolka Park goes dark on opening nightOpens in new window ]
Before the start of the new season, Gavin Cummiskey spoke to key people behind the scenes at Bohemians - Roy Barrett, Daniel Lambert and Matt Devaney, who discussed future plans for the club, including the development of Dalymount Park.
[ Bohemian FC: ‘If they are richer than us, we have to be smarter than them’Opens in new window ]
Interesting teams there, four changes to the Rovers team that beat Molde but Noonan keeps his place up front. Bohs start Mousset that will add intrigue.
The teams are out:
Bohemians: Talbot, Smith, Cornwall, Kavanagh, Mountney, Morahan, Devoy, Tierney, Rooney, Parsons, Mousset. Subs: Chorazka, Best, Whelan, Clarke, Buckley, McDonell, Brennan, Meekison, Byrne.
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty, Honohan, Lopes, Grace, Cleary, Matthews, Watts, O’Neill, Burke, Mandroiu, Noonan. Subs: Pohls, McEneff, Greene, Healy, Grant, Barett, C O’Sullivan, J O’Sullivan, Ozhianvuna
There was a great interview with Shamrock Rovers’ boss Stephen Bradley in the paper on Saturday with Malachy Clerkin, it is well worth a read to get you in the mood for the game.
Bradley talks about underachieving in his playing career, fixing broken people, and his 10-year-old son Josh’s battle with leukemia.
[ Stephen Bradley: ‘After I got stabbed, I messed around for a year. I was angry’Opens in new window ]
Still a few tickets available as of this morning. Some 32,000 tickets sold for a League of Ireland game shows the growth of the league in the past few years.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Bohemians against Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium, in their opening games of the League of Ireland Premier Division season. Kick-off is at 2pm. A big moment for the league with the Dublin derby taking place on Lansdowne Road, the good vibes around it being enhanced by Rovers winning away in Molde last week in the Conference League to set up a chance of a last 16 place in the competition. Michael Noonan got the goal there, the 16-year-old becoming the youngest player to score in European competition proper. There’s plenty of interest up front for Bohs as well as Lys Mousset has joined, a former Premier League striker who played France under-21 football. He scored against Manchester United before, now he has to face the Hoops. The team line-ups will follow when they are available.
