Rory Gaffney comes off the bench to secure three vital points for Shamrock Rovers

Irish Independent

12 hours ago

This clash was heading towards a stalemate as Stephen Bradley's side looked like they may miss out on the chance to extend their lead out to 11 points, but a howler from Waterford 'keeper Stephen McMullan gifted Rory Gaffney the winner and gave the leaders the win they craved to take a big step towards the 2025 league title.
Bradley got exactly the response he wanted from his side after Monday's derby humbling at the hands of Bohs, as Rovers secured a fifth successive win over the men from the south east, but more importantly, extended their lead at the summit by another two points and out to 11 with just 12 games remaining.
After beating Bohemians and drawing with Shelbourne, Waterford's third game in seven days against Dublin opposition ended in a defeat, although John Coleman's side were well in this contest and twice went close to a first-half opener through Olujimi Olayinka and Tommy Lonergan. They remain in eighth and eight points above ninth-placed Sligo Rovers.
The crowd of 4,014 at Tallaght Stadium was the Hoops' lowest home league attendance so far this year and around 300 fewer than last week's win against Cork City, with the clash also Rovers' final league game at home until August, on account of next month's Conference League and FAI Cup campaigns both beginning.
The hosts started on the front foot and were inches from taking an early lead inside five minutes as the post denied Danny Grant a first goal since March 7, after a fine cross from Graham Burke.
Blues centre-half Andy Boyle, making his first start since April 25 after recovering from a calf injury, was perhaps fortunate to escape a straight red card when he appeared to take Michael Noonan down just behind the halfway line, Rovers appealing that the four-time league winner with Dundalk was the last man back at the time. The Rovers teenage star would have been through on goal courtesy of Burke's through ball, but referee Paul Norton brandished a yellow card.
The visitors came forward minutes later as Jesse Dempsey's excellent cross found Olayinka, with the former Arsenal academy midfielder seeing his shot saved by Hoops number one McGinty. But the ball fell kindly towards Pádraig Amond at the back post, who looked certain to score had recent Ireland call-up Josh Honohan not held off the Blues skipper superbly before diverting the ball to safety when he realised Sam Glenfield was also hot on his heels.
Honohan then broke forward on 21 minutes from left wing-back, cut back inside on to his right foot and unleashed a curling shot that looked destined for the far corner, but Blues 'keeper McMullan was equal to it with a superb stop.
Rovers midfielder Mandroiu should have done better to hit the target after being teed up by Burke's short free-kick routine, before Olayinka saw his piledriver stopped by McGinty for the second time in the space of 15 minutes, in a lively opening half-hour in Dublin 24.
Both sides continued to search for the opener as Mandroiu and Ireland U-21 striker Lonergan both saw efforts saved, with the latter opting to go himself rather than squaring across to an unmarked Amond, who was in disbelief that it wasn't put on a plate for him yards from goal, but neither could find a breakthrough with the teams going into the break scoreless.
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Noonan was finding his long runs forward towards balls over the top snuffed out by Blues 'keeper McMullan, who was doing a good job of keeping a high line to keep the Ireland U-19 international at bay. Waterford's Rowan McDonald found a pocket of space just before the hour mark but McGinty was again equal to it, on a night where both men between the sticks were on the top of their games.
Noonan again went close on 72 minutes, this time with a header from Mandroiu's deft cross, but moments later, the breakthrough finally arrived. Mandroiu's shot from distance looked to be routine for the Waterford shotstopper, but he spilled it and allowed substitute Gaffney to pounce and fire into an empty net for his sixth of the season.
Job done for the leaders, who take another step towards the title they have their eyes set on reclaiming.
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Grant (Kovalevskis 76), Healy, Watts (Byrne 65), Mandroiu (Nugent 88), Honohan; Burke (Gaffney 65), Noonan (O'Neill 88).