Rovers claim bragging rights as they edge out Bohs at Dalymount

RTÉ News​

17-05-2025

Shamrock Rovers' SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division hoodoo continued over their arch enemy Bohemians as they took bragging rights in a keenly contested Dublin derby.
Fiona Donnelly's second-half own goal proved the difference in a game of fine margins as the hosts rattled the crossbar late on.
In the sweltering heat that baked Dublin 7 throughout, both sides were certainly fired up on the field as they went toe-to-toe in an open encounter with a real derby feel as they both went close in the opening few minutes.
The visitors looked to dominate possession and build up patiently whilst on the flip side the hosts were dangerous on the break, springing Alannah McEvoy on the right at their earliest opportunity who was finding some good space in behind.
Rovers midfield duo of Melissa O'Kane and Ruesha Littlejohn almost combined for the opener early on, but the latter failed to make the right contact with her header from just a few yards out, as Rachael Kelly remained untested.
Bohs responded with Ireland Under-19 International Aoibhe Brennan stepping forward from midfield as she unleashed a thunderous effort that was always rising.
A mix of tough tackling coupled with some intricate football followed as both sides cancelled each other out.
As the clock ticked past the half hour mark The Hoops, who made three changes, to the side that was perhaps surprisingly held at home by Sligo Rovers seven days previous, forced Kelly into a sharp low save when Irish International Littlejohn hit a daisy cutter from outside the area.
Knowing a win would leapfrog their rivals in the table, the home side continued to try to find that elusive final pass that would send any of their pacey attackers in behind.
Despite the heat, the home side showed tremendous tenacity to make life uncomfortable for Rovers, pressing high up in numbers and forcing mistakes.
Former Hoops attacker, McEvoy, tried desperately to get one over on her former side drilling a low shot across goal before failing to catch a turn-and-volley as well as she would have liked.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, disaster struck for the home side as the unfortunate Donnelly turned into her own net. Former International Aine O'Gorman cut inside from the right before delivering a deep cross to the back post.
The Bohs midfielder did well to get back around to cover but sliced her clearance past the helpless Bohs skipper in goal.
Collie O'Neills charges almost doubled their lead minutes later Ruesha Littlejohn almost did a "Littlejohn" as her clever quickly taken free kick from at least 40-yards almost caught Kelly cold, but saw the ball coming crashing off the bar.
Despite going to three at the back and unloading their bench in a desperate bid to find an equaliser, they couldn't have gone much closer as substitute Savannah Kane almost broke the crossbar from close range following an almighty goalmouth scramble in the 90th minute.
But unfortunately for the 742 in attendance roaring on their heroes, time just got the better of them on this occasion.
Bohemian FC: Rachael Kelly; Sarah Power, Roisin McGovern, Lisa Murphy, Emma Goughran (Mia Dodd, 85'); Alannah McEvoy (Sarah McKevitt, 72'), Fiona Donnelly, Aoibhe Brennan, Hannah Healy (Savannah Kane, 85'), Katie McCarn (Shauna Carroll, 72'); Hannah O'Brien (Leiagh Glennon, 76')
Shamrock Rovers: Katie Keane; Fiona Owens (Aoife Brophy, 83'), Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds, Keelin Comiskey; Melissa O'Kane, Ruesha Littlejohn; Aine O'Gorman, Jamie Thompson (Claire Marie O'Reilly, 83'), Ella Kelly (Emily Corbet, 63') ; Joy Ralph