Rovers take final step on road to Premier Division crown

SHAMROCK Rovers have secured the 2021 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title after goals from Danny Mandroiu and Aidomo Emakhu helped them to a 3-0 victory over Finn Harps in Tallaght Stadium tonight, by Eoghan Gardiner.

Though Rovers have three games still to be played, the result means that it is now mathematically impossible for closest challengers St Patrick’s Athletic to catch the Hoops who have now made it back-to-back titles.

It has been ten years since Rovers last won two consecutive top-tier honours, having lifted the prize in 2010 and 2011 in the wake of their move to Tallaght in 2009.

Tonight’s victory also means that the Hoops have increased the record for most League of Ireland titles to 19.

Mandroiu put Rovers ahead after just three minutes, getting in on to the end of a through ball and dribbling around Harps goalkeeper Mark McGinley before slotting home.

Danny Mandroiu scoring first goal (Image: Paddy Barrett)

He struck again just 20 minutes later, after he met a cross in the box with a diving header, putting the ball beyond McGinley’s reach and into the bottom left.

Substitute Aidomo Emakhu capped off a fine night in the 89th minute, dribbling around the goalkeeper to score from close range in remarkably similar fashion to Mandroiu’s earlier effort.

A lack of communication between McGinley and Ethan Boyle led to a defensive error which almost resulted in another early goal for the Hoops in the 13th minute. 

Fortunately for Harps, Rory Gaffney failed to get his shot off after taking a heavy touch.

Rory Gaffney rounds Harps keeper Mark McGinley (Image: Paddy Barrett)

Some skillful play from Gaffney troubled an overworked McGinley once again, but he managed to push the ball out of play for a corner.

Just before half-time, Dylan Watts took an ambitious shot from 20 yards out, working McGinley yet again before the ball sped out for a goal kick.

Finn Harps failed to take a number of chances, including a Sean Boyd free kick in the ninth minute which hit the wall while Ryan Connolly saw his attempt in the 60th minute sail well wide.

The Donegal side had another opportunity just after the restart.

David Webster played the ball through for Karl O’Sullivan to strike at goal, only for Webster to be flagged offside on a night when the Hoops did more than enough to complete their march to the title.