Substitute John McGovern score two goals inside five minutes as Shamrock Rovers come from behind two times to beat Waterford for Tallaght Stadium, and the win carry dem back to top of table, at least for 24 hours.
Na the first league win for Rovers in four games. Waterford, wey dem call Blues, bin dey on 13-match unbeaten run before this rollercoaster clash. The last side wey beat Waterford na Rovers back in mid-June, and that run end for Dublin 24.
Waterford no change team for fourth game straight and dem carry confidence enter match. Ex-Hoop Conan Noonan see im volley charged down after Benny Couto first corner. Rovers later take control of ball, but Will Fitzgerald drive blocked and sweeping move produce nothing.
Waterford get first shot on target for 20 minutes. Evan McLaughlin force comfortable save from Ed McGinty. Matt Healy do same for other end as game run end to end. Five minutes later, McGinty make save of first half to stop Waterford from leading. Goalkeeper Stephen McMullan clearance cleverly nodded on by skipper Padraig Amond for Tommy Lonergan, but McGinty push im low drive round post.
Rovers answer with two big chances. Jack Byrne slip and sky am over top after good work from Adam Brennan and Aaron Greene. Graham Burke then drill wide across goal after Dylan Watts slip am in behind. Their best spell of half still no produce goal, and Rovers go behind for 35 minutes. Lonergan hoof ball from right drop for Couto, who lay am off first time for McLaughlin. The Derry native take one touch before rifle to roof of net for fine finish.
John Mahon make terrific tackle to deny Greene shooting chance for other end. Rovers nearly fall further behind right on half-time when Couto corner drop for Amond, but Greene block im shot.
Rovers come out with more urgency after restart. Eleven minutes in, McMullan make terrific save from Watts header. From resulting corner, equaliser land. Byrne delivery no clear well. Brennan lob am back in, skipper Roberto Lopes help am on, and Greene hook ball to net.
But after all that work to level, Rovers concede another poor goal within one minute. Noah Mawene low cross no cut out. Lonergan lay am back for Couto, who take am onto im right foot and score from edge of area.
Hoops head coach Stephen Bradley turn to bench for inspiration, and two double substitutions swing game Rovers way. Rovers level for 73 minutes. Watts and one of the changes, Jake Mulraney, work ball to Burke on left, and im cross turned home by another replacement McGovern.
Two minutes later, Mulraney power past Hayden Cann down left and cross for McGovern to volley home from close range. That goal prove to be winner. Action continue reach finish. Cann see im header come back off Rovers crossbar before McGinty produce amazing save to deny Lonergan follow-up. Waterford no get the share of spoils wey many feel dem deserve.
Referee na Aaron O’Dowd from Dublin. Attendance for Tallaght Stadium na 5,823.
