Dawson’s back with big target

Ratings

Leon Pohls ................ 7 sean Hoare ................ 7 Pico Lopes ................ 7 Dan Cleary ................ 7 Josh Honahan .......... 7 Jack Byrne .............. 6 Gary o’neill .............. 7 Dylan Watts ............. 8 trevor Clarke ........... 6 Johnny Kenny ......... 8 Aaron Greene ........... 7

motm:

Referee: J Gillett (Austria) there was venom in his play. From an early stage he sensed that centre-backs Peter Ekroth and Gunnar Vatnhamar were Vikingur’s weak links and he tormented them.

Dylan Watts played a key role in both of Kenny’s goals and set the first up with a clipped ball up the line for the striker to beat offside.

It was anything but a

‘trap’ that Vikingur had set, as Vatnhamar got it all wrong and the Icelandic champions were immediately in danger with Kenny revelling their mess.

Scampering into the box, Ekroth was next up but Kenny chopped back inside him and drilled a low, powerful shot through the legs of goalkeeper Ingvar

in

paul o’hehir

5 .......... ingvar Jonsson 6 ........ Karl Gunnarsson 5 ............. oliver Ekroth 5 .... Gunnar Vatnhamar 6 .............. Jon Fjoluson 6 ... Erlingur Agnarsson 6 ............ Pablo Punyed 6 ........ Ari sigurpalsson 6 ...... Helgi Gudjonsson 6 ....... V ingimundarson 5 ............. Danijel Djuric

Jonsson. It was the confidence booster the Hoops needed and they kicked on with Gary O’neill momentarily looking like he would double the scoreline eight minutes later.

However, having been teed up by Byrne, the midfielder couldn’t get his shot away with Jonsson quickly off his line and defenders retreating.

Watts was a dynamo in midfield. He was brave on the ball and with his confidence soaring, he tormented the visitors in that opening half.

And particularly so for Kenny’s second goal. Deep in his own half, Watts had three players around him and had no right to carry the ball any further. But he left the trio in a heap, powering free and burning them all for pace. Byrne, centrally, and Kenny on the left, were his only two options.

He flicked the ball left to Kenny, who once again rinsed Ekroth before drilling a shot home at the near post, having fooled Jonsson by shaping to curl to the far stick.

Tallaght Stadium was bouncing but Rovers still had work to do, with Vikingur chipping in with increasing reminders that one goal would force the issue. And Hansen got it on the hour, scoring with a diving header to set up a remarkable finish as the visitors forced the issue.

Rovers had lost their composure and Byrne walked on a second yellow late on. Vikingur were on the march but bottled their big chance at the death. path has opened up for us and it’s about the groups now, that has to be our aim,” said Bradley, after securing a Champions League clash with Sparta Prague.

“Sparta will be a big game – they are a top tier team. But we’ll look after that when it comes around because nights like this are special and it’s about enjoying tonight.

“We also really want to be in the FAI Cup final and win the cup and that starts away to Bohemians on Friday, so that’s our focus.”

Johnny Kenny (above) fired Rovers into a 2-0 lead with a brilliant first-half brace but Nikolaj Hansen headed an equaliser only to botch a 98th minute penalty.

It was a remarkable conclusion to a gripping game in which Jack Byrne was sent off late on, and Bradley said: “I don’t think I can have too many more nights like that! I think I experienced every emotion going but it’s just a special, special night.

“We spoke to the players before the game about creating special memories and they have done that. It’s a special night.”

Bradley thought it was going to be a long, long night when Hansen stepped up for that last gasp penalty at the death. When you’re down to 10 men, they’re a good side and you’re just hoping and praying he misses it,” he said.

“But I think over the two legs we earned that bit of luck because the players were brilliant over there last week.”

Rovers will face Sparta Prague in Tallaght next Tuesday, but have the safety net of a Europa League third round clash if they lose to the Czech side.

And they also have the fall back of a Europa Conference League playoff round and a realistic chance of a return to the group stages in that competition.

Bradley admits that is the aim and said: “We know what opportunities have opened up and this was a really important game. Johnny Kenny, right now, is the best forward in the country by a mile. He had to learn a lot last year but everything has been pointing towards the season he’s having.”

DAWSON Devoy has vowed to become a better player than the one that left Bohs after returning to Dalymount Park.

Devoy, 22, is the latest Gypsies old boy to return to the Phibsboro club this summer in what is a massive boost ahead of Friday’s FAI Cup clash with arch rivals Shamrock Rovers.

The midfielder wants to improve on the form that made him the PFAI’S young Player of the year in 2021 – and earned him a move to MK Dons the following summer.

Subject to international transfer clearance, the midfielder could go straight into Alan Reynolds’ squad for the eagerly-awaited

Cup encounter.

“For a first game back, it doesn’t get much bigger than that,” Devoy said. “If I get a chance to play, I’ll be looking to grasp it.”

Devoy said he was “absolutely buzzing” to be back at the club. “This is where I played some of my best football, and I want to do even better again,” he admitted.

“I’m not coming home for an easy life – I loved my time at Bohs before and I want to be a part of getting the club back to where we belong.”

Gypsies boss Reynolds has made the midfielder his sixth signing of the July transfer window.

Ross Tierney made his return to the Phibsboro outfit recently, joining

Leigh Kavanagh, Archie Meekison, Alex Greive and Lee Smith as recent additions.

“Bringing Dawson back to Bohs is a massive coup,” said Reynolds.

“He is only 22 but he was one of the best midfielders in the league when he left two years ago and having watched him over the last couple of years, I know he is going to come back even better.

“Bohs fans know well what he is capable of, and the potential he had when he was here last, and I’m really looking forward to him coming in and giving the team a massive lift.”

by DAVID Anderson

LIVERPOOL owners Fenway Sports Group have pulled out of talks to buy French club Bordeaux over finances.

Representatives from FSG met Bordeaux and the Football CEO Michael Edwards (below) was enticed by the Ligue 2 club’s sizeable potential. However FSG have withdrawn their bid because of the significant cost of Bordeaux’s Matmut Atlantique Stadium, which is owned by the local authority, and the gloomy economic outlook for French football.

Bordeaux are left facing relegation unless the cash-strapped club can prove they have the funds for the new season. FSG said: “Despite our disappointment, we wish the club and its supporters the best possible outcome.”