On a cold, cold night in Belfield, thousands of fans made their way to the Bowl to see if Shamrock Rovers could claim the Airtricty League title. The sell out crowd were certainly given plenty of excitement but had to wait until late in the second half to see if they would be waiting for the result against Galway.

This time around, the Hoops have done it with a game to spare, even if last night’s 2-1 win was no less dramatic, with Dean Kelly’s title-winning goal — his first of the league campaign — coming deep into stoppage time after both sides had been reduced to 10 men in a hugely eventful second half.

The result means that next Friday’s final outing in Tallaght against a Galway United side already bound for the play-offs, will be an entirely ceremonial affair, a chance for the faithful not just to see the silverware handed over but also to pay tribute on home soil to a side which has racked up thousands of miles on its travels this year.

 

And, of course, the club’s season isn’t over yet, with more Europa League games still to come and Rovers keen to get some points on the board after giving Spurs a scare in London and pushing PAOK all the way in Thessalonika.

Looking like they were determined to settle the matter at the earliest opportunity, Rovers began at a cracking pace, with Gary McCabe and Rohan Ricketts causing problems for the Students on both flanks. Having weathered the initial storm, it was UCD who started to enjoy the better of the exchanges, forcing the champions onto a diet of scraps and an over-reliance on the long ball.

That did little to ease the growing anxiety of the visiting fans in a record attendance at the venue of 2,552, as the first half drew to a close with Rovers still seeking the goal they needed to claim the title.

That looked even less likely two minutes after the restart when Craig Sives was sent off for a second yellow card offence, Ken Oman replacing Ciaran Kilduff as O’Neill was forced to reshuffle his forces.

Adversity inspired the Hoops, however, and the 10 men began to enjoy their best spell of pressure since early in the first half. And on 68 minutes it was super sub Oman who put the champions in front, rising highest at the near post to head home from a Gary McCabe corner.

The Rovers celebrations had barely subsided when UCD replied in kind, Robert Benson getting the decisive touch in the box to bring the Students level. The game had suddenly exploded into life, the drama deepening as Stephen O’ Donnell appealed in vain for a penalty and tackles flew in all over the pitch.

A magnificent one-handed Mark McGinley save kept a Karl Sheppard header at bay, as the 10 men continued to press for a second, decisive, goal.

And their quest looked to be boosted in the 80th minute when UCD’s Darren Meehan was sent off for a second bookable offence, the two sides now level in numbers and on the scoreboard.

That suited the Students but not Rovers, who laid siege to the home goal and were denied right up until the fourth minute of time added on when, at the end of their last attack of the night, another substitute, Dean Kelly, found the back of the net from close range to send the rapturous Hoops fans spilling onto the Belfield pitch in celebration.

There was barely enough time for the game to be restarted before referee Neil Doyle blew the final whistle, this time prompting a full-scale pitch invasion as both fans and players joyously celebrated the champions’ successful defence of their title.

UCD: McGinley, Douglas (Clarke 85), Nangle, O’Connor, Leahy, Corry, Marshall (Russell 65), O’Conor, Meenan, Benson (Boyle 85), Rusk.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush, Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Stevens, McCabe, Finn (O’Donnell 65), McCormack, Ricketts (Kelly 80), Sheppard, Kilduff (Oman 46).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)