Second Round of League of Ireland: Bohs Take Top Spot, Rovers Win Derby

The second round of the Irish Premier Division confirmed the excellent form of Bohemians, who took sole lead of the table after a 1-0 away win against Derry City. The only goal at the Brandywell Stadium was scored in the 64th minute by Dawson Devoy from a spectacular free kick. This victory was Bohemians' first at this stadium since 2023. Alan Reynolds' team has a perfect nine points from three rounds, having conceded no goals. Bohemians are one of the most decorated clubs in the history of the League of Ireland, with 11 league titles to their name, though their last one came in 2009. Derry City, founded in 1928, is one of the few clubs from Northern Ireland playing in leagues organized by the Football Association of Ireland. Meanwhile, with a delay caused by the cancellation of the first two rounds due to poor weather conditions, the title defense began for Shamrock Rovers. In the Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium in front of 7,573 spectators, they defeated St Patrick's Athletic 2-0. Despite over an hour of play without a goal, impactful substitutions brought the breakthrough. In the 69th minute, young striker Michael Noonan, who had just come off the bench, capitalized on a pass from Adam Brennan and scored the first goal of the season for the „Hoops”. Ten minutes later, Brennan himself, a 19-year-old debutant, added a second goal with his head following a cross from Danny Grant. „Rovers look to have secured all three points here as Adam Brennan caps off a fine league debut with his first goal for his new club, heading home after a fine cross by Danny Grant to make it 2-0.” — Seán O'Connor Second Round Premier Division Results: Derry City 0:1 Bohemians; Shamrock Rovers 2:0 St Patrick's Athletic; Shelbourne 1:1 Galway United; Dundalk 0:0 Drogheda United In other matches of the round, Shelbourne drew 1-1 with Galway United at Tolka Park in front of 4,052 spectators. The goal for Galway, in the 62nd minute, was scored by substitute Kris Twardek, but just two minutes later Harry Wood equalized for the hosts from the penalty spot. Galway, whose goal for the season is survival, earned a valuable point, while Shelbourne, despite dominating, disappointed again. In the County Louth derby, a goalless draw occurred between Dundalk and Drogheda United. Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff described the match before kickoff as the biggest derby in the league. Off the pitch, Sinn Féin politician Joanna Byrne, serving as co-chairperson at Drogheda United, fended off attempts to remove her from the club's board following her calls for a boycott by the FAI of Ireland's Nations League matches. The Louth derby is a local rivalry between teams from County Louth on the east coast of Ireland. The rivalry between Dundalk FC (founded in 1903) and Drogheda United (founded in 1919) spans decades and is considered one of the fiercest derbies in the country. New managers in the league are still searching for their first successes. Tiernan Lynch at Derry City has yet to win a match, and his team is showing problems in offensive play. Similarly, Stephen O'Donnell at St Patrick's Athletic has not secured a victory at his new club. Among the standout players of the younger generation are Adam Brennan of Shamrock Rovers, who recorded an assist and a goal on his league debut, and Dawson Devoy of Bohemians, scorer of the winning free kick.