National League Promotion/Relegation Play-off (first leg)/Shamrock Rovers - 1 Dublin City - 2: The "home" chants of "We are staying up" which echoed around Dalymount Park midway through the second half always seemed a touch premature.
As the clock ticked down with just five minutes to play, the Rovers supporters painfully watched their team crumble to a late winner. Now, with just 90 minutes on Friday to save them, they are staring relegation to the first division in the face.
In truth, Dublin City deserved no less from a game which they bossed from start to finish. In stark contrast to their impressive opponents, Rovers' play was disjointed and sporadic and, despite getting a boost when pulling level with a second-half penalty, they failed to drive home that momentum and carry a lead to Tolka Park on Friday.
Rovers caretaker boss Alan O'Neill was boosted by the return of key players Trevor Molloy, Derek Treacy and Mark Rutherford. The trio's inclusion was timely, considering Rovers were forced to blood youngsters throughout the season with varying degrees of success; if ever there was a time for wise heads, this was it.
All three played telling roles in the early stages, none more so than Treacy. City were keen to break forward and much of their best work was channelled down the left, where Robbie Collins did his best to unsettle the right back. But the Rovers man had the measure of his opponent and his timely interventions went some way to settling the defence.
Rovers carved out the better chances once they found their fluency, and Tony Sheridan was the catalyst behind much of that work. First, he linked well with Treacy, but Willo McDonagh headed the cross over the bar. Soon after, McDonagh steered a Sheridan cross straight at goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy.
City, though, were anything but bystanders and, in fact, dominated possession for much of the first half. They went about their business in a purposeful manner and combined slick passing with useful running.
The Rovers midfield was frequently at odds with the pace at which City played. From one such early move - before Rovers had even threatened - goalkeeper Barry Murphy dropped a Collins free from the right, but, in a crowded box, striker Trevor Vaughan was unable to apply the killer touch to the loose ball.
City then endured a lull as Rovers marauded forward, but because the home side's attacks lacked conviction, the visitors comfortably soaked up what was thrown their way.
In turn, Dermot Keely's side regrouped and retaliated - and, with just a minute of the half remaining, the breakthrough was made. Passes were exchanged eight yards outside the Rovers box, but with the defence spreading themselves well there was little room to manoeuvre. Instead, the ball was pulled back to defender Aiden Lynch who fired home from distance, leaving Murphy rooted to the spot.
Murphy lasted just three minutes of the second half and, struggling badly with a suspected knee injury, was replaced by John Blake. Rovers then broke forward and, when Sheridan supplied Cathal O'Connor, the winger fired an unstoppable shot at goal. Kennedy was flummoxed, but the ball crashed off the underside of the crossbar and back into play.
Buoyed by that effort, Rovers upped their performance and won a penalty in the 58th minute when Ben Whelehan brought down Molloy. The striker duly slotted away the spot kick.
However, their inability to take control of the game proved most costly five minutes from time. After some neat approach work, David McGill was played into space and his shot from 25 yards found its way into the net after bouncing awkwardly in front of Blake.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Treacy, Foley, Shelley, Doyle; O'Connor, McDonagh, Kenny, Rutherford; Sheridan, Molloy. Subs: Blake for Murphy (48), Roche for Sheridan (77), O'Halloran for Kenny (87).
DUBLIN CITY: Kennedy; Lynch, Keely, Whelehan, Hedderman; Scully, McGill, Shiels, Collins; Freeman, Vaughan. Subs: Kelly for Vaughan (69), Pender for Lynch (76), Mulcahy for Hedderman (90). Booked: Whelehan (22).
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).
