football

Stephen Bradley hails ‘fantastic’ Andy Lyons as Shamrock Rovers beat Bohemians

Published 11:55 23 Apr 2022 BST

Updated 10:20 24 Apr 2022 BST

Stephen Bradley hails ‘fantastic’ Andy Lyons as Shamrock Rovers beat Bohemians

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"There's no limit to where Andy can play."

Stephen Bradley was full of praise for Andy Lyons following his opening goal in Shamrock Rovers' 3-1 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night. Former Bohs players Lyons and Danny Mandroiu scored for the Hoops whilst Max Murphy added to the Gypsies' woes with an own goal against his old employers. Rovers remain one point off Derry City at the top of the League of Ireland table as Bohs fall to sixth place.

Stephen Bradley on Shamrock Rovers performance.

Bradley felt Rovers "fully controlled" the game throughout, and thought the Hoops could have been more than 2-0 up by half-time. Despite a slow start to the second half by the champions, Bradley insisted Rovers knew they had to focus on the defensive side of their game to secure the three points. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe scored for Bohs in the 69th minute to reduce the deficit to one goal. However, 60 seconds later Mandroiu added Rovers' third goal of the night to secure the victory in what Bradley described as "a real sucker punch" for the Gypsies.

"I thought we fully controlled the game. In the first half, we scored a couple but we could of had a couple more. I thought we were very good in how we managed the game. On another night, we kill the game by half-time," Bradley told SportsJOE following Rovers victory. "We were very comfortable in our shape. They had a few long-range shots, but we'll take that with Alan (Mannus) in goal. We knew in the second half we were gonna have to give up a bit of territory but we managed it really well. "They came back into it in the second half, scored their goal. But thankfully our third goal was a real sucker punch and it killed them."

Bradley on Andy Lyons display.

The Rovers boss described the 21-year-old as "top class" this season following his controversial move from Bohs in January. The Irish under 21 international has four goals this season from wing-back. Bradley claimed if Lyons remains on his current trajectory, the sky is the limit for the Dubliner. "He's been top class since he came in, he gives us a real threat, which we knew he would, that's why we wanted him," Bradley added. "He has scored a number of goals, but his all-round play has been fantastic. If he keeps focused and working hard there's no limit to where Andy can play." https://twitter.com/SSEAirtricityLg/status/1517579307425701891 Elsewhere, three games took place across the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division last night.