After strong indications he would get minutes off the bench in Luxembourg, the Corkman was a disappointed spectator as the chance for a first cap passed him by. When he produced a first-half own goal to completely alter the flow of this vital Dublin derby, the 24-year-old was probably hoping that the ground would swallow him up.
But Honohan is a strong character and the celebration that followed his 84th-minute winner allowed all the frustration to leave his body. It’s possible he may not be at Shamrock Rovers when this league season ends, but his legacy will include a strike that has a strong chance of delivering a medal to his collection.
Rovers still have work to do, seeing as they are just six points clear of a Bohemians side with a game in hand. However, the significance of this success is that it puts Damien Duff’s charges 12 points off the pace and in need of a miraculous turnaround.
It was civil between Duff and Stephen Bradley beforehand, but there’s no doubt the Rovers boss has enjoyed the last laugh of a fractious period in their relationship. Duff did seem unhappy with some aspects of the Rovers celebrations with a few words exchanged between the managers in the aftermath.
The Hoops were extremely comfortable for the opening half hour, and fully deserved the lead that was provided by Daniel Cleary’s header from a Jack Byrne free-kick.
From a Shelbourne perspective, it was a nightmare with Cleary making an unchecked run across the box, past red shirts. This was reflective of the general pattern of play, with the visitors just sharper in their execution and their understanding of what they were trying to do.
While Shels were at full strength, they weren’t allowed to operate at full tilt. Duff tried to mix things up in terms of his team selection with Tyreke Wilson selected in a midfield role. His brief seemed to be an attempt to shackle Byrne, his fellow ex-Man City academy player.
But Rovers had the quality to manage that situation with Matt Healy calm in the defensive midfield role and Aaron McEneff and Danny Mandroiu dropping back in to link play if Byrne was shackled, although he still got plenty of touches.
Shels weren’t able to land a blow until the spirits were lifted by Honohan’s brain freeze, with the left wing-back turning a Kameron Ledwidge cross past Ed McGinty under minimal pressure. He seemed to lose his balance at a vital moment and his composure went with it.
It gave Shels a lift, with central striker John Martin beginning to get some joy and Mark Coyle – restored to midfield again – and Kerr McInroy finally able to impose in the opposition half. But the main incident before the interval was a vital Conor Kearns stop to deny Danny Grant in a one-on-one situation, with Rovers still far more efficient in terms of chance creation.
The champions needed to lift their levels from the restart and Kerr McInroy did threaten with a free, but Rovers remained in the ascendency and McEneff will regret he didn’t make more of a Danny Grant cross when presented with a free header.
While Duff sent for Seán Boyd and Mipo Odubeko to give real presence up top, a Rovers show of strength followed with a treble substitution bringing Dylan Watts, Graham Burke and Aaron Greene into the fray highlighting their depth.
Yet Shels gradually began to get on top and enjoyed their best spell of the game as the final quarter opened things up. There were half chances for James Norris and Odubeko and moments when red shirts just lost their way in terms of the final ball.
Harry Wood was bright off the bench and saw one effort blocked as the natives sensed that momentum was growing.
A helpful stoppage brought about by a McGinty injury allowed Rovers to regroup. From the next passage, Greene sent in a cross, ex-Hoop Seán Gannon lost his footing and the other number two, Honohan, did the rest. It’s the type of win that delivers league titles. For Rovers, it is a giant step towards reclaiming their perch.
Shelbourne: Kearns, Gannon, Barrett, Ledwidge; Caffrey, Wilson (Lunney 70), Coyle (Wood 70), McInroy (Coote 81), Norris; Chapman (Odubeko 59); Martin (Boyd 59)
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty, Cleary, Lopes, Matthews (Grace 5); Grant, McEneff, Healy, Honohan (Clarke 83); Byrne (Watts 69), Mandroiu (Burke 69), Gaffney (Greene 69)
Ref: Rob Harvey