- Macdara Ferris
- Fri, Aug 23 2024
Shelbourne slipped to second place in the table after they could only draw 1-1 with Bohemians at Tolka Park. Both sides were seeking all three important points for very different reasons but neither Shelbourne nor Bohemians will really be happy with only claiming a point each from this Dublin Derby.
Shels without a win in four lost top spot after Derry City won 1-0 away to Waterford.
Meanwhile at the other end of the table Drogheda United moved off the bottom and above Dundalk after a 7-0 win over Sligo Rovers – it means United are now only four points behind Bohs in the table but Alan Reynolds’ side do have two games in hand as they remain eighth.
Akitunde, running onto a Dayle Rooney through ball, had a shot just whizz by the post before there were two quick fire goals traded inside the opening 15 minutes of this Dublin derby. The visitors from up the road in Phibsboro grabbed the opening goal a dozen minutes into the match.
Danny Grant started and ended the move – enjoying a one-two with Paddy Kirk who had taken the ball out from defence excellently – drifting in from the left, ghosting by Paddy Barrett and drilling a low shot by the outstretched boot of Conor Kearns.
Alan Reynold’s side had the lead only for two minutes as Damien Duff’s Shelbourne were quick to equalise. Kacper Chorazka made the decision to come for a long ball over the top. However, a defensive touch saw the ball falling to Ali Coote.
He steadied himself and chipped it over the stranded Chorazka and Leigh Kavanagh as he tried in vain to get back on the line to prevent the goal.
The game settled down after that but it was still a fiesty affair with referee Damien MacGraith whistling for plenty of fouls shared between the teams.
Another goalkeeping error but this time at the other end should have seen Grant get his second goal. Kearns came for a Liam Smith cross from the right but only really slapped it down.
Grant should have chipped the keeper but squared to Akintunde and when the ball came back to Grant he rashly blasted over. He was proving to be Bohs’ best attacking option having also had another shot just before the half hour mark that drew a save from Kearns.
The Shels netminder then had to bat away a dipping Dawson Devoy free kick after Ali Coote went in the book for taking down Adam McDonnell on the edge of the box.
Level at the break the best of the early second half chances came to Coote. The former Bohs player beat Paddy Kirk and his low shot on 51 minutes was spilled by Chorazka who had to scramble not to let it go over the line.
Rooney played in Grant who took the ball by Kearns after he came racing out of his area but Paddy Barrett got back to save Shels and his goalkeeper. Ross Tierney and Devoy were next to be on the end of good moves as Bohs began to get on top.
However they couldn’t find the winner and remain without a league win since mid-May. Shels do at least have a game in hand on the Candystripes who went top on goal difference but it is nervy times in Tolka Park with the Reds on this run of four without a win.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon (Sam Bone 87), Patrick Barrett, Shane Griffin, Tyreke Wilson; Mark Coyle © (Rayhaan Tulloch 87), Jonathan Lunney; Matthew Smith (John Martin 74), Harry Wood (Liam Burt 66), Alistair Coote (Evan Caffrey 66); Aiden O'Brien.
Subs not used: Lorcan Healy, Kameron Ledwidge, John O'Sullivan, Dan Ring.
Booked: Alistair Coote (31), Mark Coyle (72), John Martin (88), JJ Lunney (90+3)
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Cian Byrne, Leigh Kavanagh, Patrick Kirk; Liam Smith, Adam McDonnell © (James Clarke 83), Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney; Daniel Grant, Dayle Rooney (Declan McDaid 90+4); Oluwaseun Akintunde (Filip Piszczek 72).
Subs not used: James Talbot, Jevon Mills, Brian McManus, Martin Miller, Alex Grieve, Archie Meekison.
Booked: Patrick Kirk (21), Dayle Rooney (49), Ross Tierney (67)
Referee: Damien MacGraith
Attendance: 5,000 (estimate)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Danny Grant (Bohemians)
