10-man Bohs dig deep to beat Pat's
Ross Tierney scored a late goal to seal victory for Bohs over Pats. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
10-man Bohemians rallied to secure a huge three points in a thrilling Dublin derby. Colm Whelan’s penalty had Bohs in front before Pat Hickey saw red just before the break, and despite one-way traffic in the second half, Ross Tierney popped up in the last minute to seal all three points — sending Bohs back up to second.
A fast start was expected and although the hosts enjoyed the majority of possession, it was the visitors who had the first shot in anger.
Irish international Kian Leavy looked to continue his scintillating form and having played a clever one-two, cut inside onto his favoured left foot and unleashed a venomous strike that was well parried away by Paul Girard.
A real war of attrition began to develop, with both sides refusing to give an inch, but just as the game was beginning to reach boiling point — on and off the pitch — a very in-fashion and momentum-killing ‘hydration break’ was called, and much like at the World Cup, was met with a chorus of boos from both sets of fans.
Stephen Kenny’s side reacted much sharper to the break in play, and following a similar effort to his earlier strike, Leavy was presented with the clearest chance of the game on the half-hour mark.
Zach Elbouzedi drifted across the pitch, fizzing the ball into Romal Palmer, who quickly flicked the ball onto Leavy, and he had the goal at his mercy.
The towering American Girard stood up bravely to block, prompting chants of “USA, USA” from the home support.
With just the one win in their last nine against their south Dublin rivals, the home side responded instantly. Colm Whelan was desperately unlucky to see his low effort rattle off the foot of the post following some slick Strods play down the left. But the Gypsies’ top scorer made amends seven minutes before the break when Sean Hoare brought down another Irish international in Dawson Devoy.
Whelan made no mistake from 12 yards to bag his ninth of the season.
On the stroke of half time, disaster struck for the hosts as they saw Pat Hickey receive his marching orders for hauling down Palmer on the edge of the box.
Looking for what would be their third win on the spin, and with the man advantage, the Saints ramped up the pressure to force a goalmouth scramble a few minutes after the restart.
Palmer’s initial touch and attempted lob was initially cleared off the line, before Ryan Edmondson forced Girard into a save.
The end of the third quarter allowed the home side to regroup, having been camped inside their own third for most of the second half.
But being led by the immense Sam Todd, the Bohs rearguard continued to hold firm.
With just a minute of normal time remaining, the home side got what their second-half effort deserved when Ross Tierney got in between Chris Forrester and Rogers to bundle the ball over the line.
Girard; Power, Hickey, Todd, Mullen; Vaughan (Byrne, 46’), Devoy, Flores (Morahan, 83’), Strods (Parsons, 58’); Tierney (McDonnell, 90+1’), Whelan (Rooney, 58’).
Rogers; Redmond, Hoare, Breslin (McClelland, 63’); Brown (Power, 75’), Baggley (Forrester, 68’), Lennon, Palmer (Rooney, 75’), Elbouzedi; Leavy, Edmondson (Keena, 63’).
Rob Harvey
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