Bohs blow it to hand rivals Rovers an early title clincher
Jordan Flores of Bohemians reacts after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Bohemians and Shelbourne. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Bohemians handed Shamrock Rovers their sixth title in seven years by becoming the latest victim of Shelbourne’s penchant for striking late in derbies.
Aware the Hoops were strolling to victory against Sligo, the need for Bohs to match the result to keep the race until next week cost them when Mipo Odubeko broke to smash home the only goal with five minutes left.
The substitute’s winner before a crowd of 4,445 follows on the back of Dan Kelly all but killing off another of Rovers’ title rivals by securing a 2-1 victory at St Patrick’s Athletic.
This result culminated a woeful fortnight for Bohs, who at that stage of the season had a double in their sights.
John Russell’s Shels tenure since being appointed in July had been disappointing until a recent upsurge.
Three wins from their last four games came too late for a challenge into the top three and European qualification but Shels arrived at their local rivals determined to obliterate their title ambitions.
A winter rebuild looms for Russell and those still awaiting word on their future at the club had the ideal stage to pitch their credentials for retention.
This was the occasion of the final men's game under lights at Dalymount before the wrecking ball levels the stands for redevelopment.
An extension will allow Bohs to start next season at the famed venue before moving to the southside for two years but the four months of matches will be staged during weekend daytimes after the pylons have been dismantled.
Not many players in either team utilised the stage to beam their name in lights until Odubeko delivered a sweet finish.
When Shamrock Rovers opened up a six-point gap by beating Bohs last Monday week, it looked curtains for them but a swing in results four days later revived the title race.
That was made possible by the team led by Alan Reynolds beating his hometown club of Waterford, atoning for their FAI Cup semi-final exit a week earlier at the hands of the Blues.
Bohs simply didn’t carry enough goal threat to have been deemed unlucky here. Douglas James-Taylor was recruited during last year’s summer transfer window but the marquee capture has yet to spark.
Early chances were sparse; Connor Parsons fired over for Bohs on 10 minutes before Jack Henry-Francis sent his shot wide at the other end.
Losing Ross Tierney to injury on the half hour crucified a Bohs side reeling from the absence of suspended Dawson Devoy but still they went closest before the break when his replacement Zack Myers clipped the outside of the post.
Sean Moore could have also nicked one for Shels as the half-time whistle neared, hooking his shot wide on the turn.
Shels continued to probe in the second half, Dan Kelly arriving too late when John Martin squared the ball before Kerr McInroy saw his shot saved by Paul Walters.
Eventually their reward for perseverance was paid when Jordan Norris crossed for the alert Odubeko to control the ball with his first touch and rake it high into the roof of the net with his second. This was a comeback too far for Bohs.
P Walters; D Power, C Byrne, S Todd, R Burke (S Mullen 73); S Diallo (P Hickey 58), J Flores; H Vaughan (M Strouds, R Tierney (Z Myers 34), C Parsons; D James-Taylor (C Whelan 73).
E Beach; E Caffrey, O Casey, K Ledwidge, J Norris; K McInroy, JJ Lunney (M Odubeko 69); S Moore (S Bone 90), S Henry-Francis, D Kelly; J Martin (S Boyd 84).
Rob Harvey (Dublin).
4,445.
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