Bohs seal second with comeback victory over Pats
Jordan Flores scored an equaliser for Bohemians against St Patrick's Athletic. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Bohemians came from behind to secure second place as St Patrick’s Athletic ended their season with a home defeat in a thrilling Dublin derby at Richmond Park.
Alan Reynolds’s Gypsies thus finish five points ahead of St Pat’s and three behind champions Shamrock Rovers.
A second successive home defeat to Dublin rivals made it no win in four for Pat’s as their promising season finished with something of a whimper, albeit with European qualification having been guaranteed.
Far from a dead rubber game despite the title challenge for both having evaporated over the last fortnight, a second place finish brings a not inconsiderable financial boost to Bohs as it secures a bye into the second round of the Uefa Conference League next summer.
That’s worth a minimum of €525,000 (as opposed to €325,000), in addition to slightly more in domestic prize money for runners-up over third place.
Two points behind Bohs at kick-off, Saints simply had to win to leapfrog the Phibsborough side.
They began with plenty of intent, Jamie Lennon working Paul Walters with a shot from the edge of the area within 30 seconds.
Zach Elbouzedi then burst forward down the right three minutes later to set up Anthony Olusanya who shot wastefully wide.
But their promising start delivered as Saints were ahead on eight minutes from the game’s first corner.
Aidan Keena swept his delivery to the back post where defender Sean McHale, making his first start for Saints this season, lost Jordan Flores to score with a stooping header.
Missing suspended skipper Dawson Devoy and the injured Ross Tierney, Bohs’ first attack saw their appeals for a penalty not entertained when Saints’ Jay McClelland tangled with Darragh Power inside the home area.
Power was then booked for a foul on Keena whose resulting free kick wasn’t far over Walters’ crossbar.
Another Saints chance was blown on 28 minutes, Keena the culprit when contriving to put his shot from Olusanya’s cross wide when looking set to double the lead.
Having survived those let-offs, Bohs grew into the game, Connor Parsons bringing a fine tip over save from Joseph Anang.
And the Gypsies were level on 36 minutes.
Latvian international Markuss Strods showed tenacity and no little skill in getting to the end line to cross.
Though Anang got a touch to Parsons’ near post header to direct the ball onto the bar, Flores was there to nod home.
Bohs’ resurgence then saw them turn the half on its head in the first minute of added time.
There was no foul given as Patrick Hickey certainly appeared to bundle Luke Turner off the ball following a corner.
The American played to the whistle to drill a low ball across the face of the Saints’ goal where fellow defender Byrne applied the finish.
With 17-year-old Ryan Sheridan on for the restart, St Pat’s upped the impetus as they chased the game.
Further frustrated by Rob Hennessy’s refereeing, their revival hopes were dashed on 57 minutes when Bohs extended their lead in their first attack of the second half.
Parsons linked with Whelan whose shot came back off Anang’s right-hand post. Parsons followed up to side-foot home the rebound despite being off balance.
Kian Leavy reignited home hopes with a stunning goal four minutes later, cutting past Parsons on the right to score with a curling shot from distance.
Along with Ryan Edmondson, Chris Forrester was then sprung from the bench to a rousing reception from the Saints faithful for his 455th record-extending, and final, appearance in a St Pat’s shirt.
It proved to no avail as St Pat’s failed to muster another chance, Bohemians having done enough to end their season on a high.
Anang; Redmond, Turner, McHale (Edmondson, 67); Lennon, Baggley (Forrester, 67); Elbouzedi, Leavy (Palmer, 81), McClelland (Breslin, 20); Keena, Olusanya (Sheridan, h-t).
Walters; Power (Mullen, 75), Byrne, Hickey, Todd, Rooney; Morahan (Diallo, 75), Flores; Strods (Vaughan, 75), Parsons (Myers, 84); Whelan (James-Taylor, 75).
Rob Hennessy (Clare).
4,855.
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