Shelbourne 1 Bohemians 1
On an emotional night at Tolka Park, Shane Farrell’s second half penalty rescued a point for 10-man Shelbourne in a tense Dublin Derby against Bohemians in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
Just before kick-off, there was a minute’s silence for four recently-deceased members across both clubs — Gary Daly and Emmett “Emmo” Connolly from Shelbourne and Derek “Mono” Monaghan and Martin Poole of Bohemians. These northside rivals certainly honoured their memories with performances that were full of commitment and verve, though it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just five minutes into the action.
After Shels defender Aaron O’Driscoll was booked for upending Ali Coote just outside of the penalty area, full-back Tyreke Wilson clinically dispatched the subsequent free-kick to the bottom right-hand corner to make it a dream start to the action for Bohs.
By contrast, this was a hammer blow for the hosts who suffered a further setback when team captain Luke Byrne and O’Driscoll were simultaneously withdrawn through injury inside the first-quarter — the latter stretchered off following an accidental collision with team-mate Brendan Clarke.
Yet in addition to bringing a one-goal lead into the interval, Bohs also possessed a numerical advantage. At the end of a half that had begun with his brother Tyreke opening the scoring for his opponents, JR Wilson was issued with a straight red card for a hefty tackle on Gypsies attacker Declan McDaid.
Neil Doyle also handed out five yellows in a fiery opening period and another decision by the Dublin whistler on the resumption altered the course of the tie. A little under 10 minutes after the restart, Bohs centre-half Ciaran Kelly was adjudged to have fouled Jack Moylan inside the box.
There was huge pressure on the shoulders of Farrell, but he convincingly slotted the resulting spot-kick beyond Jon McCracken’s reach. Shels were rejuvenated as a result and McCracken had to be at his best once again to deny JJ Lunney from distance on the third-quarter mark.
Bohs eventually halted the home team’s momentum, however, and while they couldn’t muster a winner in a frantic finale, Keith Long’s side remain ahead of their city counterparts in the league standings.
Shelbourne: Clarke; O’Driscoll (Ledwidge, 16 mins), Byrne (Lunney, 16 mins), Griffin; Wilson, Farrell, Molloy, McManus, Kane (Dervin, 53 mins); Moylan (Carr, 83 mins), Smith.
Bohemians: McCracken; Wilson, Feely, Kelly, Burke (Murphy, 58 mins); O’Sullivan (McManus, 95 mins), Clarke; Twardek (Burt, 66 mins), Coote (Mullins, 83 mins), McDaid; Varian (Afolabi, 58 mins).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).