Bohemians all but ended Shamrock Rovers' slim Premier Division title hopes at Dalymount Park on Sunday morning. Rovers now trail leaders Shelbourne by 12 points with just nine games left to play, although the Hoops do have a game in hand on the Reds. But it could have been a perfect day for Stephen Bradley’s side who took the lead after just 15 minutes through Neil Farrugia.
Bohs, however, awoke from their slumber and levelled soon after with Ross Tierney netting after Lee Grace was caught napping when trying to deal with a Dawson Devoy ball. Darragh Burns then went close for Rovers before the break before inexplicably missing the target with the goal gaping.
The game turned in the second half when Grace was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards in 14 minutes. And striker Filip Piszczek eventually won it for Bohs late on when heading in a Jordan Flores cross.
So many Garda resources were needed for tonight’s Coldplay gig that the Dublin Derby moved to a novel 11.30am kick-off. It was not the first time the derby has had a morning kick-off - it also happened in 1975 - but few in attendance today remember that, and it meant a different build-up. Even the PA got in on the act playing Oasis’ Morning Glory and The Velvet Underground’s Sunday Morning. And there were also some seats still unoccupied as kick-off approached when this is normally a fixture where even the walkways get crowded. It may be a game where motivation is never a problem, a clash that no one should need to get up for. But getting up on time was still a challenge. But a change of time cannot change the derby either.
The Bohemians fans in Section A of the Jodi Stand were singing about hating Rovers 20 minutes before kick-off And they also sang their hearts out to Hold Me Now - in memory of supporter Ger Byrne, the man who made it a Bohs anthem, who sadly passed away last week. There was also an impeccably observed minute’s silence from both sets of supporters in memory of him.
And once the game kicked-off, it could easily have been Friday night without the lights as it looked, sounded, and smelled like a derby. Rovers’ boss Stephen Bradley said the kick-off was not an excuse for his team’s loss pointing out they could have been 3-0 up. And Bohemians gaffer Alan Reynolds added: “I’m not going to come here and say we did this and that. We train at this hour all the time.” But his side started slowly and Rovers had two good chances in the opening ten minutes through Marc McNulty. He had one header cleared off the line by Leigh Kavanagh and another shot blocked before Seán Hoare also put a free header wide. Farrugia put the visitors in front on 15 minutes when allowed to advance to the edge of the area before shooting into the corner with a shot that bobbled out of Kacper Chorazka’s reach. And they could have doubled their advantage moments later when McNulty advanced on goal but failed to get a shot away, though he claimed he had his shirt pulled. Bradley said: “The game should be over at half-time, two one-on-ones, free header, a penalty, we score, the game should be over. You have to be more ruthless.”
But Bohemians soon clicked into gear and put the Hoops under pressure - before drawing level on 24 minutes. Rovers’ defender Grace was caught out by the bounce of a ball over the top from Dawson Devoy as he failed to head it clear. And instead Dayle Rooney was able to cut the ball back for the late arriving Ross Tierney in the six-yard box to drill home first-time despite Roberto Lopes’ attempted block. Bradley was unhappy with Grace’s role in the goal, and had no complaints about his red card either as the normally reliable defender had a real off-day. The Hoops gaffer said: “It’s really surprising because he’s a top player, one of the best in the country but today he was a million miles away from it and it cost us. He owns it, I think that’s the dressing room, they own it when they’ve not been good. We have to accept it, he’s been brilliant for us. But it’s frustrating because you’re in a game when one of your most experienced players, one of the best centre backs in the country has a really poor day and it cost us.”
There were other chances before half time as Darragh Burns blazed over after Chorazka saved a Graham Burke effort while Rooney hit the post for Bohs. But the second half was flat by comparison - both on and off the pitch - until Grace’s red card which handed the advantage to Bohemians. And they took it six minutes from time when Piszczek headed home from six yards with goalkeeper Leon Pohls rooted to his goal line. And while the Hoops did press for an equaliser with Kenny forcing a save out of Chorazka in injury time, there were no late heroics as Bohs earned the win.
Reynolds finished: “We grew into it and got stronger and we knew they were going to have a little spell at the end and putting balls in the box. We probably rode our luck a little bit and I think overall we just about shaded it. Bar the Waterford one here where we went 2-0 up and lost 3-2 and the Cup one (agaisnt Kerry) obviously, we’ve been good, we’ve been improving. But football changes so quickly. We won’t be resting, we’ll prepare and all the usual s**t that goes with that. Hopefully it’s a springboard.”
BOHEMIANS left it late to win the early kick-off as Polish striker Filip Piszczek beat ten-man Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park. Piszczek headed home a cross from fellow substitute Jordan Flores six minutes from time to earn Bohs their first league win since May, and first home league win since April. The home fans had seen a win in the intervening period - also against Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup - but this one could be important in their battle against the drop. Their victory eases those worries as they have opened a seven-point cushion over the bottom two, with the defeat leaving Rovers in sixth place in their battle to qualify for Europe. But they will rue letting a lead slip after Ross Tierney cancelled out Neil Farrugia’s opening goal, and then having Lee Grace sent off after 66 minutes for two yellows. His second was for a late challenge on Dayle Rooney though his first was needless when he knocked the ball away to delay a Bohemians throw-in. And Bohs took full advantage to ensure what will be long celebrations for the rest of the day at Dalymount Park after the early kick-off.
