Bohemians close gap on Rovers

Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0:Shamrock Rovers are going to have to do it the hard way for after tonight's 1-0 defeat to Bohemians at Dalymount Park, the league leaders have the Dublin rivals breathing down their neck coming down the stretch.

With three games remaining for both sides in the Airtricity Premier League run-in, Bohemians have reduced the gap at the top to just two points. Tonight’s defeat means Michael O’Neill’s men missed out on the chance to clinch the title against Sporting Fingal on Saturday.

The decisive moment came after 20 minutes when veteran Jason Byrne showed great vision and awareness to latch onto a floated pass through the midfield. Byrne was quickest to react and sneaked beyond his marker to glance home what turned out to be the winner.

After the goal Rovers applied the pressure but Bohs’ man-of-the-match Ken Oman felt his side were always up to the task.

“Yeah we weathered the storm for a bit after the goal, but we defended well all night,” said Oman, who hasn’t given up hope of a third title on the spin for the Gypsies.

“We’re delighted with tonight’s result, it keeps the pressure up on them. Only two points in it and it they slip up and we capitalise then we’re in there.”

These are worrying times for Rovers and their fans, who were seemingly cruising to the title. However three consecutive away defeats has opened the door to their capital rivals, who would like nothing more than steal this campaign at the death.

Elsewhere St Patrick's Athletic defeated Drogheda United 3-0, while Sligo Rovers were 2-1 winners over Bray Wanderers

Tonight’s result

Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
Drogheda United 0-3 ST Patrick's Athletic
Sligo Rovers 2-1 Bray Wanderers

Remaining fixtures

Saturday
St Patrick's Ath v Bohemians
Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
Shamrock Rovers v Sporting Fingal
Galway United v UCD

Sunday
Bray Wanderers v Drogheda United

Fri, Oct 15th
Sporting Fingal v Galway United
UCD v Dundalk

Fri, Oct 22nd
Dundalk v Sporting Fingal
Galway United v Bohemians
St Patrick's Athletic v Bray Wanderers
UCD v Sligo Rovers
Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United

Fri, Oct 29th
Bohemians v Dundalk
Bray Wanderers v Shamrock Rovers
Drogheda United v Galway United
Sligo Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic
Sporting Fingal v UCD.