Bohemains - 1 Shamrock Rovers - 1:NATIONAL LEAGUE/Premier Division: They've suffered that much over their years of wandering it would be easy to think your average Rovers supporter is immune to disappointment at this stage.

But then there's nothing as capable of making that particular tribe's grey skies seem blue than coming to Dalymount and taking all three points. Hardly surprising then, that those who made the short journey north yesterday almost slumped out of the ground after seeing victory snatched away from them with almost the last kick of the game.

Had they held on for the win Stephen Grant would have been the hero, with the former striker an increasingly formidable influence on the left wing, scoring a goal worthy of settling any big derby 16 minutes from time.

Bohemians failed to produce anything close to their best football but they worked tirelessly to salvage something out of the contest and the equaliser came two minutes into stoppage time. Kevin Hunt made contact first to nudge the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble.

"We didn't deserve it," said Hunt. "It was one of the worst performances since I've been at the club and we were lucky to get anything out of it."

It became obvious early on that this would not be the game where everything clicked for Stephen Kenny's men. For most of the contest the passes were a yard wide of the mark, the runs from midfield a fraction mistimed. Early on, though, Rovers were little better although they had cause for complaint after three minutes when Tony Grant had a strong claim for a penalty ignored after Simon Webb looked to have bundled over Tony Grant.

Rovers boss Liam Buckley was still annoyed about the decision after a game he felt his side should have won: "All we can take from it is that we have one more point leaving here today than we managed last season."

It was little consolation as Rovers are unlikely to catch their great rivals so far off their game again over the course of the campaign ahead. Bohemians goalkeeper Shay Kelly had no more to do than his opposite number during a spell in which Trevor Molloy, Tony Grant and Liam Kelly had enough half chances to at least pose more problems.

Kelly, though, was caught badly for the goal when Jason Colwell's through ball found Stephen Grant, who, having shaken off Damien Lynch, lobbed the goalkeeper beautifully.

Kenny reacted by bringing on the young Ukrainian Andrei Pereplyotkin, whose impact was quickly felt. Normally a striker, the 18-year-old played wide in midfield and provided the sort of bite Bobby Ryan and Mark Rutherford had failed to.

Had Glen Crowe been in better form he surely would have tapped home the newcomer's low cross from the left five minutes from time instead of tapping straight to Ryan, a chance that almost cost the Bohemians the game for from the break Liam Kelly drew a decent save from Kelly at the other end of the pitch.

As the game moved into injury time Bohemians persisted and for that alone they may have warranted their point. Crowe again had the chance to bag the equaliser after Fergal Harkin's through ball was deflected past him into the box but his shot was not good enough to beat Ryan.

Ryan was finally beaten moments later when Pereplyotkin started a move that ended with Bobby Ryan crossing, the goalkeeper getting a touch to Derek Coughlan's header and Hunt outstretching a couple of defenders to tap the equaliser home.

BOHEMIANS: Kelly; Lynch, Coughlan, Hawkins, Webb; Ryan, Caffrey (Harkin, 62 mins), Hunt, Rutherford (Pereplyotkin, 75 mins); Keegan (Doyle, 68 mins), Crowe.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Ryan; Gough, Palmer, Byrne, Keddy; Robinson, Colwell (Treacy, 90 mins), Reynolds, S Grant; T Grant (Kelly 39 mins), Molloy.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).