SOCCER: St Patrick's Ath 1 Bohemians 1LIAM BURNS scored and was sent off along with team-mate Christy Fagan as Bohemians showed remarkable resolve to salvage a point with nine men at Richmond Park.
The previous two games between the sides this season had produced just one goal, though the first tussle, also in Inchicore on April Fools Day, provided similar drama with a late penalty save by Bohemians’ Barry Murphy earning his side a 0-0 draw.
St Patrick’s had had the upper hand in both those encounters and it was they, fresh from perhaps their best display of the season in beating Drogheda 4-0 on Friday, who took the early initiative.
Gary Rogers had a little scare when making a meal of gathering Killian Brennan’s audacious free kick from over 35 yards. But opposite number Murphy was undoubtedly the busier early on, the pick of his endeavours a save from Daryl Kavanagh’s shot after the striker had turned a defender following Stephen Bradley’s quickly taken free-kick.
Anto Murphy was also a threat on the right against the not so assured looking Ollie Cahill whom he cut in behind a little too easily to curl a shot wide. They were closer still on 38 minutes when a sublime cross from the right by David McMillan was flicked inches wide of Murphy’s right hand post by Kavanagh.
Bohemians came into it approaching half-time with Flood working Rogers after Ger O’Brien’s industry carved the opening on the right. It was a rare first half highlight for Bohemians who then had lone striker Fagan sent off on 43 minutes for a rash challenge on Evan McMillan, his second booking following an earlier tackle on Derek Pender.
Incensed by the decision, Bohemians might have been behind in first half stoppage time but for a dreadful miss by David McMillan who skied over the bar after Kavanagh pulled the ball back from the end line.
The game swung Bohemians’ way with the lead goal on 52 minutes after O’Brien’s skill won a free kick off Ian Bermingham. Rogers initially made a stunning one-handed save from Brennan’s top corner-bound effort. But Flood retrieved the ball to cross for central defender Burns to turn the home from close range. Burns then saw a straight red card for a handball in a goalmouth scramble on 67 minutes, Bradley scoring emphatically from the spot.
Press as they might, St Patrick’s, who hit a post through David McMillan, couldn’t get a winner as Bohemians held out for another remarkable point at Richmond Park.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Rogers; Pender, E McMillan, Shortall, Bermingham; Murphy (McFaul, 68 mins), Mulcahy, Bradley, Doyle (Daly, 68 mins); Kavanagh, D McMillan.
BOHEMIANS:Murphy; Rossiter (Lopes, 87 mins), Burns, Price, Cahill; Cronin; Flood, Hurley (Feely, 74 mins), O'Brien, Brennan; Flood (Forrester, 90 mins).
Referee:T Connolly (Dublin).
