Bohemians were held to a 1-1 draw at home by St Patrick’s Athletic in a competitive encounter at Dalymount Park on Tuesday evening.


This top of the table clash didn’t fail to deliver on entertainment with both teams enjoying plenty of chances on goal and an intensity bubbling at the heart of it to make it a real Dublin derby.


Vinny Faherty stunned the home crowd when he curled a low shot into the bottom corner on 17 minutes, although Jason Byrne got the champions back into it with a goal on 48 minutes.


Bohs have been slow to get going in games so far this season, but they were first to threaten when Jason Byrne came close to converting a Paul Keegan free-kick in the opening minutes.


Shortly after that Killian Brennan let rip with a left-footed effort before the visitors registered their first attempt on goal when Paul Byrne’s header was ruled out by the referee’s assistant.


The disappointment of that decision for the away fans was quickly replaced by joy as Faherty netted his third goal of the season after excellent link-up play with Paul Byrne.


While the goal came against the run of play, St Pat’s were happy to build on the momentum that it provided with midfielder Stuart Byrne shooting just wide with a snap volley.


Then Faherty almost got his second of the evening when he peeled off his marker, collected a pass from his strike partner and chipped just over the Bohs crossbar.


Bohs tried to take over and stormed forward at every opportunity with Jason Byrne heading over, Gareth McGlynn coming close and Owen Heary causing panic in the opposition’s penalty area when he met a corner from Brennan.


Although it wasn’t until the second period before the Gypsies got back on level terms. A Conor Powell cross from left landed at the feet of Jason Byrne and he fired in from close range.


The home fans were celebrating just five minutes later when Byrne provided the perfect cross for Paddy Madden, who thumped his header into the back of the net – only for it to be ruled out as offside.


That stoked the fire within the Bohs team as they began to dominate in midfield, close St Pat’s down with greater urgency and continue to threaten with Byrne and Keegan both firing over.


Pete Mahon’s side were struggling to keep up and had to rely on shots from distance from both Stuart Byrne and Derek Pender as their best chances in the second period.


The hosts showed their class when a Brian Shelley cross picked out Glenn Cronin whose header forced Saints keeper Gary Rogers into a fine save. Madden was unable to convert from the rebound.


Even though they conceded their first goal of the season St Pat’s will be content with taking a point from this game, while Bohs know that there is still more to come from them as they campaign rolls on.


Bohemians: O’Connor; Shelley, Heary, Oman, Powell; Brennan, Cronin, Keegan, McGlynn; Byrne (Quigley 83), Madden (Cretaro 79).


Substitutes Not Used: B Murphy, Rossiter, Higgins.



St Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Pender, Kenna, Guthrie, Bermingham (Lynch 63); Guy, Mulcahy, S Byrne, Cash (Coughlan 75); Faherty, P Byrne (McAllister 85).


Substitutes Not Used: Connor, Williams.

Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin)