ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC lost their way in the title race after being held to a draw by Bohs at Dalymount Park.

The upshot of all this is that they now trail both Shamrock Rovers and Sligo by two points – but the champions have played two games fewer and appear much better placed to close the deal.

Yet for all St Pat’s shortcomings last night – they nearly sneaked it in the closing minutes when Sean O’Connor’s ambitious effort caught the heel of Ger O’Brien and ended up clipping the crossbar before bouncing to safety.


All of a sudden, the game entered a frantic end-to-end scramble – both teams showing guts and ambition to try and win it but the night would be remembered for the incessant rain and the absence of true quality.


And yet the first ten minutes suggested a classic was on the cards as each team burst out of the blocks, Bohs coming close to breaking the deadlock when Liam Burns’ third-minute-shot was touched onto the bar by Gary Rogers, Pat’s replying four minutes later via Stephen Bradley, whose 25-yard-effort was pushed away by Barry Murphy.


Add in the fascinating tactical battle which was unfolding – both teams’ 4-3-3 system allowing width to be king in a game when congestion is normally its major theme – and you had the ingredients for a potential thriller.

But it didn’t turn out that way – as Pat’s failed to get their passing game into operation, chiefly because their playmaker, Stephen Bradley, was unable to exert enough influence from midfield.

The same can’t be said of his Bohemians counterpart, Killian Brennan, though. Operating just behind Anto Flood, the former Derry City star provided continuity to the Bohs attacks, sweeping the play right and left with his subtle and accurate touches.

While this was one factor in Bohs getting the upper hand – the positive movement of both their full-backs, Ger O’Brien and Ollie Cahill, was just as important, as Bohs began to overrun their opponents on each flank.

Yet for all their dominance, they couldn’t buy a break – Anto Flood’s disallowed goal in the 18th minute typifying their misfortune in that opening half.


Come the second half, though, and a different game unfolded. Pat’s were much better, largely because Bradley was much better.

His mobility around the park became a key issue in the recovery and while Bohs continued to show patience in attack and aggression in defence, the tide had definitely turned.

But still, a breakthrough just wouldn’t arrive.

Sean O’Connor looked like getting one – his 25-yard-shot being brilliantly saved by Murphy – but otherwise there wasn’t much to note.

That said, each dug-out took it turn to express their discontent with referee, Richie Winter – on one of those nights when the game needed a goal to bring it to life.


That so nearly arrived four minutes from time as O’Connor veered in from the left but just as he pulled the trigger, O’Brien put his body on the line, doing enough to stop a goal and an unfair defeat for the home side.

BOHEMIANS: B Murphy; O'Brien, Burns, Price, Cahill; Buckley (Downes 60), Bayly (Hurley 72), McEvoy, Forrester (Traynor 90+3); Brennan; Flood.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, E McMillan, Kenna, Shortall; North (Daly 62), Bradley, McFaul, Doyle (A Murphy 86); O'Connor; Kavanagh (D McMillan 80)