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Shamrock Rovers 1 Bohemians 1
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 20:04
GLEN CRONIN'S second half equalising goal for Bohemians put a dent in Shamrock Rovers' title hopes in an absorbing clash at Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers went into this derby game knowing that their title aspirations would be impacted greatly one way or the other depending on the result.
Their great Dublin rivals never need any motivation to frustrate the Hoops and it was a lively contest from the off.
The first chance of note fell to Billy Dennehy on the edge of the Bohs penalty area in the 21st minute. The winger did well to connect with the dropping ball but it was well saved by keeper Barry Murphy.
Four mintues later leading scorer Gary Twigg took the wrong option in firing into the sidenetting from an acute angle when he had better-placed players inside.
Murphy proved his shot-stopping quality in the 26th minute when he did well to push away a diving header from close range by Gary O'Neill.
Eventually the onslaught on the visiting goal drew dividends in the 32nd minute. Pat Sullivan did well to earn a corner and from the resulting flag-kick by Dennehy, Dan Murray arrived to powerfully head home from eight yards out.
Killian Brennan had the first shot of note for Bohs in the 36th minute when he tame effort from the edge of the box failed to extend home keeper Richard Brush.
Brennan was for more effective in the 44th minute when he produced a blistering strike from a free-kick 25 yards from goal. The ball beat Brush all ends up but rattled the Rovers upright.
The ball did not leave the box and in the following scramble the Gypsies suffered a blow when striker Aidan Downes was booke for apparent simulation. It was Downes's second booking and he was dismissed.
Bohs could have capitulated but they showed great resolve after the break and carved out a remarkable equaliser in the 60th minute.
Anto Flood did well to dig out a cross from the left and midfielder Cronin made a late run before connecting with the cross at the edge of the box. The volley was not the cleanest but the ball bounced into the bottom corner of the Rovers net for the leveller.
Bohs proved a difficult nut for Rovers to crack from that point on and despite the greater urgency in the home side's play, they did not produce a huge amount of chances to snatch the winner.
O'Neill was unlucky to see another diving header from a left wing cross by Jim Paterson fall just the wrong side of the Bohs crossbar in the 74th minute.
In the 85th minute substitute Ciaran Kilduff pased up a great chance to win it when he headed wide from close range from a Pat Sullivan right wing cross.
Two minutes later fellow sub Chris Turner thought he had been pushed in the box by Aidan Price but was booked for his unsuccessful protests.
Dennehy had a half-chance to snatch a winner in extra-time but his right footed volley flew over the Bohs crossbar.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson, McCabe, Finn, Rice (Turner 67), Dennehy, O'Neill (Ricketts 79), Twigg (Kilduff 46).
BOHEMIANS: B Murphy; O'Brien, Burns, Price, Cahill, Forrester (Fagan 87), Bayly (Traynor 56), Cronin, Brennan, Downes, Flood.
REFEREE: D Tomney (Dublin)
 
 
 
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