Bohemians 1-3 Shamrock Rovers
Jamie Moore
Pat Fenlon’s team had gone 16 games unbeaten with nine wins and seven draws at the start of the season.
Former Hoop Kelly struck in the 84th and 94th minutes to complete the comeback for Keith Long’s team who had been 1-0 down since Kieran Marty Waters’ 9th minute header.
Derek Prendergast’s second set-piece goal in four days had equalised for Bohs with 13 minutes left.
This win means Bohs are now just three points behind their bitter rivals, but this game was about more than just the points which was proven by the massive crowd of 3,385 and the top class atmosphere.
Rovers led for the majority of the game thanks to Waters' third goal in three games, he glanced Stephen McPhail’s wide free kick into the top corner after 13 minutes.
Bohs were poor in the first half and were lucky not to go into the break further behind. Dave Webster headed Gary McCabe’s corner wide with the goal at his mercy.
Garreth McCaffrey could have put Rovers 2-0 up after Stephen McPhail's brilliant pass just after half-time but Dean Delany saved well with his feet.
The Gypsies came out a different team in the second half and were much improved but they didn’t equalise until the 77th minute.
They have been the set-piece experts this season and proved that again. Lorcan Fitzgerald has been a key man and his corner was blasted into the net by the head of Derek Prendergast, the second time those two have combined to score a goal in four days.
Bohs would have taken a point but went for the kill and got themselves in front with six minutes left, that man Fitzgerald was the provider again.
His free kick was headed in by sub Kelly, to silence the fans of his old team.
And it got better for Bohs as Kelly scored again in the fourth minute of injury time to end any nerves.
Izzy Akinade chased down what seemed like a lost cause towards to corner and won the tackle with Rovers ‘keeper Hyland, he picked himself up and crossed to Kelly who simply couldn’t miss from three yards.
Bohs have taken six points from their last three matches against title hopefuls Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers, their defeat to St. Pats on Tuesday night will be a distant memory.
Pat Fenlon and his team will head into the summer break seven points behind leaders Dundalk, but will take positives from their excellent start to the season, if not their second-half display at Dalymount.
Bohs manager Keith Long spoke to 98FM's Jamie Moore after the game.
Bohemains – Delany; A Murphy, Prendergast, Mulcahy, Fitzgerald; Moore, Hyland (Kelly, 72), Lopes, Evans; Buckley (Dillon, 86); Akinade.
Shamrock Rovers – Hyland; Madden, Webster, Kenna (Clancy, 46), Byrne; Waters, Cregg, McPhail, McCabe; Miele (R Brennan, 81); McCaffrey (G Brennan, 71)
Ref – Dave McKeon (Dublin)
