By Jamie Moore
Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Bohemians
Shamrock Rovers’ failed to score for the second home game in a row and will feel they should have taken the three points from this Dublin derby.
Bohemians’ goalkeeper Dean Delany made two brilliant saves in the final ten minutes to earn his team a point while sub Danny North also missed a great chance in added time to win the game.
Those saves mean Rovers lose more early ground on defending Champions Dundalk who beat Sligo Rovers to go four points clear at the top after five matches.
Rovers dominated a drab game which came to life in the 78th minute and it was two subs who almost created that elusive goal. Kieran Marty Waters tricked Paddy Kavanagh before crossing to Ryan Brennan, he timed his run brilliantly but his bullet header was well blocked by Delany.
The pressure was building as Rovers won a number of corners, pinning Bohs almost in their own box.
Another great chance to win the game resulted from one of those corners, the ball broke to Waters but Delany somehow saved his low shot through a crowd of players to keep the game scoreless.
Pat Fenlon’s team had the majority of possession but Bohemians were happy for them to have the ball without causing any major damage. Irish international Keith Fahey showed some nice touches in limited space be failed to unlock the door as he did in their 2-1 win over Sligo on Tuesday night.
It was a first Dublin derby for new Bohs’ manager Keith Long. His team had lost 3-0 to Dundalk on Tuesday night and will count themselves lucky to have got a point.
Their only two chances of the game came in the first half, Paddy Kavanagh flashed an early shot wide while former Rover Dean Kelly had a shot blocked.
It was defence against attack in the final minutes in front of a packed Tallaght Stadium and even the introduction of Danny North in the final minutes plus four minutes of added could not yield a goal.
He missed a great chance in added time to win it. He somehow managed to head Waters’ cross over the bar from almost in the goal.
Hear from both managers on Sunday morning's Now That's What I Call Sport with Johnny Lyons from 9am.
Shamrock Rovers team: Hyland; Madden, Webster, Kenna, D O’Connor; S O’Connor, McPhail (R Brennan, 61), Cregg, McCabe (North, 85); Fahey; Drennan.
Bohemians team: Delany; Pender, Prendergast, Best, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh, Creevy, Lopes, Evans (Moore, 75); Buckley (Dillon, 61); Kelly (J Byrne, 79).
Ref – Paul Tuite (Dublin)
