BOHEMIANS MOVED up to second place in the table and confirmed their European qualification for next season, despite their scoreless draw with Sligo at, Dalymount yesterday which was, blemished by a double sending-off.
Just which competition they'll play in won't be decided until next week's final games, but Bohemians manager Turlough O'Connor made it clear he wants the UEFA Cup spot rather than the more problematic, though potentially lucrative, InterToto Cup place.
As scoreless draws go this wasn't particularly bad, though sadly the sendings off 11 minutes into the second-half provided, the main talking point. Bohemians Peter Hanrahan and Lee Thew of Sligo got red cards for their involvement in an off-the-ball scuffle.
Both sides did create several good scoring chances. John Ryan and Derek Swan, twice, came close before Paul Doolin headed an Eoin Mullen corner against the Sligo crossbar in the 26th minute.
It was by no means one way traffic, however, and Sligo's John Kenny almost punished a rare Doolin error six minutes later, but his goalkeeper, Dave Henderson, saved Doolin's blushes with a fingertip save.
Bohemians enjoyed the better of the second-half: Ryan shooting into the side-netting within three minutes of the restart, before the sendings off opened up the game more.
Referee O'Hanlon angered Bohemians when he failed to award a penalty on 77 minutes after Sligo defender Dale Hawtin appeared to impede Warren Parkes. Doolin also had an injury-time goal disallowed for offside. "Many of the decisions by the officials left much to be desired," said O'Connor.
