League of Ireland:The champagne will have to be kept on ice for another week for although champions-elect Bohemians were excellent value for tonight's 3-1 win over Sligo Rovers their nearest challengers, Shamrock Rovers, drew against Galway United to force the title race into the final game.
That said tonight’s results means the contest is all over bar the shouting because the league leaders are now three points ahead of Rovers with one game remaining, but just as importantly they hold the massive 16-goal difference advantage.
It means the Gypsies will travel to the Carlisle Grounds next week to take on bottom-of-the-table side Bray Wanderers, who were relegated after their 3-0 defeat to Derry City at the Brandywell, in an almost celebratory mood because although mathematically they can be caught, realistically overturning a 16-goal difference is not going to happen.
“That was a fantastic result tonight,” said a delighted Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon after the win at Dalymount Park. “I know it’s still not done yet, mathematically, but barring a miracle we are there (won the title).”
“To win the title two years in a row will be a fantastic achievement and much of that has to go down to the high work-rate within the squad.
“We’ve had a great run-in, but like I said, credit to all the lads and the team because our fitness has been excellent all year and it’s a small squad.”
Fenlon’s side will now collect their 11th league title next week and can afford to do it some style, just like their performance against Sligo this evening.
Paddy Madden opened the scoring after just nine minutes before the contest threatened to fall flat when Joseph Ndo doubled the advantage one minute later.
Jason Byrne sent the oncoming defender the wrong way before his pass took a slight deflection which meant Ndo had to keep all his composure to lift the ball over the Sligo keeper and gathering defenders.
By the half hour mark the champions were in complete control and the result was put beyond question when Byrne and Ndo reversed roles for Bohs’ third.
This time Ndo played an inch perfect ball from the 18-yard line and with Byrne’s awareness and speed he eased passed the defender and coolly slotted home his 19th of the season after 29 minutes.
By the break it looked as though the title was secure for Bohemians but Gary Twigg changed things when he put Shamrock Rovers ahead after 43 minutes at Tallaght Stadium to keep their slim hopes alive.
Back at Dalymount Sligo manager Paul Cook reverted to a 4-4-2 formation for the second half and it immediately paid dividends as 19-year-old Dean Marshall scored a wonderful goal - only his second of the season.
However, it proved to be a false dawn as Bohs were up to any onslaught thrown at them and in turn threatened at the other end with chances of their own.
Veteran Glenn Crowe replaced Madden for the last quarter of an hour after the opening goal-scorer picked up a calf injury and was unable to continue.
The fate of the title took another turn when Aaron Green scored a fantastic individual effort to equalise for Galway back in Tallaght and all of a sudden the Bohemians celebrations became very real.
However the game ended in a 1-1 draw in Tallaght while no more goals came at Dalymount as Fenlon’s men can look forward to historic title celebrations in Bray next week.
League of Ireland Results:
Premier Division
Bohemians 3-1 Sligo Rovers
Drogheda United 1-2 St Patrick's Athetic
Cork City 2-1 Dundalk
Derry City 3-0 Bray Wanderers
Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Galway United
First Division
Limerick 3-0 Finn Harps
Mervue United 1-4 Sporting Fingal
Athlone Town 0-5 UCD
Shelbourne 3-5 Longford United
