Shamrock Rovers 0 Bohemians 0:Perhaps not the most memorable renewal of this derby but there was enough pop and fizz to captivate until the bitter end. Flashes of genuine skill and bedazzlement were conspicuous by their absence yet try and find a punter disappointed with their night's entertainment.
At times both sides were flat on the canvas. Rovers left their gameplan in the dressingroom for 45 minutes and only sprang to life in the second half. Bohemians retreated alarmingly after their bright start yet resurfaced from whatever hole they lurked in to battle it out toe-to-toe until the whistle. Tense, tough and tenacious. Is it any other way when these heavyweight sluggers collide?
Scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half, were at a premium but supporters were enthralled nonetheless. Play was worked end to end throughout, and although neither side swept upfield with particular grace, those advances were mostly well orchestrated.
The visitors were a shade more inventive and Kevin Hunt and Stephen Rice held their own in midfield.
They upset their opposite numbers with crunching tackles and possession garnished was repeatedly distributed wide. The home side's play was less meticulous but still they trudged forward with menace. The Ballybough stand swelled red and black, but the Rovers attackers couldn't muster the ammunition to silence the vocal travelling support behind that goal.
Shackled in midfield, much of Rovers play was direct. Tadhg Purcell and Andy Myler were often isolated up front but the pair lurked with intent when Bohemians lost concentration.
Ger Rowe's presence on the wing added a spark. Just minutes after the resumption he beat Conor Powell and Purcell's resulting header from the cross shaved the crossbar. It was the lifeline Rovers craved.
Within minutes Rowe traded passes with Ger O'Brien. The full back burst forward into the box and goalkeeper Brian Murphy finger-tipped over the crossbar. This pressure was now relentless and Rowe again went close but his header was prodded to safety.
Starved of possession, Bohemians struggled to cope. Yet, they mustered a revival in the dying minutes and Stephen O'Brien was at full stretch to palm Glen Crowe's header to safety. A prize shared, and rightly so.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: S O'Brien; G O'Brien, Lawrence, Ferguson, Langtry (Clarke 57); Rowe, Barrett (Ryan 65), Magill, Cassidy (O'Connor 87); Myler, Purcelll. Booked: Ferguson (26).
BOHEMIANS: Murphy; O Heary, Burns, Pooley, Powell; Kingsbury (Harkin 66), Hunt (T Heary), Rice, Rossiter; Crowe, Mansaram. Booked: Rice (33), Hunt (41), Powell (58).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
