Last-gasp Devaney gives battling Bohs share of the spoils
PATIENCE paid off yet again for Keith Long’s Bohemians side as they summoned up a late, late show to rescue a point from their Dublin derby in Inchicore and stay out of the relegation zone.
With just 47 minutes on the clock, it looked grim for the Bohs supporters in the Richmond Park crowd of 2,429 as they were 2-0 down and, as things stood in other games, were in the bottom two.
But a fightback yielded goals from Dinny Corcoran and Kevin Devaney – a great frustration for Pat’s, who played for most of the second half with 10 men.
Coming to Inchicore on the back of successive defeats, Bohs have been punished of late and there was some early pain for them on Emmet Road, Keegan firing the Saints into the lead after just three minutes.
Dean Clarke whipped in a cross from the left and the Bohs defence were caught out, in the same manner as the first goal conceded against Cork City a week earlier, as Keegan got the slightest of touches and knocked the ball past Shane Supple.
MATCHED
It took Bohs until the 10th minute to respond as a good move involving Keith Ward and Corcoran was not matched by the finish from JJ Lunney, his effort well wide.
Pat’s were denied a second goal by Supple on 18 minutes when the home side latched on to a poor back pass from Darragh Leahy. Simon Madden threaded the pass through to Keegan and, while his shot was on target, he could not beat Supple.
Bohs managed to get a period of possession but lacked the cutting edge needed to make it count.
Having conceded in the third minute of the first half, Bohs at least needed to keep things tight after the restart, but just two minutes into the second half they were 2-0 down.
Conan Byrne’s corner was knocked on by Kevin Toner and his effort appeared to go in with a touch from Keegan, though both men may make claims for the goal-scoring bonus.
Things started to go against the Saints soon, though, Ryan Brennan dismissed on 52 minutes for a second bookable offence. The second caution, for an apparent dive, looked harsh on the man who has been a key figure for this Saints team and Pat’s will ask, quite rightly, if that was the turning point.
It took Bohs until the 72nd minute to respond, however.
Dan Byrne sent in a cross which should have been dealt with by goalkeeper Barry Murphy but the save was fumbled and Corcoran was on hand to stab the ball over the line.
Bohs emptied the bench, desperate to get something from the trip to Dublin 8 to avoid a defeat which would have plunged them into the bottom two. And patience paid off deep into added time when Darragh Leahy’s cross wound its way into the box, Pat’s looked on as sub Devaney got a touch and fired home a valuable equaliser.