By Micil Glennon
Shamrock Rovers missed the chance to go level with Sligo Rovers at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division after a 1-1 draw with Dublin rivals Bohemians in Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers took the lead in the 32nd minute with a Dan Murray header before Bohemians had Aidan Downes sent off for a second yellow card.
But the Gypsies rallied in the second half and equalised through captain Glenn Cronin in the 60th minute.
Rovers are now two points behind the Bit O’ Red with a game in hand.
Michael O’Neill made six changes to the team that beat Drogheda on Sunday while Bohs were still without Owen Heary.
The teams shadowboxed for the opening quarter without making any goal-scoring chances. But it wasn’t before long that they had exchanged late tackles and Gary McCabe made his way into the referee’s book for tackle from behind on Killian Brennan.
It was the 18th minute before the home side managed a shot on target with Billy Dennehy firing his volley straight at Barry Murphy.
Rovers began to create more chances down the left wing but the deliveries from Dennehy and McCabe didn’t make it past the first Bohs defender, and when Gary Twigg made space in the box he could only find the side netting.
With Downes left up front alone for the visitors Rovers began to attack at will and almost took the lead in the 26th minute.
Gary O’Neill latched onto Ronan Finn’s header but Murphy got down well to deflect the ball to safety.
Down the other end Chris Forrester beat Pat Sullivan but his cross couldn’t find a teammate.
The Hoops eventually broke down the Bohs defence after Twigg had done well to win a corner. Dennehy’s cross was met by Dan Murray who powered a header into the top corner.
But Bohs didn’t lie down and were spurred on by a late tackle by Twigg on Aidan Price, which earned the Scot a booking.
Pat Fenlon was incensed and his team responded, creating two chances in quick succession.
Brennan took Downes’ cross first time from 18 yards but couldn’t generate the power the trouble Richard Brush.
With just two minutes left in the half Downes won a free on the edge of the box and Brennan’s curler beat Brush but hit the outside of the post.
From the rebound Downes, already in the book for a late tackle, appeared to be pushed but the referee decided that the former Rovers player had dived and produced a red card.
Still sensing injustice over Downes’ sending off and driven by an urge to dent their rivals’ title bid, Bohs went about their business in a positive manner in the second half.
On the hour mark Flood chased down a long ball and was given too much space by the Rovers defence.
He picked out Cronin, unmarked on the edge of the box, who side-footed a volley into the ground and past Brush to level the scores.
Rovers, desperate for all the spoils, piled forward. Paterson beat Forrester on the right wing and his cross was met by O’Neill who couldn’t find the target.
Five minutes later Ricketts, on for O’Neill, picked out the run of Kilduff but he couldn’t stretch enough to make contact.
Straight after Kilduff again had a chance to restore Rovers’ lead but headed Sullivan’s cross wide from six yards.
Dennehy could have snatched all three points at the end but his volley flew over Murphy’s bar, and it would have been harsh on Pat Fenlon’s men who deserved their point.
Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush; Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Dan Murray(c), Jim Paterson; Billy Dennehy, Ronan Finn, Stepen Rice (Chris Turner 66), Gary McCabe; Gary Twigg (Ciaran Kilduff 46), Gary O’Neill (Rohan Ricketts 79).
Subs not used: Ryan Thompson, Enda Stevens, Karl Sheppard, Conor McCormack.
Bohemians: Barry Murphy; Ger O’Brien, Aidan Price, Liam Burns, Ollie Cahill; Chris Forrester (Christy Fagan, 87), Glen Cronin(c), Robert Bayly, Killian Brennan (Stephen Hurley 46); Anto Flood, Aidan Downes.
Subs not used: Ryan McEvoy, Mark O’Reilly, Stephen Traynor, Kevin Feely, Craig Sexton.
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
Attendance: 4,500
