Shelbourne and Bohemians made light of the shortage of Premier Division action as they shared the spoils in a rip-roaring Dublin Derby at Tolka Park.
Crunching tackles and chances at either end, the sellout crowd revelled in what was a sizzling appetiser ahead of next week's FAI Cup meeting between the sides.
Former Bohemian Jack Moylan pounced on a James Talbot error to give Shelbourne a deserved lead ten minutes after the break. Talbot failed to deal with Jad Hakiki’s curling effort and could only palm it into the path of Moylan who came storming in with a low finish under the despairing goalkeeper.
A fourth goal in as many games for Jonathan Afolabi teed up a frantic last ten minutes as his close-range volley had too much power for Conor Kearns as Bohemians came from behind to grab a result for the third time in four games.
A frantic first half whizzed by in Drumcondra and Luke Byrne and Gavin Molloy will be disappointed they missed the target from free headers following two early corners from stray Bohs backpasses.
The torrential rain gave way to some warm evening sunshine and Shels played some silky football on the greasy surface with Evan Caffrey, Sean Boyd, JJ Lunney and the mercurial Moylan toying with the Bohemians rearguard at times.
But Declan Devine's charges weren’t without their moments and drew the first big save of the night from Kearns. A winger to winger combination saw Declan McDaid cross for Dylan Connolly but his deft flick was tipped wide by the Shels stopper.
The frenetic nature continued after the interval with Krystian Nowak putting in a fine block to deny Moylan on the break before Jordan Flores produced an equally good save from Kearns.
Damien Duff’s side pressed Bohs at the start of the second half and their appetite was rewarded when Talbot palmed a curling Hakiki effort into the path of Moylan who swept home for another goal against his former employers to bring Tolka Park to its feet.
Looking bereft of ideas, super sub James Clarke was summoned from the Gypsie bench after the hour and his driving run and shot brought Bohs a corner from which Nowak forced Kearns into a point blank save.
That spurred the visitors on and after a flurry of corners Afolabi was on hand to volley Keith Buckley’s cross home. His low strike had too much power for Kearns who got plenty on it, but the ball found the roof of the net.
Seven minutes of injury time was announced to add more fuel to this fiery contest but neither side could find a winner.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Keith Buckley, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski, Patrick Kirk (Kukulowicz 75), James McManus, Adam McDonnell (Clarke 62), Jordan Flores, Dylan Connolly, Declan McDaid (Coote 62), Jonathan Afolabi
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Luke Byrne, JR Wilson, Jack Moylan (Ledwidge 75), Patrick Barrett, Jad Hakiki (Wood 69), Evan Caffrey (Farrell 87), Sean Boyd, Gavin Molloy, Mark Coyle, Jonathan Lunney
Referee: Neil Doyle
