It wasn't pretty but Shelbourne earned their second win in three games and are unbeaten in four after they ground out a Dublin derby victory over Bohemians at a sold out Tolka Park.
The home side could say that this was a champions performance as Mipo Odubeko’s clever toe poke finish eleven minutes from time eventually wore down a Bohs side who never threatened to score after a reasonable first half showing.
On a night when Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic both won away, Damien Duff knew the significance of this victory and he gathered his charges for one of their famous centre circle huddles at full time knowing that their title defence is edging in the right direction.
After Shelbourne huffed and puffed early on it took until the 25th minute for the first meaningful chance of the game, but it came from the visitors.
If Bohemians are to start climbing the Premier Division table, Ross Tierney, Colm Whelan and Dawson Devoy are going to be central to their ambitions.
The trio combined and it was Tierney who stood up a delicious ball for Jordan Flores who looped his header narrowly wide of the post.
Tierney was heavily involved again towards the end of the half and he slipped Whelan through but he was unable to open his body and dragged his shot wide of the near post.
Tolka Park may have been baked in sunshine but burned patches and a layer of sand put a premium on a good first touch as Shels goalkeeper Conor Kearns found out when his heady touch almost presented the ball to Devoy but he put in a well timed tackle to atone for his error.
Shelbourne were completely dominant in the second half but a lack of quality up front frustrated them.
Harry Wood dragged a shot wide of the far post when he should have done better while Sean Boyd curled a tame effort at Kacper Chorazka.
Duff introduced Odubeko to inject some life into a blunt Shels attack who would have his crowning moment at Tolka.
Kerr McInroy was next to provide catching practice for Chorazka with a long range shot and a curling free kick in quick succession.
Finally the goal Shelbourne’s second half showing deserved came with 12 minutes remaining.
Evan Caffrey and Ali Coote combined brilliantly and the latter’s cross caused chaos in the six yard area. The ball broke for Odubeko who turned sharply on his left and cleverly toe poked the ball with his right foot beyond the despairing reach of Chorazka.
Shels only scored 40 goals in their 36-game league winning season of 2024 and they went into auto pilot as they comfortably saw out the game against a shot shy Bohs who continue to take one step forward and two back under Alan Reynolds.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon, Kameron Ledwidge, Ellis Chapman (Odubeko 65), JJ Lunney (Coote 72), Harry Wood (O’Sullivan 79), Mark Coyle, Sean Boyd, James Norris, Kerr McInroy, Evan Caffrey.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka, Niall Morahan (Clarke 79), Jordan Flores, Dayle Rooney, Colm Whelan (McDonnell 79), Dawson Devoy, James McManus (Parsons 79), Leigh Kavanagh, John Mountney, Ross Tierney, Sean Grehan
