St Patrick’s Athletic failed to deliver a much-needed morale boost ahead of next week’s Conference League clash with FC Hegelmann of Lithuanian as their dismal run of results continued with this frustrating stalemate against Dublin rivals Bohemians.
Stephen Kenny’s side have now won just twice in 12 games since topping the table in early May. It’s no victory in six while they have failed to score in their last four games at Richmond Park.
The latter statistic is the most worrying as goals have simply dried up, with just one now in over 10 hours of football.
All a far cry from Bohemians' last visit to Inchicore in March when St Patrick’s beat them 3-0 to record their biggest win of the season to date.
Though they had chances late on, Bohemians will be happy enough with a point as they slip two points off second placed Derry City.
Though enjoying promising early possession, St Pat’s initially laboured to create much in the final third as Bohemians played their way into the game.
It was 17 minutes before the visitors had their first real piece of defending to do when Ryan McLaughlin’s hopeful ball over the top gave Aidan Keena a run on goal.
Bohemians’ centre-back Rob Cornwall shepherded the Saints’ striker all the way, doing enough to prevent him getting a shot away, with Niall Morahan also in attendance to help clear the danger.
With the game struggling to catch fire, Cornwall did equally well just past the half hour to get his body in the way of a Simon Power shot as St Pat’s maintained the upper-hand.
Dayle Rooney had Bohemians’ first shot in anger, Jamie Lennon getting back tenaciously to redeem himself having given the ball away to block the winger’s drive.
Minutes later, Douglas James-Taylor should have done much better when St Pat’s were caught napping from Liam Smith’s throw. And though James Clarke pulled the ball back from the end line to set him up perfectly, Gypsies’ new signing blazed over the top.
With the game having thankfully opened up now, Bohs’ Kacper Chorazka was the first goalkeeper forced into action when saving comfortably from the lively Jake Mulraney while Power might have done better when curling over the crossbar having done the hard part of nicking the ball off a sluggish Rooney.
Bohs then survived sloppy defending in first-half stoppage time, Smith failing to cut out McLaughlin’s cross as Jay McClelland shaved the crossbar off his weaker right foot.
The home side maintained the initiative with Power having the ball in the Bohemians net minutes into the second-half only to be flagged for a dubious offside.
Jordan Flores was then in the right place for Bohemians on 58 minutes to clear off the line following a slaloming run and shot from Kian Leavy.
Bohemians always remained a threat on the counter, Rooney cutting in from the right to curl a shot inches past the far post.
Substitute Collie Whelan then might have snatched victory for Bohemians in the fourth minute of added time, but glanced his header wide from Tierney’s cross.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Ryan McLaughlin (Axel Sjoberg 75), Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Jay McClelland; Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley (Chris Forrester 80); Jake Mulraney (Zach Elbouzedi 80), Kian Leavy (Brandon Kavanagh 75), Simon Power; Aidan Keena (Mason Melia 61).
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Liam Smith (John Mountney 71), Niall Morahan, Rob Cornwall, Jordan Flores; Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley 71), Dawson Devoy; Dayle Rooney, Ross Tierney, James Clarke; Douglas James-Taylor (Collie Whelan 71).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
Attendance: 4,919.
