With a draw suiting both sides, it was perhaps no surprise that Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic struggled to create a chance, let alone score, at Dalymount Park.
A red card for Alan Reynolds ensures the boss will not be on the bench for either of Bohs' final matches – away to Shelbourne Sunday and in Drogheda Saturday week.
Saints host Waterford, fighting to stay up, and visit Shels on the final day, but they missed the opportunity to jump ahead of the Gypsies here.
It will go down to the wire. This was not especially high-wire stuff in Phibsborough but the stakes were such that it was compelling nonetheless. These sides had gained four points each off the other going into the game, however, there was real significance to this one.
If either side lost, they would be up against it in the race for Europe. It had so much going for it on a pleasant night after heavy rain earlier in Dublin.
The pitch, chopped up quite early, could not quite mask the deluge, but it was going to be no excuse for either side. Old-school defenders like Joe Redmond was not moaning and he fashioned a fine block as Connor Parsons had a whiff of a goal five minutes in.
Without Douglas James Taylor, Bohs lacked a genuine striker. That meant an abundance of technicians in offensive areas and James Clarke was nearly in only for Axel Sjoberg – more about him later – to get in a fine tackle, allowing the in-form Joey Anang to collect.
Kian Leavy's form of late has been exceptional, evoking thoughts of the warrior after which his home town Ardee is named. He danced about the edge of the box for fun on 13 minutes and his cross was, agonisingly, for Mason Melia, a fraction too high for what would have been a sitter.
More superb play from the Gypsies on 25 minutes, skipper Dawson Devoy knitting it all together, resulted in Parsons striking wildly off target. At the other end, Simon Power and Leavy were key for Saints, but the latter's right foot let him down on 32 minutes. Then a rare left-footed cross by Chris Forrester had Bohs worried, but Redmond headed over.
Whistler Paul McLaughlin had a tricky one to work out ten minutes shy of the break as a rash bit of play by Sjoberg precipitated a melee. McLaughlin consulted his assistant and dished out a slew of yellows, including to Saints manager Stephen Kenny.
At the other end, the old place a din of noise, Ross Tierney could not quite scramble the ball beyond Anang.
It was a cracking conclusion to the first half, with Devoy arresting Leavy's run around halfway and playing a beautiful ball into the box that ultimately came to nothing but had the Bohs crowd on their feet.
The atmosphere remained tense and Reynolds pushed a smiling Sjoberg as he departed the pitch, prompting McLaughlin – without hesitating – to give the Waterford native a red card, with Kenny observing calmly yards away.
Devoy's defensive work is under-rated and it was remarkable how he readily beat Power – one of the fastest players in the league – as the latter tried to find space on 52 minutes. Bohs won a corner and Jordan Flores was not far off putting them in front.
Saints had their first spell of sustained possession just after the hour mark, with Leavy flashing a shot well wide of Kacper Chorazka, who had nothing to do at that stage.
Anang was rarely troubled either, though he personified calmness to collect Devoy's drive with 13 minutes left.
Chorazka was finally rendered relevant at the death, saving smartly after substitute Ryan McLaughlin raided down the right and worked the Polish stopper.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan, Leigh Kavanagh, Cian Byrne, Jordan Flores; Connor Parsons (Archie Meekison 64), Dawson Devoy, Adam McDonnell, James Clarke (Colm Whelan 82), Dayle Rooney; Ross Tierney.
St Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Axel Sjoberg (Ryan McLaughlin 59), Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Al-Amin Kazeem (Jay McClelland 59); Jamie Lennon (Darren Robinson 81), Barry Baggley, Chris Forrester; Kian Leavy (Jake Mulraney 78), Mason Melia (Conor Carty 78), Simon Power.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
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