Joseph Anang proved to be the saviour for St Pat's Athletic with a string of top stops to frustrate Bohemians, this Dublin derby failing to truly ignite as the attendance of 21,472 at the Aviva Stadium had to settle for a scoreless draw.
Though St Pat's edged the first-half possession wise they failed to really work Bohemians’ goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka throughout the whole 90 minutes.
Ross Tierney, Bohemians’ match winner against Shamrock Rovers in the corresponding game last year, forced Anang into the only stop of the first period before the Ghanian twice denied Connor Parsons as Bohs dominated the second 45.
Gypsies’ head coach Alan Reynolds started five of his nine close season signings, though chose to play without a recognised centre-forward as Patrick Hickey, an option there, played in central defence.
Despite having the best defensive record, with the most clean sheets and fewest goals conceded last year, Stephen Kenny’s Saints had to endure an underwhelming finish to the 2025 campaign, finishing fifth to miss out on European qualification for the first time in five years.
And though Mason Melia, who departed in his heralded transfer to Tottenham last month, finished second highest scorer with 13 goals, St Pat’s issues were at the top end of the pitch as they simply didn’t convert enough chances.
With recent arrivals Ronan Boyce, Darragh Nugent and Glory Nzingo left on the bench, along with club stalwart Chris Forrester, Ryan Edmondson was St Pat’s only new signing to start, the Englishman partnering Aidan Keena as manager Kenny went with two up top in a change of formation.
And after a cagey opening, it was St Pat’s who settled the better, showing more composure on the ball.
The first action of the game saw Bohs’ wingback Senan Mullen receive a 10th minute yellow card for a reckless challenge on Saints’ Jamie Lennon.
But it was Anang who would be the first goalkeeper into action, getting down smartly to his right to push a Tierney drive out for the game’s first corner on 14 minutes.
A mistake by Jordan Flores gifted St Pat’s their opening sight of goal three minutes later, Barry Baggley shooting over the top from distance as the game laboured to spark to life.
Saints’ lively number 10 Kian Leavy did carve an opportunity just before the half hour when slipped in by Baggley. But the Ardee native failed to get his shot away as Bohs mustered to clear the danger.
The Inchicore side were forced into making a change 10 minutes before the interval with Boyce replacing luckless right wingback Zack Elbouzedi who appeared to suffer a hamstring injury.
St Pat’s then survived a real let off seven minutes into the second half when Bohemians really should’ve taken the lead.
It was route one as Parsons, nominally a winger though playing down the middle, cleverly chested down Chorazka’s clearance. He then skipped past Tom Grivosti to put himself through one-on-one with Anang. The Ghanaian stood up brilliantly to parry away the shot.
With Bohs in the ascendance now, Anang was soon called on again to make his third telling save of the game.
Again the threat was Parsons, played through this time by his skipper Dawson Devoy. Anang raced off his line to block the shot with his legs on the edge of the area.
Bohemians remained the better side with substitute Adam McDonnell shooting wide following a sweeping move late on as St Patrick’s were the ones leaving Dublin 4 much the happier with the point.
Bohemians: Kasper Chorazka; Darragh Power (Markuss Strods 78), Patrick Hickey, Sam Todd, Jordan Flores, Senan Mullen (Collie Whelan 58); Dawson Devoy, James McManus (Adam McDonnell 64); Harry Vaughan (Dayle Rooney 64), Ross Tierney, Connor Parsons (Niall Morahan 78).
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Luke Turner; Zack Elbouzedi (Ronan Boyce 36), Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley, Kian Leavy (Anto Breslin 86), Jay McCelland (Darragh Nugent 86); Ryan Edmondson (Romal Palmer 70), Aidan Keena (Glory Nzingo 70).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
Attendance: 21,472.
