Late goals from Harry Wood and Kerr McInroy turned this absorbing Dublin derby against Bohemians on its head and secured Shels’ place in Europe for next season with a game to spare.
Despite holding a 2-1 lead for over 50 minutes, Bohemians were caught out in sloppy fashion, allowing Wood to equalise on 87 minutes before super sub Kerr McInroy pounced to blast home the winner in the 97th minute.
And Bohs fans at a sold-out Dalymount Park didn’t hold back in expressing their anger for a defeat which could cost them a place in Europe.
Bohs now head off to play Drogheda United in their final game of the campaign needing a win to seal a top-four finish, which in itself may not be good enough, with St Patrick’s Athletic still ahead of Bohs in fourth place on goal difference. And it was the Shels contingent in full voice when the final whistle blew.
After a tension-filled opening spell the game burst into life with two goals for Bohs in four minutes.
Dayle Rooney was the cause of the Shels pain as his delivery from two corners cut the visitors open. His first on 16 minutes saw his ball land in the box, Jordan Flores headed it on, Cian Byrne got a touch to knock it down for Ross Tierney and he fired home with venom.
John Martin celebrates after scoring Shelbourne’s first goal. Photo: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Shels had not learned their lesson as there was a repeat on 20 minutes, again Rooney with the corner, Flores met it with a powerful header that took a slight touch off Shels midfielder JJ Lunney and went past Wessel Spell in goal, though Flores will claim the goal.
Though they were on the rocks Shels regrouped and got back in the game with a goal from John Martin on 35 minutes. The chance came from Niall Morahan losing possession on the halfway line, ex-Bohs man Dan Kelly took over, sprinted forward and spotted the clever run of Martin who greedily took the pass and fired past Kacper Chorazka.
And Shels were almost level soon after, a corner of their own in the 41st minute, as Paddy Barrett got his head on Woods’ delivery, but Bohs scrambled the ball off the line and away to safety.
Shels boss Joey O’Brien made changes to fix things and Bohs struggled to get at a freshened-up rivals in a tense second half. It was the away side who came close to scoring on 65 minutes, sloppy play at the back from Bohs teeing up an opportunity for Wood and his shot took a deflection off the impressive Cian Byrne before Chorazka made a save.
The game opened up again in the last 10 minutes, Shels sub McInroy failing to hit the target after Martin had created the opportunity, while Odubeko poked his shot wide after a good cross from Evan Caffrey.
Shels were dominant as the game went on and Bohs really were asleep when Wood got his head to Caffrey’s corner to make it 2-2. And then in added time good work by Odubeko opened the door for McInroy to pounce on a loose ball and fire in the winner. There were nasty scenes at the end when a Bohs fan had to be dragged away by security staff after he approached the Shels players.
Bohemians: Chorazka; Morahan, Kavanagh, Byrne, Flores (Mountney 46); Devoy, McDonnell (Buckley 61); Parsons (James-Taylor 61), Tierney, Rooney; Clarke.
Shelbourne: Speel; Temple (Mbeng 46), Barrett, Ledwidge (Norris 82); Gannon, Lunney (McInroy 46), Coote (Odubeko 58), Henry-Francis (Caffrey 73), Kelly; Wood, Martin.
Ref: R Hennessy
