Rovers leave Dalymount with a point

Sligo Rovers left Dalymount Park tonight with a point, but will be wondering how they didn't come away with all 3.

The game was just 4 minutes old when the first card was shown by referee Damien Hancock, and it was a straight red for Bohs' defender Danny Joyce after a dangerous two footed lunge on Richie Ryan.

Hancock was certainly in a strict mood tonight, with no warnings at all, this being evident considering he'd given 1 red card and 2 yellow cards within the opening 15 minutes.

Bohemians defence were out to frustrate Rovers tonight, with Liam Burns in particular keeping Alan Kirby from getting through on goals a couple of times. The numbers became even on the pitch when Gavin Peers was sent off for a challenge on Anto Flood, and can have no one to blame but himself knowing he was already on a yellow card.

It wasn't a particularly exciting first half, with the only events of note being the red cards, the heavy rain perhaps affecting the game. Clarke was perhaps the busier of the keepers, but in saying that, he was able to make saves with relative ease.

The game was stopped just on the brink of half time when Chris O' Connor appeared to be in considerable pain after a clash with John Dillon, it was then confirmed he had broken his nose. 4 Minutes were added on as a result, but neither team could conjure up anything as a dull first half was brought to a close.

Minutes into the second half, the Rovers defence was dealt another blow, this time left back Iarfhlaith Davoren was forced off with an injury, Aaron Greene coming on in his place.

The game picked up a bit and Alan Keane had the first chance of the half when he saw his effort cleared off the line by Glen Cronin. Kirby then had yet another chance to score from a Keane cross, but as with his earlier efforts, it just didn't look like it was going to be his night.

Rafael Cretaro, who is still looking for that elusive League goal this season had a chance to score when Greene delivered a great cross into the box, but 'Raff' failed to keep it down.

Eoin Doyle had the best chance of the night when he skipped passed the Bohs defence, but after doing all the hard work he seen his shot come back out off the post.

Brendan Clarke had to be alert as Bohs finally forced him into a save in the 2nd half, and it was probably the save of the night when he had to be at full stretch to knock Christy Fagan's shot wide.

Brendan Clarke

Photo courtesy of Shane Murray

The game ended on a bit of a sour note, when Owen Heary took Alan Keane down in the box for no reason leading to a scuffle in the box. Both players ended up in the book bringing the yellow card count on the night to 9.

A point from Dalymount isn't a bad result, but its disappointing when you consider Shamrock Rovers emphatic win over UCD and Bray's win over Galway United which has seen them climb above us into 2nd place. Speaking of UCD, they will be Rovers next fixture at home next Saturday, June 18th.

Sligo Rovers: Clarke, Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren (Greene, 48 mins), Dillon (Russell, 64 mins), Kirby (Blinkhorn, 79 mins), Ventre, Ryan, Cretaro, Doyle

Subs not used: Kelly, Horgan, MvGoldrick

Bohemians: O'Connor (Murphy, 45 mins), Heary, Burns, Joyce, Rossiter, Cronin, Bayly, Buckley, Brennan, Traynor, Flood (Fagan, 64 mins)

Subs not used: Forrester, Feely, O'Reilly, Keely, Fowler

PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS ROUND-UP

Bohemians 0-0 Sligo Rovers

Dundalk 1-2 Drogheda United - Daniel Kearns (D'dalk): Dinny Corcoran, Phillip Hand (Drogs)

Galway Uniteed 0-3 Bray Wanderers - Conor Murphy, John Mulroy, Stephen Last

St. Pats' Athletic 1-1 Derry City - Danny North (Pats): Stephen McLaughlin (Derry)

UCD 1-6 Shamrock Rovers - Darren Meenan (UCD): Gary Twigg x2, Billy Dennehy, Karl Sheppard, Ciaran Kilduff x2 (Shams)