A goalkeeping blunder from Stephen McGuinness cost Bohemians bragging rights in their Dublin derby with Shamrock Rovers.
The late stand-in for James Talbot spilled a hopeful Richie Towell shot into his own net as it finished 1-1 at Tallaght Stadium.
Bohs came to Tallaght without their first-choice keeper or their top scorer, with Georgie Kelly missing out with a knock.
But Keith Long's side started the brighter, against a team who needed just seven more points to retain the SSE Airtricity Premier Division title.
Liam Burt gave Bohs the lead, finishing off a super counter-attack seven-minutes before the break. Their lead just about represented the balance of the game.
📺 Here’s the goal that has us in the lead at half-time pic.twitter.com/GIEi5jUQeH
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) October 18, 2021
Rovers' task was made no easier by losing Gary O'Neill and Roberto Lopes just before the break. O'Neill succumbed to an injury and was replaced by Chris McCann. Lopes was shown a straight red card by referee Neil Doyle for taking down Promise Omochere on the edge of the box.
RED CARD - @ShamrockRovers end the half a goal down and a man down as Roberto Lopes is sent off for a foul on @bfcdublin forward Promise Omochere #RTESoccer #LeagueofIreland
📺 Watch - https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📱 Live updates - https://t.co/S4dFfP33sG pic.twitter.com/bQM09ggtye— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 18, 2021
Barry Cotter's name dominated the opening exchanges of the second half. He escaped with a yellow card following a hefty challenge on Dawson Devoy.
Moments later, the former Ipswich man drove forward and sent a powerful low shot whistling past the right-hand upright of Stephen McGuinness.
Rovers were finding a foothold, but their endeavour was almost entirely undone just prior to the hour mark. Ward was again the provider, laying the ball off for Burt whose shot flew narrowly wide.
Ward's nifty footwork also set up a Dawson Devoy chance that found the roof of the Rovers net, and that came shortly after Omochere got his head to a Rory Feely cross.
Midway through the half, Rovers boss Stephen Bradley rolled the dice - injecting pace into his attack with the three-pronged introduction of Neil Farrugia, Aidomo Emakhu and Aaron Greene.
But it was one of those who remained on the pitch who drew the Hoops level. Richie Towell's speculative effort from distance looked easy for McGuinness to gather, but the ball hopped out of his arms and agonisingly into his own net.
GOAL SHAMROCK ROVERS - @ShamrockRovers have upped the tempo in the second half, but @bfcdublin keeper Stephen McGuinness’s mistake allows Richie Towell to level matters #RTESoccer #LeagueofIreland
📺 Watch - https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📱 Live updates - https://t.co/S4dFfP33sG pic.twitter.com/iDhyKDwOFl— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 18, 2021
The game was left incredibly open inside the final ten minutes.
It became a personal duel between McGuinness and Emakhu. With the clock deep into injury time, the teenager broke free of Rob Cornwall but the Bohs keeper stood up to his shot. That came hot on the heels off McGuinness tipping an Emakhu snapshot over the bar.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley felt his side were unlucky not to take all three-points, despite their man advantage. But they're now just two wins away from the title.
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