St Pat's 1 Bohemians 1
Last season's double winners, Bohs visited Richmond Park and once again failed to take 3 points from a spirited Saint Pat's side. Bohs have yet to win a Dublin Derby this season and are unlikely to improve on that record on current form.
Its all going wrong for Bohemians and Pete Mahon at the moment, as Mahon has so far failed to live up to the record of his loud mouth predecessor. In all the big tests so far, last season's champions have been found lacking in big games. Losing at home to Shamrock and taking a heavy 3-1 defeat against newly promoted Dundalk there are definite signs of a growing crisis in Dalymount.
Saints came close to hitting the target a couple of times early on, most notably when Trevor Croly had the time to line up a long-range effort that skimmed the outside of the angle. Fortunately for the beleaguered Bohs manager his side just about managed to keep the Saints at bay.
Overall, there was little to separate the two teams over the first 45. Glen Crowe scrambled a scrappy and somewhat fortunate lead goal for Bohs against the run of play. However normal service resumed in injury time as Paul Osam rose unchallenged to arrogantly nod home his second in two games.
Strangely enough Bohs goal seemed to spark Pats more than the away team and within six minutes Mbabazi turned a Maguire cross just the wrong side of the post. Bohs were living dangerously and looked ill-equipped to deal with basic defending such as corners and frees.
With such an obvious weakness in the Bohs reargaurd it was inevitable that Pat's would eventually score from a standard set-piece. Martin Russell, as usual floated the ball in the dying seconds of the half and Paul Osam rose unchallenged to score one of the easiest goals he'll ever get.
Bohs huffed and puffed in the second half but failed to produce anything of any note as they inexplicably persisted with playing the ineffective Trevor Molloy up front. Bohs fans claimed two pennos at various stages but these were rightfully waved away and Molloy duely booked for his trademark diving.
According to Emmet Malone of the Irish Times, Pats "on the break, moved the ball as sweetly and swiftly as they did for spells against Bray last weekend and with 19 minutes to play their Ugandan international Mbabazi almost scored a replica of the stunning 25 yard goal he knocked in against Pat Devlin's side".
Wayne Russell's amazing save ensured that Bohemians would collect at least a point from a Dublin derby, and given their poor form in the big games Bohs fans were happy to escape from Inchicore with that point. Pete Mahon at least continued Roddy's record at Richmond, neither Bohs manager have managed to get three points at Inchicore.
ST PATRICK'S: Kelly; Croly, Foley, Maguire, Burke; Mannion (Marney, 68 mins), Russell, Osam; Mbabazi, Kelly (McGuinness, 86 mins), Griffin (McCarthy, 58 mins).
BOHEMIANS: Russell; Shelley, O'Connor, John, Hill; Morrison, Caffrey, Harkin, Webb; Molloy, Crowe.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
