FOR A MATCH that felt like it had very little riding on to close out the season this was still a night of significance for St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians.
Pride was on the line but the bottom line mattered just as much.
Until just over a week ago there was still the possibility of the home side potentially playing for the league title. After this defeat they ended up in a distant third.
Instead, Shamrock Rovers had their sixth crown in seven years wrapped up last Friday. The occasion may have been a damp squib – although the eight yellow cards show there was an edge – but it says much about the appetite around Richmond Park that there were still just shy of 4,855 in attendance.
The consolation prize of second spot could be worth in the region of €500,000 for Bohs. It means €70,000 in League of Ireland prize money compared to 48 grand for third, while finishing as runners-up means a bye into the second qualifying round of the Uefa Conference League.
That could be worth a further €350,000. Pat’s will instead have to plot their way from the first qualifying round after the visitors came out on top, comfortably in the end, after falling behind to Sean McHale’s first-half header.
Bohs were ahead by half-time with two finishes inside the six-yard box from Jordan Flores and Cian Byrne after weak Pat’s defending.
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A third from Connor Parsons in the 57th minute made sure the Gypsies would finish the season in second, five points clear of the Saints.
Patrick Hickey (right) celebrates the second goal. james lawlor
james lawlor
Kian Leavy buried a delightful effort from just outside the box after cutting in from the right, curling his strike into the far top corner. It will most likely be something for the home fans to remember him by.
The Republic of Ireland international is out of contract and attracting interest from Hibernian, Doncaster Rovers and at least one club in Sweden.
It is expected he will be one of a raft of departures from Inchicore. Chris Forrester is another with Bohs and Dundalk two of the options on the table. He was presented with mementos before kick-off to celebrate his 454 appearances for the club.
That became 455 when he was introduced as a 67th minute substitute, and the roar of approval felt more than just appreciation for years of entertainment. It was like a yearning for his influence to remain.
Joseph Anang is another who is likely to seek pasture new. Ghana’s third choice goalkeeper at this summer’s World Cup also has options in the UK. There will be considerable work for boss Stephen Kenny and director of football Ger O’Brien over the winter.
Bohs also fell short when it mattered in the league and FAI Cup but there remains a greater sense of impetus. They were without the suspended pair of Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney but still showed enough spirit and quality to recover from that early setback of falling behind.
Alan Reynolds will want to make sure both players remain at the club next season, a campaign that will see them bid farewell to Dalymount Park at the end of May while it is redeveloped.
Flores’ rebound header on 36 minutes was followed by Byrne’s tap in after Patrick Hickey overpowered Luke Turner in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
The away side grabbed the initiative and maintained it when Parsons was quickest to react to Colm Whelan’s strike stinging the post. He adjusted his body quickly to finish past Anang.
Leavy’s strike was nothing more than a consolation on a night of varying degrees of consolation for both clubs seeking to find a way of closing the gap on the champions.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Joe Redmond (captain), Luke Turner, Sean McHale (Ryan Edmondson 67); Zach Elbouzedi, Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley (Chris Forrester 67), Kian Leavy (Romal Palmer 81), Jason McClelland (Anto Breslin 21); Aidan Keena, Anthony Olusanya (Ryan Sheridan HT).
Bohemians: Paul Walters; Cian Byrne, Pat Hickey, Sam Todd; Darragh Power (Senan Mullen 75), Markuss Strods (Harry Vaughan 75), Niall Morahan (Sadou Diallo 75), Jordan Flores (captain), Connor Parsons (Zane Myers 84), Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan (Douglas James-Taylor 75).
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Bohs grab potential €500k consolation as season finishes with a whimper for St Pat's
St Patrick’s Athletic 2
Bohemians 3
FOR A MATCH that felt like it had very little riding on to close out the season this was still a night of significance for St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians.
Pride was on the line but the bottom line mattered just as much.
Until just over a week ago there was still the possibility of the home side potentially playing for the league title. After this defeat they ended up in a distant third.
Instead, Shamrock Rovers had their sixth crown in seven years wrapped up last Friday. The occasion may have been a damp squib – although the eight yellow cards show there was an edge – but it says much about the appetite around Richmond Park that there were still just shy of 4,855 in attendance.
The consolation prize of second spot could be worth in the region of €500,000 for Bohs. It means €70,000 in League of Ireland prize money compared to 48 grand for third, while finishing as runners-up means a bye into the second qualifying round of the Uefa Conference League.
That could be worth a further €350,000. Pat’s will instead have to plot their way from the first qualifying round after the visitors came out on top, comfortably in the end, after falling behind to Sean McHale’s first-half header.
Bohs were ahead by half-time with two finishes inside the six-yard box from Jordan Flores and Cian Byrne after weak Pat’s defending.
A third from Connor Parsons in the 57th minute made sure the Gypsies would finish the season in second, five points clear of the Saints.
Kian Leavy buried a delightful effort from just outside the box after cutting in from the right, curling his strike into the far top corner. It will most likely be something for the home fans to remember him by.
The Republic of Ireland international is out of contract and attracting interest from Hibernian, Doncaster Rovers and at least one club in Sweden.
It is expected he will be one of a raft of departures from Inchicore. Chris Forrester is another with Bohs and Dundalk two of the options on the table. He was presented with mementos before kick-off to celebrate his 454 appearances for the club.
That became 455 when he was introduced as a 67th minute substitute, and the roar of approval felt more than just appreciation for years of entertainment. It was like a yearning for his influence to remain.
Joseph Anang is another who is likely to seek pasture new. Ghana’s third choice goalkeeper at this summer’s World Cup also has options in the UK. There will be considerable work for boss Stephen Kenny and director of football Ger O’Brien over the winter.
Bohs also fell short when it mattered in the league and FAI Cup but there remains a greater sense of impetus. They were without the suspended pair of Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney but still showed enough spirit and quality to recover from that early setback of falling behind.
Alan Reynolds will want to make sure both players remain at the club next season, a campaign that will see them bid farewell to Dalymount Park at the end of May while it is redeveloped.
Flores’ rebound header on 36 minutes was followed by Byrne’s tap in after Patrick Hickey overpowered Luke Turner in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
The away side grabbed the initiative and maintained it when Parsons was quickest to react to Colm Whelan’s strike stinging the post. He adjusted his body quickly to finish past Anang.
Leavy’s strike was nothing more than a consolation on a night of varying degrees of consolation for both clubs seeking to find a way of closing the gap on the champions.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Joe Redmond (captain), Luke Turner, Sean McHale (Ryan Edmondson 67); Zach Elbouzedi, Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley (Chris Forrester 67), Kian Leavy (Romal Palmer 81), Jason McClelland (Anto Breslin 21); Aidan Keena, Anthony Olusanya (Ryan Sheridan HT).
Bohemians: Paul Walters; Cian Byrne, Pat Hickey, Sam Todd; Darragh Power (Senan Mullen 75), Markuss Strods (Harry Vaughan 75), Niall Morahan (Sadou Diallo 75), Jordan Flores (captain), Connor Parsons (Zane Myers 84), Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan (Douglas James-Taylor 75).
Referee: Rob Hennessy.
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