EURO RIVALS DRAW NO COMFORT

Bohs and Pat's fail to take chances in Dalymount stalemate

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

THESE derby rivals failed to steal a march in the race for Europe, with their fate still in the balance going into the penultimate round of games.

And at home to Shels on Sunday, Bohs will have to stake their claim without manager Alan Reynolds after his red card during a halftime moment of madness.

Already in the book after a flare up involving multiple players from both sides, he shoved St Pat's defender Axel Sjoberg while walking to the tunnel at the break.

Sjoberg was central to that earlier flashpoint and the incident was clearly on both their minds but Reynolds could have no complaints after his actions.

And nor could Bohs or Pat's gripe with this stalemate that plays into Shelbourne's hands and leaves the Gypsies, Saints and Drogheda duking it out for fourth spot.

It was a derby that never ignited with both sides huffing and puffing but ultimately not doing enough to win it.

Mind you, the way the first-half started, very few at Dalymount Park would have envisaged a scoreless draw at the end of it.

Stephen Kenny recently likened Kian Leavy's dribbling ability to that of Diego Maradona. Quite the compliment, if quite the reach.