What’s another year for Bohs as Tallaght man Mipo Odubeko settles derby to hand title to Hoops

On the occasion when their need was the greatest, Bohemians could only look on in frustration as their scoring touch deserted them at the worst possible time.

In a win-or-bust game for the Gypsies, this Dublin derby defeat means their slim hopes of a league title are gone, and it also means the trophy is going to their old rivals.

And while expectations of taking that crown away from Shamrock Rovers were very much of the optimistic variety, the fact Bohs were unable to force the title race to the last day will add to the sense of frustration for the Dalymount faithful.

Having scored at least once in the previous 25 league games, Bohs couldn’t manage even one at home to Shels who had a talisman of their own, Tallaght native Mipo Odubeko coming off the bench and finding the touch that had eluded Bohs for the previous 85 minutes to settle this derby.

It was a night of farewells at Dalymount Park as the old floodlights, in place since 1962, were used for the last time but it was also a case of goodbye to that title dream.

Bohs now need to avoid defeat away to St Pat’s next week for a second-place finish, though they were second best for this derby played out in front of 4,444 fans and the last Friday night game at the Phibsboro venue for a couple of years.

Maybe it was the nervousness that was attached to that urgent need to beat Shels that made this an off-night for Bohs as the home side looked off-colour for long spells.

However, they were the first team to come up with something close to a goal attempt, Connor Parsons firing over after a corner was deflected on 10 minutes. But Shels took a grip on the game after that and Bohs were second best and second to most balls.

John Martin had the first attempt on target on 17 minutes, a head from Evan Caffrey’s cross which Paul Walters easily saved, but with Dawson Devoy missing for Bohs, his absence was felt as Shels were clearly winning the midfield battle.

Jack Henry-Francis and Dan Kelly were enjoying good passages of play as Bohs’ errors put them into trouble at times. And yet despite that Shelbourne dominance, it was Bohs who almost opened the scoring on 40 minutes.

Douglas James-Taylor took a touch from Ryan Burke’s cross and laid it off for Zane Myers but the winger, on as a sub for the injured Ross Tierney, hit the post.

Shels had an instant response as a well-worked move saw the ball drop for Seán Moore and his shot from the edge of the box was only just over.

Aware that Shamrock Rovers had, as expected, their match at home to Sligo Rovers sewn up there should have been more urgency about the home side but there was no sign of Shels giving up their grip on the game.

Bohs had half-chances, a surge forward by Parsons that just ran out of steam and a shot by Harry Vaughan which was blocked by the superb Odhran Casey but Eddie Beach in the Shels goal had little to worry about.

At the other end Bohs needed keeper Walters to be alert to deny Kerr McInroy on 55 minutes while Shels, chasing that morale-boosting win, added the likes of Odubeko to the mix.

Bohs were desperate as the game dragged on, making a triple substitution on 72 minutes, but they still made no real impact in terms of carving out chances while the Shels switch did work.

James Norris was able to send in a cross on 85 minutes and despite having three Bohs men around him, Odubeko had the nous to get to the ball and beat Walters for the winner.

The home players soaked up some applause from their fans at the end, backed by the soundtrack of Johnny Logan’s club anthem Hold Me Now, a runner-up spot in their own hands but also a sense of grief that a double dream has died in the space of two weeks.