Kacper Chorazka the crucial shot-stopper as Pat’s and Bohs draw a blank
St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Bohemians 0
Joe Redmond of St Patrick's Athletic heads on goal despite the efforts of James Akintunde of Bohemians at Richmond Park. Photo: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
As scoreless draws go it was entertaining and full-blooded, as expected from a Dublin derby before a sellout 5,015 attendance, but the result was one neither side would have wanted as they both remain in the bottom half of the table.
That was in the main due to the heroics of Bohemians goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka who produced a string of fine saves to thwart the home side.
Winning courtesy of a Jordan Flores penalty on their last visit to Inchicore, Bohemians began positively here, yet it was St Pat’s who got the first real sight of goal on six minutes.
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Ruairi Keating got a fortunate ricochet back off a defender to thread a ball though for the run of Chris Forrester who blazed off target in a let off for Bohs.
The visitors responded with James Clarke winning a corner which resulted in skipper Flores’ scuffed shot being comfortably gathered by Danny Rogers.
St Pat’s remained the more threatening side when they got forward, though, winger Kian Leavy, played in by Romal Palmer, skying over the top on 18 minutes.
A minute later, Bohs had Chorazka to thank for the first time for a terrific one-handed save to palm away Keating’s downward header from Jake Mulraney’s cross.
On top now, St Pat’s mined another opening on 22 minutes, Forrester drilling wide from outside the area following a poor clearance by Paddy Kirk.
But the home side had some frantic defending to do on the half hour when Bohs really carved them open for the first time.
Flores and Adam McDonnell worked the ball to Dayle Rooney on the left. The winger’s low cross deflected off defender Grivosti with the alert Anto Breslin hooking the ball off the toe of James Akintude on the goal line.
A low energy start to the second half meant it was the 62nd minute before either goal was threatened with St Pat’s having another let-off.
The tenacity of McDonnell nicked the ball off Jamie Lennon. Rooney’s cross then picked out Clarke whose drive struck team-mate Akintunde.
A reply from St Pat’s was swift with Chorazka having to get down smartly to bat away a shot from Keating as the game opened up again.
And the Bohemians keeper wasn’t to be beaten as he excelled again on the double late on.
First the Polish netminder turned Brandon Kavanagh’s free kick round a post before saving again from the St Pat’s midfield in the final minute.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin (McClelland, 77); Lennon, Forrester; Leavy (B. Kavanagh, 55), Palmer (Melia, 68), Mulraney (Nolan, 77); Keating (C. Kavanagh, 77).
Bohemians: Chorazka; Miller, Byrne, Carroll (Keita, 86), Kirk; McDonnell, Flores; Grant, Clarke, Rooney; Akintunde (Okosun 86).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).
