In a thrilling turn of events, John Martin secures another victory, tying the derby match against Bohemians in the closing moments for Shelbourne.
North Dublin Derby Ends in a Thrilling Draw
The League of Ireland Premier Division witnessed an exciting encounter on August 9, 2025, as Bohemians took on Shelbourne in a heated north Dublin derby. The match saw a series of dramatic events, with both teams displaying resilience and determination.
The game started with a bang, as a yellow card was shown after just 30 seconds. The opening goal of the match came from Shelbourne's first attack, with Mipo Odubeko scoring, assisted by Daniel Kelly. Bohemians responded with a loose pass by Kerr McInroy that gave Douglas James-Taylor a clear run on goal, but Wessel Speel, the Shelbourne goalkeeper, made a timely save.
Before half-time, Kameron Ledwidge and Seán Moore received yellow cards for Shelbourne, while Adam McDonnell and Dawson Devoy of Bohemians also picked up cards. Dawson Devoy scored the goal that gave Bohemians the lead on 77 minutes, assisted by Dayle Rooney. However, the lead was short-lived as a defence error by Shelbourne led to Bohemians equalising on 10 minutes.
Mark Coyle, captain of Shelbourne, was given a yellow card for studs-up play against Bohemians captain Devoy. Conor Parsons was fouled off the ball by Shelbourne defender Sean Gannon, leading to a heated exchange between the coaches. The game saw several substitutions on both sides. Bohemians made substitutions such as Parsons, Tierney, Clarke, and Rooney being replaced by James-Taylor, Smith, Byrne, and Tierney. Shelbourne made substitutions including Coote, Moore, Coyle, McInroy, and Chapman being replaced by Lunney, Norris, Wood, and Martin.
The game took a dramatic turn when John Martin scored a late equaliser for Shelbourne in the 90th minute, salvaging the evening. An acrobatic save from Chorazka was needed to deny Mipo Odubeko's drive from the edge of the area. Dayle Rooney had a half-chance for Bohemians, and Shelbourne came close to regaining the lead two minutes into the second half.
The point from the match allows Bohemians to regain second place in the Premier Division, behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. Champions Shelbourne remain fifth in the table, with Bohemians placing 2nd with 43 points from 27 games, while Shelbourne are 5th with 39 points from 27 games in the League of Ireland Premier Division standings[1][2].
This thrilling draw leaves both teams hungry for more as they continue their quest for success in the Premier Division. The next encounter between these two rivals promises to be another exciting chapter in the north Dublin derby saga.
[1] Bohemians FC - Fixtures & Results 2025/2026 [2] Shelbourne FC - Fixtures & Results 2025/2026
Despite Bohemians' momentary lead, Shelbourne managed to secure an equalizer in the final minute, keeping their European-league aspirations alive. On the other hand, the draw puts the Premier-League rivalry between Bohemians and Shelbourne on a high note, with both teams eager to claim victory in their next meeting. The subsequent game is expected to be a nail-biting match, with potential impacts on the league standings.
