Defeated 2-1 in Tallaght, the Gypsies\u2019 winless run extended to six games, but this performance had little in common with the five prior. Bohs outplayed Shamrock Rovers<\/a> for large periods, racking up nearly twice as many shots as their opponents and cracking the frame of the goal on several occasions. <\/p>\n Their misfortune fed into the seemingly eternal League of Ireland truism that Shamrock Rovers are winning without being at their best. The Hoops started brightly, fizzing their passes with confidence and running gamely at the Bohs defence.<\/p>\n It was a purposeful drive forward from Graham Burke that led to the opener. Patrick Hickey and Sam Todd, Bohemians\u2019 much-lauded duo at centre back, got themselves in a muddle, perhaps as a result of their own confusion at the referee\u2019s failure to award a free kick for Todd\u2019s clumsy, blatant foul that brought an end to Burke\u2019s slalom.<\/p>\n With the ball in his possession and a whistle not arriving, Hickey stumbled sluggishly into Todd instead of clearing, popping it loose in the direction of Burke, who sprung to his feet excitedly and whipped a shot past Kacper Chorazka. <\/p>\n A self-inflicted goal is hardly bad luck, but there was little Bohs could do late in the half when Danny Grant went to ground under a challenge from Dawson Devoy in the away side\u2019s penalty area. <\/p>\n Moments prior, Bohemians had hit the post at the other end of the pitch, and though Devoy appeared to have got a toe on the ball ahead of Grant, a penalty was awarded and proved decisive. <\/p>\n A late penalty of their own, converted by Colm Whelan, wasn\u2019t enough to salvage something, and though there were plenty of positive to take out of the performance, a difficult trip to Inchicore next week doesn\u2019t look like an obvious tonic for Alan Reynolds\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Damien Duff hints at managerial return <\/p>\n Featuring as a panellist on Virgin Media for the first time, the lesser spotted Damien Duff<\/a> hinted at a return to football in a candid opening to the network\u2019s coverage of Shamrock Rovers vs Bohemians.<\/p>\n Since leaving his post at Shelbourne<\/a>, Duff said his time has been occupied by sleeping, boxing, taking school runs and watching football. He described not liking who he was becoming in football management. <\/p>\n \u201cI was fighting the world; I was angry, running on anger and just highly emotional,\u201d Duff said. \u201cBut it was something I felt I had to do to get Shelbourne back to the top, and I felt if I didn\u2019t do that we wouldn\u2019t have won the league. I absolutely stand over that. <\/p>\n \u201cWorrying for me is, if I got back \u2013 when I get back in \u2013 would I be the same again here? Probably.\u201d<\/p>\n Duff credited his fellow panellist Brian Kerr<\/a> for reaching out with a phone call in the days following his Shels departure. For his part, Kerr reckoned Irish football would be better with Duff back involved. <\/p>\n Having previously ruled out managing another League of Ireland club, Duff wasn\u2019t quite so resolute about the prospect, though he joked that he had fallen out with every club and fanbase outside of Shelbourne in recent years. <\/p>\n Reprieve for Tiernan Lynch<\/p>\n Though Duff lauded Shels head coach Joey O\u2019Brien<\/a> as \u201cworld class\u201d pre-match, pressure is mounting on his friend and successor, whose Shelbourne side fell to their third defeat on the spin in a 2-1 home loss to Derry City<\/a> on Friday.<\/p>\n A bad night for O\u2019Brien proved a critical reprieve for Derry manager Tiernan Lynch. Both sides looked fragile, and the tiny contingent of fans that travelled south was evidence of real discontent around the Candystripes\u2019 underwhelming start to the season.<\/p>\n Their goals came at the right times, puncturing Shelbourne\u2019s rhythm and knocking any confidence that had threatened to grow. Derry were not brilliant, but with James McClean<\/a> and Michael Duffy absent, they can point to resolute defending and quality finishing as building blocks. <\/p>\n As they embark on their historic, temporary usage of Celtic Park while the Brandywell undergoes redevelopment, Lynch will be hoping his side have turned a corner.<\/p>\n Kian Leavy continues to shine for St Pat\u2019s <\/p>\n Though he may not be credited with the first of the two goals he effected on Friday night, Kian Leavy\u2019s influence on St Patrick\u2019s Athletic<\/a> in their 3-1 win at Drogheda United<\/a> was clear to see. <\/p>\n The goal that certainly does belong to the 24-year-old was brilliant, a now-trademark blend of quick feet and a clever shimmy left to create space for a strike. Steering the ball around Conor Keeley, Leavy tucked it neatly into the bottom corner for his third of the campaign. <\/p>\n Pat\u2019s have an array of great attacking options this season, but their number 10 is totemic of their best attributes: urgent, slick and inventive. Leavy is demanding the ball all over the pitch and justifying the positional freedom Stephen Kenny<\/a> is affording him. <\/p>\n It was a badly needed win for Pat\u2019s, after consecutive defeats to Dundalk<\/a> and Shamrock Rovers brought an end to an impressive run of form. Fixtures over the coming weeks now look favourable, and though Rovers continue to reinforce their credentials as title favourites, Saints look the most likely challengers. <\/p>\n Dundalk up to third as unbeaten run continues<\/p>\n![\"Shamrock](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BYE3GRAWDAGK7OP3HMOJDHXRQU.jpg\")
Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan and Bohs defender Patrick Hickey. Photograph: Ryan Byrne\/INPHO <\/p>\n![\"Damien](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SUS5JGRSO75HKLKLF3Q5MUSICA.jpg\")
Damien Duff, then Shelbourne head coach, celebrates victory over St Pat’s last June. Photograph: Dan Clohessy\/INPHO <\/p>\n![\"Victory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4YUZX5D6E4ZXAV6W6SZ3F6QWSA.jpg\")
Victory eased pressure on Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch. Photograph: Evan Logan\/INPHO <\/p>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/H5VOLVIJGJZQBDPQ27JTSC4ISI.jpg\")
St Pat’s talisman Kian Leavy. Photograph: James Lawlor\/INPHO <\/p>\n