John Martin snatches draw for Shels against Bohs in rollercoaster derby
Martin towered above all at the back post to power home Sean Gannon's cross and keep the Reds firmly in the race for a European return next season.
Bohemians fell behind early to Daniel Kelly's finish but goals from Connor Parsons and Dawson Devoy looked to have clinched victory for Alan Reynolds' charges who have let five points slip from their last two games leaving their European hopes in the balance.
Bohs remain second but just eight points separate them and St Patrick's Athletic in sixth.
There is no love lost between these two sides and Shelbourne skipper Mark Coyle set the tone for a pulsating first half when he was booked for a rash challenge on Dawson Devoy inside 30 seconds.
Joey O'Brien made eight changes from his side's famous midweek European win in Croatia but his team couldn't be faulted for a lack of cohesion and were in front after four minutes courtesy of a precise Kelly finish.
Mipo Odubeko fired a ball across the box and Kelly pipped Jordan Flores to the punch and swept a left footed effort into the top corner.
The early fireworks continued as Bohs levelled in fortuitous circumstances after 11 minutes. Lewis Temple played a blind back pass with Wessel Speel having drifted out of his goalmouth and Connor Parsons slid in to tap home - the Gypsies only shot on target in the first half.
Odubeko should have put Shelbourne back in front immediately, bearing down on goal he went for power and Kacper Chorazka stood tall to brilliantly tap the ball over.
Shelbourne made another quick start to the second half and should have gone back in front. Kelly's dinked pass found Odubeko who turned and shot from ten yards but it was straight at Chorazka.
Shels will wonder how they didn't find a second when Kameron Ledwidge saw his goal bound shot blocked by Leigh Kavanagh as Bohemians survived some pinball in the area.
The hosts were punished for their profligacy in front of goal. Bohs recycled a poorly taken corner and Devoy did the rest, Cruyff-turning Odubeko on the end line before his effort trickled into the net via a Temple deflection.
O'Brien has had the midas touch since replacing Damien Duff in the Reds hotseat and his summoning of Martin to proceedings looked like another genius move as the striker powered a header home at the back post to set up a grandstand finish.
John Martin can't stop scoring!🤩
Shels are level🔴 pic.twitter.com/wBZ06aFMMk
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 9, 2025
Shels were almost architects of their own downfall again as Douglas James-Taylor pounced on Kerr McInroy's loose pass but Speel heroically denied him and ensured his side nicked a point.
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