Against a team that boasted Joseph Ndo, Raffaele Cretaro, and Danny North only on the bench, the home side were always going to be the underdogs – but kept the opening 15 minutes tight, with little chances to speak of at either end. A strong midfield trio of Dave Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy, and Stephen Traynor promised much on the team sheet, but they struggled to form a cohesive passing unit. Although Sligo played with only 2 in the middle of the park, their possession was more controlled.

The opener came out of the blue on 16 minutes. Former Crystal Palace winger Kieran Djalili whipped in a dangerous near post corner that was powered in by the head of Gavin Peers. Almost an identical header to the one scored by Johan Elmander in the Aviva last night, the pace on the ball did all the work – leaving Dean Delany clawing at thin air.

Bohs started to come into the game more as the half wore on, with set pieces seemingly the key to breaking Sligo down. Luke Byrne had a half chance when a corner fell to him at the back post, but the full back could only shoot into the side netting. Bohs’ best first half chance fell to striker Conor Murphy. Following a well-worked free kick involving McEvoy and Karl Moore, Murphy could only head over the bar from point blank range. A frustrating start to his Bohs career has seen Murphy yet to get on the scoresheet since his arrival from St Pats.

The second half continued in a similar vein; Bohs struggled to create any meaningful chances, while Sligo looked menacing on the break. Anto Murphy could have equalised just after the break, but his header was brilliantly cleared off the line by the immense Peers. Conor Murphy also went close, but his curling effort went just the wrong side of the post following some neat footwork by Karl Moore.

As Bohs struggled to break down the door, Sligo grew in confidence – and a break-away second goal started to look all the more likely. Lovely interplay between Anthony Elding and David McMillan saw the former UCD man tuck a neat ball back to Aaron Greene, who finished smartly past Delany to seal the deal.

Bohs huffed and puffed for the final 20 minutes, but Gary Rogers was only troubled by a snap shot from Luke Byrne as the game fizzled out. With an FAI Cup week next up, Bohs have another 2-week break before the crucial, mouth-watering clash with Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Rivalling – if not eclipsing – the 2003 league decider in importance stakes, the North side will be rocking come September 20th.

Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Anto Murphy, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne; Dave Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy (Darragh Reynor, 66), Stephen Traynor, Karl Moore, Keith Buckley, Conor Murphy (Chris Lyons, 75). Subs not used: Greg Murray, Michael Barker, Daniel Byrne, Andy Mulligan, Kevin Devaney.

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Danny Ventre, Iarfhlaith Davoren (Liam Martin, 88), Seamus Conneely, David Cawley, Kieran Djilali, Aaron Greene; David McMillan (Danny North, 62), Anthony Elding (Lee Lynch, 75). Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Joseph Ndo, Raffaele Cretaro, Liam Martin.

They will follow in the illustrious footsteps of Barry McGuigan and Charlie Nash, who fought at Dalymount Park in October 1981, and of Jack Doyle who boxed in front of 23,000 people at Dalymount during World War II. Doyle’s nickname, The Gorgeous Gael, has been claimed by one of next Saturday’s participants, Bohs supporter Brian Gartlan.

Other fighters have also taken on names aimed at instilling fear and awe. So, the Scully family affair pits Mad Dog Scully against The Bully Scully. The bill includes too The Silent Assassin and The Meath Mauler.

The fights are over three rounds of one-and-a-half minutes each and the opponents have been matched with each other on the basis of similar size and ability. There will be ten or more fights involving the volunteers and a couple of exhibition bouts of kick boxing.

The fighters’ training has involved three or more intensive gym sessions a week, as well as running and other fitness work. The participants report on the strength and conditioning exercises as a form of torture: while doing “the plank”, lying down with only hands, elbows and toes touching the floor, they were liable to have the trainer kick them in the stomach for not keeping it in the right position.

When it came to full sparring, as Ben ‘The Donaghmede Destroyer’ Ryan noted, “Getting punched full-force in the face had the same effect on most of us who had never boxed before – all instructions on combinations, stance, defence and so on went out the window and a brawl developed until exhaustion set in”.

Tickets at €15 are available for this fund-raiser event at shop.bohemians.ie, at the Dalymount Park offices and at the venue on the night. Doors open on Saturday 14 September at 7pm and a DJ will provide music after the fights.

During a lean spell for Bohemians in the league they drew 0-0 in the Showgrounds in June, making up at least in part for the 3-0 defeat at home to the same opponents in March.

“Sligo are still the champions and they will be coming here with the bit between their teeth. They know they have to win to maintain their challenge,” said Heary.

“If the lads give as good an account of themselves as they did in the last two matches I can see us coming away with something.

“It’s another tough game for us, and then we have another even bigger one in two weeks’ time against Shelbourne.”

Approaching the end of his permitted tenure as caretaker manager, Heary has guided Bohemians to two wins and two draws in six league games.

“I’m happy with the way things have gone. Before I took over we had gone 11 league games without a win,” he said. “To get points against some of the teams we have got them against is very pleasing. But we’re not out of the woods yet. We’ve got to keep working hard at what we’re doing.”

Heary admits his players struggled to get to terms with the St Patrick’s midfield in the first half of last weekend’s match. Daniel Byrne who had impressed on his full debut in the previous game was missing the guidance of suspended Dave Mulcahy, Heary felt.

“We decided we had to try and match them [St Patrick’s] man-for-man and stop them getting forward. We talked to [Keith] Buckley and [Stephen] Traynor at half-time and they did the business. They’re not much older than the lads they replaced but they have been playing in the league for four years,” said Heary.

“Not many teams have gone over there and got a point off them and we’ve done it twice this year. Pat’s could have been out of sight in the first half but in the second half we got to grips with them and we deserved the point.”

With those contributions Buckley and Traynor put themselves in the reckoning for the starting line-up. Also in midfield, Dave Mulcahy is available, back from suspension. David Scully (ankle injury) remains out.

Heary has strengthened his defensive resources with the signing on professional terms of tall centre-half Neil Yadolahi (20), a youth Irish international who was on the books of Burnley for over two years until last year. More recently, he had a short spell with Turkish side Bucaspor and a trial with Swansea City. He has been training with Bohemians for the past month.

First, Ryan McEvoy burst through the defence and was hauled down right on the edge of the box. There were calls for a penalty, but Alan Kelly gave a free-kick instead. Unfortunately, the Bohs No 9, who is well known for his free-kicks, blasted this particular set-piece wide.

Then Corcoran found himself with only a defender to beat on the edge of the box not long afterwards, but the experienced Aidan Price snuffed out the chance.

This served as a wake-up call for Liam Buckley’s men as they took the lead minutes later. A great move was finished off by Kavanagh after some good link-up play between former Bohs duo Chris Forrester and Ger O’Brien on the right-hand flank.

The fact the Gypsies had fallen behind in similar circumstances before snatching a draw at the same venue and against the same opposition already this season must have given them hope of salvaging the situation once again. But Pat’s began to turn the screw and looked like they were the more likely team to get the next goal.

Conan Byrne was The Saints’ star man as he forced saves out of Dean Delany. Another great move again involving Byrne laid a chance on a plate for Kavanagh to double his tally but he fluffed his lines and the sides went in level at half-time.

Owen Heary was clearly upset with his side’s first-half effort and he shuffled his pack at the break. Daniel Byrne and Conor Murphy were taken off for Keith Buckley and Stephen Traynor. These changes stirred the away side into action but before Corcoran had the chance to level the game, it was Pat’s looked capable of extending their lead.

And it was another former Bohs player who looked like doing it. Christy Fagan first saw his shot deflected into the side-netting and, even more agonisingly for the former Manchester United trainee he had a goal disallowed for offside after he tapped Forrester’s cross.

This proved to be the turning point as ball went straight up the other end and an attempted pass-back from Ian Bermingham left Corcoran one-on-one with Brendan Clarke. He took the ball round the keeper and was left with an acute angle but he somehow found a way to finish it and Bohs were level.

This left a nervy final 15 minutes for those watching the game in the away end but the Pat’s were left with a couple of half-chances as the result, coupled with Dundalk’s win against UCD, knocked them off the top of the table. The joy at the end of the game was there for all to see and Heary was delighted to see his side move a point further from the relegation zone.

ST PAT’S: Clarke; O’Brien, Kenna, Price, Bermingham; Forrester (Maher 75), McFaul (Bolger 79), Brennan; Byrne, Fagan (Flood 79), Kavanagh.

BOHEMIANS: Delany; Pender, Murphy, Lopes, L Byrne; Moore, McEvoy, D Byrne (Traynor 46), Mulligan; Corcoran (Devaney 87), C Murphy 5 (Buckley 46).

REFEREE: A Kelly (Cork).

Dinny Corcoran shoots from a tight angle to level the game – Pic by Eddie Lennon