Bohemians 2 Drogheda United 2: Managerless Bohemians showed their resolve, in a week of high emotion at Dalymount Park, to come from two goals down to earn a point from a thrilling game.
Having provided the assist for their first goal, Aidan O'Keeffe proved the local hero by scoring an 89th-minute equaliser to the utter delight of the home faithful.
Having suffered defeat on penalties in the Uefa Cup on their last visit to Dalymount eight days ago, Drogheda looked spot on to maintain their title challenge in the league back in Phibsboro.
Graham Gartland had failed to score twice in the shoot-out with IK Start as the Norwegians put Drogheda out 11-10 on penalties. But Damian Lynch brought joy from the penalty spot to give them a 67th-minute lead.
Eamon Zayed somehow won possession to put skipper Declan O'Brien in on goal, and he was tripped by goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien, who was then sent the wrong way by Lynch.
A week of despair seemed set to continue for Bohs who were left furious with referee Anthony Buttimer for giving Drogheda a controversial second goal four minutes later. Again O'Brien was allowed get in behind the negligent home defence from Stephen Bradley's sublime ball to drill in a low powerful shot.
The ball squirmed under O'Brien's body and seemed to roll along the goalline before being cleared, but the goal was given, to the fury of Bohemians.
Spurred by that apparent injustice, Bohemians hit back on 77 minutes when O'Keeffe got away on the right to cross and Fergal Harkin shot home from 10 yards.
Harkin then turned provider for the equaliser a minute from the end of normal time, putting O'Keeffe in on goal. The finish was superb as the little striker found the corner of the net to give Bohemians no more than they deserved.
The disruption at the club following Gareth Farrelly's dismissal midweek was scarcely noticeable as Bohs took the game to Drogheda, and they might have been three up inside the opening eight minutes.
Defender Gartland's back pass ran straight to O'Keeffe. A clever backheel set up Paul Dunphy who, on his full debut, saw his weak shot cleared off the line.
BOHEMIANS: O'Brien; Rice, McGuinness, Collins (Ferguson, 42 mins), Powell, Kelly, Heary, Duggan (Hunt, 73 mins), Harkin; O'Keeffe, Dunphy.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Shelley, Gartland, Gray, Webb; Whelan, Bradley (Ristila, 85 mins), Lynch, Keddy (Zayed, 8 mins); Barrett, O'Brien.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).
