Damien Duff wasn’t wrong when he spoke in the build-up about the ‘dislike’ these two clubs have for each other.
But you couldn't help but love the entertainment dished up in a derby clash that at times felt like a throwback to some of their titanic Tolka battles from yesteryear.
The full house was treated to football bingo as 10-men Shels held out for a point with Duff racing to beat his chest in front of the Shels fans at full-time.
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You name it, this game had it.
Sibling rivalry? Check.
Tyreke Wilson put Bohemians ahead in the fifth minute with a smashing free-kick before his brother, JR Wilson, the Shelbourne defender, was sent off in first-half injury time.
Blood and thunder? Check.
Referee Neil Doyle dished out nine yellow cards as well as Wilson’s red as meaty tackles flew in from start to finish with no love lost.
Drama? Check
A nine minute stoppage for an injury to Aaron O’Driscoll who was later carried off on a stretcher and brought to hospital.
Penalty drama? Check.
Shane Farrell pulled the trigger from the spot to get 10-man Shelbourne deservedly back on track early in the second-half.
And while we're at it, throw in a truly remarkable save.
JJ Lunney thought he had won the game with a thunderbolt, only for Jon McCracken to fly through the night sky and tip the ball over his crossbar.
It may not have been a game for the clipboard carrying purists, but it was an engrossing night that was also tinged with sadness.
Bohemians players wore t-shirts in their warm-up with ‘Mono, Mr Bohs’ after the death of club stalwart Derek Monaghan this week after a tragic accident.
Both clubs also remembered Martin Poole, Gary Daly and Emmet ‘Emmo’ Connolly during a minute's silence.
But Bohs were off to a flyer with Wilson cooly dispatching a fifth minute free-kick on the edge of the box after O’Driscoll cleaned out Ali Coote.
And five minutes later, O’Driscoll’s game was over. He appeared to be knocked out after colliding with Bohs striker Ethon Varian and his own goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.
Play was stopped for nine minutes and the centre-back was eventually taken off on a stretch and brought to hospital.
And Shels troubles continued to unravel because skipper Luke Byrne was unable to play on when the game finally resumed.
Kameron Ledwidge and Lunney were introduced by the 18th minute with Duff desperate to get a grip on a chain of events threatening to derail his team.
As it happens, it was the slap in the face that Shels needed to get out of their funk because they were soon attacking with purpose.
Matty Smith, their loan star from Derry City, turned a Jack Moylan ball around the post while under pressure from Ciaran Kelly’s lunging tackle.
And a minute later, the Shels duo combined again with Smith drawing a flying save from Jon McCracken who clawed the well hit, rising shot away from the top corner.
The spell marked a sharp improvement in Shelbourne’s approach and Farrell contributed too, driving a low shot wide from distance after space opened up.
And Kelly’s block in the box to deny Moylan a shot from 12 yards was vital as Bohs struggled to get some structure back into their play after a bright start.
But the Gypsies' cause was helped in first-half injury time when JR Wilson was shown a straight red for a meaty foul on Declan McDaid.
And Bohs finished the half with purpose as McDaid drilled a low first-time shot narrowly wide from Kris Twardek’s cut back.
But with their backs to the wall, Shels stood up to fight in the second-half and were back on level terms within 10 minutes.
Moylan went down under a Kelly challenge. It looked soft at first glance, but Farrell certainly wasn’t arguing the point and blasted home the spot-kick.
Lunney then thought he had won it with his piledriver from distance only for McCracken to make an incredible save fitting of a night of high drama.
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