Bohs edge the battle at Dalymount

BOHEMIANS 1 WEXFORD YOUTHS

Kurtis Byrne was the hero for the Gypsies as they edged a hard fought battle with strugglers Wexford Youths 1-0 at Dalymount this evening, forcing home the winner on the stroke of half time.

Youths, currently second from bottom with just 12 points and looking to exact some revenge for the defeat in the Leinster Senior Cup, started much the brighter and more determined side with the right hand side pairing of Aidan Friel and Eric Molloy causing Bohs problems from the off. The visitors good start was almost in vein when Molloy could or maybe should have seen red for a dangerous high footed challenge that caught Bohs winger Dean O’Halloran on the side of the head. Referee David McKeon produced a yellow card much to his sides relief and the home fans dismay.

Bohemians, bolstered by the return of Derek Prendergast and Lorcan Fitzgerald from suspension, struggled to get a foothold in the game and dominate possession as they had done in the cup. As the half hour approached there were no real chances of note. Shane Supple was forced into a save from a long distance Friel effort, while at the other end a glancing Roberto Lopes header was well held by Graham Doyle.

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Eric Molloy then had the home fans worried on the 38th minute when he hit a brilliant first time volley that rifled past Supple and just beyond the far post after Bohs failed to deal with a free kick just inside their half.

As much as Wexford were showing a physical approach, their aggression again spilled over into dangerous territory when just before half time Peter Higgins could have easily received his marching orders for a late lunge at Bohs skipper Derek Pender. The referee again decided it was just worthy of a caution.

Bohs then snatched the lead right on half time after some nice work down the right hand side by Paddy Kavanagh. The right winger delivered a dangerous cross right in the channel between defence and keeper, and Kurtis Byrne did well to get ahead of his marker and, on the stretch, his close range effort was parried in the air by Doyle, but the Bohs front man was quickest to react to poke the ball home.

Bohs started the second half with a slight change of formation, Keith Buckley moved out to the left side with O’Halloran partnering Byrne up top in a 4-4-2 formation as they began to gain more possession.

The tactical switch seemed to suit the home side with O’Hallorans pace causing all sorts of problems for the Wexford defence and could have doubled their lead on the hour mark. A neat passing move in the midfield resulted in Buckley slipping Byrne down the left hand side of the box but he was dragged his left footed shot just wide.
The physical encounter did not relent as Bohs centre half Ian Morris found himself in the book when he mistimed a last ditch tackle on Danny Furlong. This followed a good chance for the home side when Lorcan Fitzgerald delivered an in-swinging cross that Derek Prendergast was unable to guide goalwards.

The Gypsies should have killed the game off on the 77th minute from another excellently delivered Fitzgerald corner. The ball dropped just inside the far post and just as it seemed easier to score, Ian Morris somehow got his bearings all wrong and couldn’t force it over the line.

There was another moment of controversy to come right before the final whistle, Graham Doyle was adjudged to have come outside his box with the ball in his hands and didn’t release it in time. Paddy Kavanaghs resulting free kick floated over the bar, but it was certainly something you don’t see given every day.

Bohs will look to kick on from tonight’s battling performance and continue for a top half finish when they host bottom of the table Longford Town this Friday.
And with games running out quickly, Shane Keegan’s side face a must win game against Bray Wanderers at Ferrycarrig Park but if they show the same passion and determination as they did tonight points wont be that far off.

Bohemian FC: Shane Supple, Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Eoin Wearen, Keith Buckley, Kurtis Byrne (Dan Byrne), Paddy Kavanagh (Jake Kelly), Dean O’ Halloran (Mark Quigley), Ian Morris

Subs: Dean Delany, Marco Chindea, Warren O’Hora, Dylan Hayes

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle, Lee Grace, Peter Higgins, Danny Furlong, Eric Molloy, Chris Kenny, Aiden Friel (Paul Murphy), Shane Dunne (Andy Mulligan), Stephen Last, Andrew O’Connor, Eoin Porter (Aiden Keenan)

Subs: Corey Chambers, Craig McCabe, John Bonner, Shane Dempsey

Referee: David McKeon

Attendance: 895

YOUTH-FUL EXUBERANCE: BOHS KEEP GOOD RUN GOING

WEXFORD YOUTHS  0 – 1  BOHEMIANS

Bohemians head into the summer break in high spirits after a fourth straight win in all competitions. Despite an accident on the N11 hampering the team and fans from making a first ever league trip to Wexford on time, the in-form Gypsies produced another impressive performance, and could easily have won by more than the Izzy Akinade goal that settled it.

Unsurprisingly, there were no changes from the team that dismantled St Pats last Sunday – bar the enforced removal of Jake Kelly with a shoulder injury. With Ayman Ben Mohamed on Tunisian international duty against Djibouti, Mark Quigley stepped in to start. After a gracious delay due to chronic traffic problems, the game got underway still in bright sunshine in the sunny south-east, writes KEVIN FAGAN.

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Perhaps due to the disrupted preparations, Wexford looked the sharper in the opening few minutes. They went direct as often as possible, and a long-throw from Craig McCabe was fired over acrobatically by Chris Kenny. Bohs, however, warmed up quite quickly. Keith Buckley sent Akinade through the channel, but the big striker’s shot was skewed wide. Akinade then stung the palms of Youths keeper Graham Doyle with a volley.

After referee Ben Connolly had to be replaced by his fourth official due to injury, Bohs stepped up a gear. First, Quigley shot over following a corner, and then, the visitors took a deserved lead. Buckley played a neat ball through for Akinade, who had far too much pace for the Wexford defence, and he finished coolly past Doyle into the bottom corner. Kurtis Byrne and Mark Quigley both had chances in the extended first half injury time, but couldnt extend the lead.

Roared on by their effervescent owner / local TD Mick Wallace, Youths were more dangerous after the break, but the Bohs defence kept most attacks at arms length. Paul Murphy had their best chance, but his header was weak and easily stopped by Dean Delany. The second half was less open, as Bohs managed possession professionally. Kurtis Byrne almost sealed the deal in injury time, but his shot curled just wide of Doyle’s post.

Bohs head into the break in much better shape than three weeks ago. Cup progression and back to back league wins have steadied the ship, and suddenly, the second half of the season looks to be a lot more promising for the Gypsies.

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle, Craig McCabe, Gary Delaney, Stephen Last (Ryan Delaney, 42), Aidan Friel (Dany Ledwith, 89), Eric Molloy, Chris Kenny, Jonny Bonner, Andy Mulligan (Shane Dunne, 78), Danny Furlong, Paul Murphy. Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Conor O’Keefe, John Peare, Conor Whittle.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Dylan Hayes (Lorcn Fitzgerald, 69), Dan Byrne, Dave Mulcahy, Derek Pender, Keith Buckley, Eoin Wearen, Roberto Lopes, Kurtis Byrne, Mark Quigley (James Kavanagh, 86), Ismahil Akinade. Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Stephen Best, Jason Caffrey, Paul Rooney, Derek Prendergast.

BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Ismahil Akinade

CLINICAL ROVERS MAKE A MIELE OF DERBY

 BOHEMIANS  0 – 4  SHAMROCK ROVERS

Bohemians fell to a crushing home derby defeat – their worst in almost 50 years – as Shamrock Rovers inflicted a dreadful 4-0 loss in front of a huge crowd at Dalymount Park.

A brace from Brandon Miele was sandwiched between goals from Gary McCabe and Gavin Brennan as the visitors displayed clinical finishing throughout the high-intensity encounter. Bohs had the better of the first 30 minutes, but were undone by two sloppy goals right on either side of half time, writes KEVIN FAGAN.

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Bohs boss Long kept faith with the same team that dispatched Bray last week, while old friends Pat Fenlon and Killian Brennan plotted the downfall of their former employers.

Typical of every single encounter between the two (in the last 20 years anyway), the game started at a feverish pace, with little or no constructive play due to the heady mixture of fouls, nerves, testing the referee, and settling in.

When the dust did settle, it was the home side who started to produce. Ayman Ben Mohamed, ever the bright spark, skinned Simon Madden on the left flank and pulled the ball back to Keith Buckley, who could only direct his 15-yard effort straight at Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Then came the big chance for the Gypsies. This time the cross came from the left, and was whipped in be captain Derek Pender. Rovers centre back Maxime Blanchard fluffed his clearance, and the ball squirmed into the path of Izzy Akinade. However, the big striker’s shot wasn’t the most powerful, and was blocked brilliantly by Madden.

The old saying goes that you must score when you’re on top, and that is definitely the case in Derby matches. Rovers started to come into the game, shooting toward their horde of fans in the Des Kelly Stand. Gary Shaw stung the palms of Dean Delany – but as the fourth official held up the board, it looked like there’d be a half time stalemate.

Simon Madden had other ideas. He skipped past Lorcan Fitzgerald on the byline just outside the box, and the defender chopped him down clumsily. Rovers worked the resulting free kick well – pulled back short to the edge of the box. Brandon Miele’s shot was well blocked by Roberto Lopes, but the rebound fell to Gary McCabe who unleashed a powerful drive that took a deflection and flashed past Dean Delany.

Disappointment quickly turned into disaster for Bohs almost straight after the re-start. Paddy Kavanagh had a looped shot that came off the top of the crossbar, and from the resulting attack, Rovers struck again. This time, Brandon Miele was sent through down the right by McCabe, and directed a pinpoint shot into the far corner.

If the Bohs fans were hoping for a response from their team, they were left bitterly disappointed. Kurtis Byrne came on for Keith Buckley, but the change didn’t work out. Rovers began to dominate possession, and clinched the victory on 73 minutes. Again it was Miele, by far the best player on the pitch and maybe in the country, who struck. After skipping past two Bohs defenders and playing a one-two with Shaw, he curled a beautiful shot that clipped in off the inside of Delany’s post.

To add insult to injury, and really compound a night of pure misery for the Gypsies, Ryan Brennan curled a 25 yard peach into the top corner with 10 minutes to go to make it 4-0.

Bohs now face a crucial period in their season. A League Cup last 16 tie at Shelbourne is followed by a trip to Derry and a home date with the Champions, Dundalk. An instant response is required from the men in red and black.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Dan Byrne, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Eoin Wearen, Keith Buckley (Kurtis Byrne, 56), Paddy Kavanagh, Ayman Ben Mohamed, Ismahil Akinade. Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Dave Mulcahy, Anto Murphy, James Kavanagh, Dylan Hayes, Adam Evans.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, Simon Madden, David Webster, Gavin Brennan, Killian Brennan, Pat Cregg, Mikey Drennan, Gary McCabe, Brandon Miele (Trevor Clarke, 90), Gary Shaw (Gareth McCaffrey, 72). Subs not used: Craig Hyland, Rob Cornwall, Richard Purdy, Stephen McPhail, Danny North.

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