TOP HALF IN SIGHT FOR BUOYANT BOHS

BOHEMIANS  2 – 0  LIMERICK

Two goals, three points, a clean sheet, and a step in the right direction on the Airtricity League table… All in all, a very satisfactory night for Owen Heary’s Bohemians. Last year’s bogey team Limerick were beaten for the third time in 2014, and the Gypsies moved into 7th place, just 3 points behind Sligo Rovers in 5th. Goals from Jason Byrne and Dave Mulcahy sealed a far-from routine win for the home side, who had to rely on some brilliant last-ditch tackles from Roberto Lopes and class saves from Dean Delany, writes KEVIN FAGAN.

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The game had an ‘end of season’ feel about it. Two teams with no relegation fears and no cup priorities cancelled each other out for the first 20 minutes before Dinny Corcoran burst through the Limerick defence for the first real chance. His left-footed effort wrong-footed Barry Ryan, but the Limerick keeper was able to stick out a toe and deflect the ball over the bar. The Limerick defence looked vulnerable when on the back foot, and wide runners Steven Beattie and Karl Moore were causing problems at will.

The opening goal stemmed from a Beattie run down the right. He found Jason Byrne at the edge of the box, and the Bohs veteran stepped inside the defender before shooting low at Ryan. The Limerick shot-stopper could only parry the ball back out to Byrne, who squeezed the ball in from 6 yards. His Samuel Eto’o-esque old man celebration was made all the more ironic when he was removed at half time following what looked like a muscle injury!

Limerick came out of the blocks at a ferocious pace in the second half. The visitors really deserved an equaliser, and only two last-ditch blocks from Roberto Lopes denied Rory Gaffney. Dean Delany was also called into action when he clawed the ball off the line following a goalmouth scramble. Limerick appealed that the ball was over the line, but the linesman wasn’t for moving.

Bohs’ killer goal came against the run of play, and was painfully easy from a Limerick point of view. A Karl Moore corner was floated all the way to the back post – and Bohs captain Dave Mulcahy simply nodded it in from 8 yards. Limerick had no man on the far post – and the ball flopped meekly into the goal with Barry Ryan flailing. Sub Adam Evans should have made it three in injury time, but his effort skewed horribly wide.

Four games left for Bohemians in a promising season. Owen Heary will be targeting a top half finish as the Gypsies travel to Inchicore to face St Pats next Tuesday.

Bohemians; Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price, Jack Memery, Steven Beattie, Dave Mulcahy, Eoin Wearen (Anto Murphy, 82), Karl Moore (Adam Evans, 91), Jason Byrne (Keith Buckley, 46), Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Ryan McEvoy, Jake Hyland, Stephen Best, Aaron Shanahan.

Limerick: Barry Ryan, Patrick Nzuzi, Samuel Oji, Stephen Folan, Prince Agyemang (Ian Turner, 56), Shane Duggan, Shane Tracy, Lee Lynch, Ross Mann (Keiran Djalili, 56), Shane O’Connor, Rory Gaffney. Subs not used: Shane Cusack, Michael Leahy, Darragh Rainsford, Val Feeney, Colm Feeney.

Mr. Green Bohemian Man of the Match: Roberto Lopes

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