Match report: Bohemians 5 Drogheda United 0

Four-midable Georgie Kelly put Drogheda to the sword and Bohs ran riot in a five-star performance.

Goals were expected as the league’s two top scoring teams played out an enthralling encounter in the Dublin 7 sunshine. But unfortunately for the high-flying Drogs, they were all for the home side.

For the first time since March 2020 the “Home of Irish Football” welcomed back 100 supporters, 90 members and 10 season ticket holders, as the Gypsies played host to an impressive Drogheda United side who sit one place above them in the table.

And the exuberant crowd didn’t have to wait long for their welcome home gift. With just 10 minutes played it was the home side who broke the deadlock through talismanic front man Georgie Kelly.

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Ross Tierney left his marker for dead in the middle of the park with a clever drop of the shoulder, and had the quality to play a delightful slide-rule pass to split the Drogheda defence to Kelly, who tucked it way past the onrushing David Odumoso.

Tim Clancy’s men, fresh and full of confidence from a fantastic away win at joint table-toppers Sligo Rovers, remained unchanged and showed no signs of dropping their heads, and responded well to the setback.

Chris Lyons, who started the game as the league’s joint top scorer, almost added to his impressive haul when he showed excellent quick feet in the area to fashion half a yard for himself, but his strike was inches away from the top corner.

The visitors again showed moments of real class with an incredible passing move cutting through the Bohs midfield, resulting in Ronan Murray having a go from all of 30 yards with a powerful left-footed drive, which James Talbot was forced to tip over.

There was relentless pressure continued, forcing Bohs to defend doggedly, with cross after cross bombarding Talbot’s area. But just as it looked as if the pressure might tell, the Gypsies hit back with a swift counter-attack through Tierney and Dawson Devoy, with the latter seeing his gilt-edged chance well saved.

Drogheda failed to clear their lines from the resulting set piece and Georgie Kelly added to his haul for the evening.

Rob Cornwall, making his return from injury, floated a deep cross to the back post towards Tierney, who rose incredibly well to win the header, and as the ball
dropped in the area, the unmarked Kelly did the rest, volleying home to make it two.

The visitors opted for a double change to try to drag themselves back into the tie, with ex-Bohs fan favourite Dinny Corcoran and Killian Phillips, replacing Jake Hyland and, more surprisingly, Chris Lyons.

But before the duo had a chance to make an impact, the hosts added a third almost immediately.

Liam Burt was the man who put the finishing touches to yet another swift break, with Tierney fizzing in a ball form the right wing to Kelly’s feet, but must have had eyes in the back of his head, as he stepped over the ball and let it run through to the flying Scotsman to calmly finish.

Drogheda just had no answer to Ireland U21 star Tierney, who was central to everything that was good from Bohs.

The 20-year old was really enjoying himself and again showed why he is so highly rated as he forced the fourth.

Picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area, Tierney went on a dribble, attracting most of the Drogheda defence, with the ball eventually spilling to Kelly, who showed supreme composure to step around Odumoso and slot home for his hat-trick.

There were still more than 15 minutes to play when Georgie incredibly grabbed his fourth of the game. Substitute Stephen Mallon clipped a delightful cross from the left wing right on the money, as Kelly lobbed his header beautifully over the on-rushing Drogheda stopper.

A clinical performance from Keith Long’s men in the end, who will be delighted to drag themselves closer to the top four, and sets the Phibsboro side up nicely for a mouthwatering Dublin Derby against the old enemy Shamrock Rovers on Monday night.

But in direct contrast, Tim Clacy looked on as bewildered as he was frustrated with how his team defended on the night and will have to put it right quickly, as they face Dundalk in just three days’ time.

Bohemians: James Talbot, Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall, Ciaran Kelly, Ali Coote (Stephen Mallon 62), Liam Burt (Keith Ward 62), Georgie Kelly (Bastien Héry 74), Conor Levingston, Tyreke Wilson, Ross Tierney (Jamie Mullins 69), Dawson Devoy (Keith Buckley 62). Unused substitutes: Enda Minogue, Anto Breslin, Keith Buckley, Jack Moylan, Seán Grehan.

Drogheda United: David Odumoso, James Brown, Conor Kane, Daniel O’Reilly, Darragh Markey, Gary Deegan (Luke Heeney 59), Chris Lyons (Dinny Corcoran 45), Jake Hyland (Killian Phillips 45), Mark Doyle (James Clarke 59), Ronan Murray (Jordan Adeyemo 59), Dane Massey
Unused substitutes: Colin McCabe, Brandon Bermingham, Charles Mutawe, Ryan O’Shea.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

 

Match report: Bohemians 1 Sligo Rovers 3

As one Super League crumbled, another continued full steam ahead as Bohemians and Sligo Rovers played out an enthralling and high-quality, end-to-end encounter at Dalymount Park.

Stunning efforts exchanged by Jordan Gibson and Liam Burt had the teams level going into the final 15 minutes, but the in-form Bit O’Red grabbed all three points with some clinical finishing by substitutes Mark Byrne and David Cawley.

Bohs bounced into the encounter on the back of two 1-0 wins on the road, and with the Dublin Derby up next, Keith Long shuffled his pack making five changes from the side that beat Waterford on Friday evening.

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The home side should have taken the lead after just three minutes. A frantic start saw Georgie Kelly pounce on a slack back-pass, but saw his low shot well saved by Ed McGinty.

Sligo responded immediately and it was their turn to miss a gilt-edged chance. The visitors, who sat joint top going into the clash, won the ball in the Bohs area from some sloppy defending and the ball found its way to new kid on the block, Johnny Kenny, with the goal at his mercy.

Bohs keeper James Talbot showed excellent reactions to get down and deny the 17-year old.

The relentless pace did not let up as McGinty was forced into action again just before the half-hour mark.

Anto Breslin, on a rampaging overlap run, clipped a delicious cross to the back post and winger Jack Moylan, on his full league debut, did well to get his header on target but the Ireland U21 international saved well yet again.

The breathless encounter, now resembling a basketball game, continued as the visitors snatched the lead following some excellent build-up play in the final third.

Kenny, brimming with confidence following his first league goal against Finn Harps, slid in Romeo Parkes from deep, and although he was initially covered, showed incredible awareness to float to the ball to his right, teeing up Gibson to smash home a first time volley.

For the remainder of the half, the hosts dominated possession but just lacked that final ball to get themselves back on terms, as the Bit O’Red defended comfortably enough.

Keith Long’s came flying out of the traps after the break and equalised within minutes of the restart with a stunning effort from Burt.
The winger cut in from the left wing, and curled a magnificent effort to the far post giving McGinty no chance.

A war of attrition developed as both teams refused to give an inch. Heavy, full-blooded challenges followed by a spate of bookings as both sides showed their mettle.

With just a quarter of an hour remaining, the visitors put together yet another excellent move in the Bohs final third.

Ex-Shamrock Rovers man Greg Bolger floated a lovely cross onto the head of Kenny, who found himself in between Rob Cornwall and Ciaran Kelly. The front man clevely flicked the ball onto unmarked Byrne coming in from the left. The substitute showed great composure to flick the ball over the onrushing Talbot to give his side the lead.

The Gypsies responded with a double change, in came Ali Coote and Keith Ward, and it was the latter who really should have made an instant impact.

Breslin’s initial low effort fell back to the feet of Ward, and with two defenders on the line, he somehow managed to miss the target.

Still reeling from the miss, Bohs fell further behind as Sligo made it 3-1 through another substitute Cawley, who smashed home into the roof of the net from just inside the area to seal all three points on a frustrating night for the home.

Bohs will not have much time to dwell on that though as up next on Friday it is the big one as the Gypsies travel across town to visit rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Bohemians: James Talbot, Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall (c), Ciaran Kelly, Anto Breslin, Ross Tierney (Ali Coote 81), Conor Levingston (Keith Ward 81), Dawson Devoy, Jack Moylan, Liam Burt, Georgie Kelly (Promise Omochere, 72). Unused substitutes: Andy Lyons, Tyreke Wilson, James Finnerty, Robbie Mahon, Thomas Oluwa.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty, Colm Horgan (Lewis Banks 86), John Mahon, Garry Buckley, Robbie McCourt, Greg Bolger (c), Jordan Gibson, Niall Morahan, Walter Figueira (Mark Byrne 58), Johnny Kenny, Romeo Parkes (David Cawley 74). Unused substitutes: Richard Brush, Ryan DeVries, Regan Donelon, Darren Collins, Scott Lynch, Peter Maguire.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

MATCH REPORT: WATERFORD 0 BOHEMIANS 1

Bohemians made it two wins from two on the road and continued to climb up the table with a comfortable performance over Waterford at the RSC.

Rob Cornwall’s first-half finish was enough to bag all three points and condemn their hosts to their fourth defeat in five, as Bohs earned another 1-0 win on the bounce following last week’s impressive victory at Oriel Park.

Bohs, forced into one change from last week with Rory Feely coming in for the injured Andy Lyons, started the game on the front foot and looked to take the game to their hosts and set the agenda on a sunny but chilly evening in Waterford.

Despite their slow start, Kevin Sheedy’s side showed they carried a threat of their own, with new man Isaac Tshipamba showing great pace and skill to beat two bohs defenders, but his shot was well saved by James Talbot.

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The Blues also carried a threat from set pieces, but Gypsies fans will be pleased to see the new look backline holding firm for their second clean sheet in a row.

Going forward, there was a bit more zip about the play as the side looked to play quicker and create more as a result. The creative Keith Ward stung the palms of Paul Martin early on and looked to come in off the left hand side to get involved throughout.

The deadlock was broken, and deservedly so, just before the break as the Bohs pressure finally told.

Many first goal-scorer bets were ripped up when unlikely hero Cornwall was on hand to tap home, despite Martin’s excellent save from a thunderbolt of a free-kick from Tyreke Wilson against his old club.

The Gypsies started the second half on the back foot and really could have found themselves level.

The visitors were thankful that Blues skipper Kyle Ferguson’s free header in the box was straight at the relieved Talbot, following a couple of high balls into the area.

This warning shot seemed to wake Keith Long’s troops up and they in turn showed some encouraging creativity in the final third.

A lovely quick passing move including Ward and Liam Burt resulted in a low cross from the winger just inches away from the toe of Georgie Kelly just before the hour mark.

Things were freshened up just minutes later with the introduction of Jack Moylan and Dawson Devoy for Ross Tierney and the aforementioned Ward.

Moylan took up the right hand side berth and the pacey Burt switched over to the left wing, and was beginning to show glimpses of what he is capable of with his direct running and skill to beat his man.

It was this exact avenue that should have resulted in Bohs doubling their lead, with man of the match Burt flying down the left, leaving defenders in his wake, then cutting back cleverly to the penalty spot but Moylan could only side-foot his effort straight at the keeper.

There was a little worry creeping in now that, despite their dominance and continued threat, that the lead was just 1-0 going into the final 10 minutes, and a late corner for the hosts did nothing to ease the nerves.

A poor delivery, followed by a lightning quick break, however, saw Devoy clean through on goal.

But the talented youngster was just unable to get the ball fully under control and snatched at his shot slightly, hitting it straight at Martin, who to his credit performed excellently on the night following the surprise omission of former Bohs keeper Brian Murphy.

Although unable to match the performance or tempo of the previous week at Oriel Park, and frustrated that they failed to make their numerical advantage pay when Waterford played the last 25 minutes a man down due to Tshipamba’s injury, there were certainly positive signs of this Bohemians side continuing to gel.

Now, after two away games on the trot, Bohs will look to build on back-to-back victories when they return to the Home of Irish Football on Tuesday night as Sligo Rovers make the trip to Dalymount Park.

Waterford: Paul Martin, Darragh Power, Jamie Mascoll, Kyle Ferguson (c), Cameron Evans, James Waite (Jack Stafford 56), Isaac Tshipamba, Tunmise Sobowale, Adam O’Reilly (Katlego Mashigo 61), John Martin, Daryl Murphy (Prince Mutswunguma 36). Unused substitutes: Niall O’Keeffe, Eric Molloy, Shane Griffin, Matthew Connor, Josh Collins.

Bohemians: James Talbot, Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall, James Finerty, Tyreke Wilson, Keith Ward (Dawson Devoy 63), Ross Tierney (Jack Moylan 63), Keith Buckley (c) , Ali Coote, Liam Burt, Georgie Kelly. Unused substitutes: Stephen McGuinness, Anto Breslin, Ciarán Kelly, Conor Levingston, Promise Omochere, Bradley Rolt, Thomas Oluwa.

Referee: Adriano Reale.

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