Bohs tighten their grip on third place as they run out 2-1 winners against a battling Finn Harps side, who remain rooted at the foot of the table.

In a lightening quick start to proceedings, both teams had found the back of the net before most of the fans had taken their seats!

Bohs got off to the dream start when Keith Ward smashed a right footed effort from just outside the area, only to see it cannon off the post and fall tantalizingly to the feet of Kevin Devaney to tap home.

Looking for their first result at Dalymount since February 1999 and in Ollie Horgan’s 200th game in charge, Harps equalised straight from the kick off before The Gypsie faithful had finished celebrating.

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BOHEMIANS 1 FINN HARPS 0

CORCORAN THE MATCHWINNER, continuing where he left off last season with the only goal in a hard fought one-nil victory over Finn Harps.

112 days , nine new signings in the off season but it was the Bohs “old guard” who got them over the line at a packed Dalymount park.

The much changed Bohs side, giving debuts to five players, looked to take the game to the newly promoted visitors and should have taken the lead with just 10 minutes played. Keith Wards delightful pass over the top found the right to left run of Dinny Corcoran who controlled well, but scuffed his left footed volley straight at Burke.

The visitors stemmed the tide and began to get a foot hold in the game, with skipper Gareth Harkin making his presence felt in the middle of the park. Ollie Horgans men were terribly unlucky not to snatch the lead when Daniel O’Reillys header hit the foot of the post from Gareth Harkins inswinging delivery.

With nothing between the sides, it took until five minutes before the break for the first real bit of footballing quality to rear its head in the game and it was three of the “regulars” who combined brilliantly. Ward fizzed a through ball to Corcoran, who had the presence of mind to step over the ball to Keith Buckley, who in turn, layed it off first time back to Corcoran to tap home, with the help of the post.

The Gypsies dominated much of the second half and just after the hour mark really should have put the game to bed. The hugely impressive Danny Mandroiu played in fellow debutant Luke Ward-Slater for a one on one, but shot straight at Burke. From the resuting rebound Dinny Corcoran skied his effort with the goal at his mercy.

Bohs eventually got over the line and hung on for a valuable three points following some severe Harps pressure as Keith Longs new look side get off to an impressive start showing some grit and determination with flashes of brilliance through man of the match, Mandroiu.

BOHEMIAN FC: James Talbot, Derek Pender, Darragh Leahy, Rob Cornwall, Danny Mandroiu (Scott Allardice, 91’), Dinny Corcoran (Sam Byrne, 89’), Conor Levingston, Keith Ward, Keith Buckley, James Finnerty, Luke Wade-Slater (Ryan Swan, 80’)

FINN HARPS: Peter Burke, Daniel O’Reilly, Jacob Borg (Mark Coyle, 64’), Gareth Harkin, Caolan McAleer, Sam Verdon (Tony McNamee, 81’), Nathan Boyle, Raffele Cretaro (Mikey Place, 64’), Sam Todd, John Kavanagh, Niall Logue

BOHEMIANS 2 SHELBOURNE 2

Bohemians kicked off our pre-season campaign with a 2-2 draw behind closed doors at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown last night.

Skipper on the night Keith Buckley (pictured with Andy Lyons) opened scoring for the Gypsies before Greg Moorhouse equalised for Shels.

A header from trialist Colman Kennedy saw Bohs take the lead once again but they were pegged back once more, this time through Conan Byrne.

Bohemians: James Talbot (Niall Corbett 45); Lyons (Mitch Byrne 60), James Finnerty (Michael Barker 45), Rob Cornwall (Colman Kennedy 45), Paddy Kirk (Peter Adigun 45); Luke Wade-Slater (Ryan Swan 45), Keith Buckley (Dylan Thornton 45), Danny Mandriou (Keith Ward 45), Conor Levingston (Robbie McCourt 45), Kevin Devaney (Ryan Graydon 45); Dinny Corcoran (Sam Byrne 45).

Upcoming pre-season friendlies:

• Friday January 25th: Irish Defence Forces v Bohemians (Pearse Rd Astro, 7.45pm)
• Tuesday January 29th: Bohemians v Longford Town (AUL, 7.45pm)
• Friday February 8th: Bray Wanderers v Bohemians (Carlisle Grounds, 7.45pm)