It was the visitors who had the games best chance a half an hour in, when a long hopeful ball over the top found its way to ex-Bohs man Kurtis Byrne who found himself clear one on one. Shane Supple stood tall to deny the winger and somehow the game remained 0-0.

It didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken and just 10 minutes later Pat’s good work was rewarded when Conan Byrne raced down the right wing and picked out talisman Fagan at the edge of the box. Despite having his first effort blocked, the sharp number nine reacted first to volley home, sending the rapturous away end into hysteria.

Right on the stroke of half time the Saint’s doubled their lead with a goal of the season contender, if not winner already! Conan Byrne spotted Supple off his line and with an audacious effort, lobbed the Bohs number one from just inside his own half. An incredible way to grab your 100th league goal and in some style too.

Amazingly there was still time for a miss of the season contender from Fagan, who blasted over from just three yards out with the goal at his mercy, following Kurtis Byrne’s low cross.

Luckily Fagan and his teammates were not left to rue the missed chance and two nil became three just minutes into the second. A terrible mix up at the back from the ever reliable Lorcan Fitzgerald allowed man of the moment Byrne to grab his second, cleverly poking the ball home and in turn sapping every ounce of optimism the Gyspsie’s faithful had of a comeback in the process.

Try as they might, the home side never recovered from the loss of Jamie Doyle early on, who was shaping up to be to the focal point in their attack, proving again that the loss of Izzy Akinade and Dinny Corcoran up front is just too much for a small squad to cope with.

Keith Long’s miserable night went from bad to worse when Supple was then forced off in the 71st minute with no sign of a knock.

The game never got going following a spate of substitutions and Pat’s made it two wins from two Dublin derby’s as the home side saw their four game unbeaten run come to a disappointing end.

And just to compound the misery around Phibsborough, ex hero Kurtis Byrne got in on the action, notching the 4th in the 91st minute getting the goal his performance deserved.

Bohemian FC: Shane Supple (Greg Murray), Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne, Keith Ward (Philip Gannon), Kaleem Simon, Patrick Kavanagh, Oscar Brennan, Jamie Doyle (Dean Casey), Georgie Poynton

Subs: Greg Murray, Stephen Best, Philip Gannon, Fuad Sule, Dean Casey, Dylan Hayes, Steven Nolan

St. Pats: Conor O’Malley, Michael Barker, Ian Bermingham, Gavin Peers, Patrick Cregg, Conan Byrne, Christy Fagan (Josh O’Hanlon (Billy Dennehy)), Jonathan Lunney (Sam Verdon), Lee Desmond, Kurtis Byrne, Alex O’Hanlon

Subs: Barry Murphy, Graham Kelly, Sam Verdon, Rory Feely, Darragh Markey, Billy Dennehy, Josh O’Hanlon

Referee: Jim McKell

Attendance: 2600

Bohs’ latest victory was a scrappy 1-0 win away to Drogheda United last Saturday.

Long said: “We didn’t play particularly well, but we got the result.

“They lads dug it out and we will need that grit and determination to get results throughout the season.

“But our first-half performance wasn’t where we wanted it to be.

“We improved in the second half, created a few chances, but Shane Supple did very well to keep it at 0-0 early in the second half.”

The winner came from a swooping header from Dan Byrne after an excellently-placed free-kick from Lorcan Fitzgerald.

For Byrne, a lifetime fan, it was a special moment as he ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate with his son.

Long said “Dan’s been great. He’s in great shape, both mentally and physically.

“I believe he will continue to improve as a player as the season progresses.

“It’s early days but there is great potential in the partnership at the back between him and Rob Cornwall.

“I’ve been delighted with Rob also. He’s come into the club and gone about his business in a quiet and professional manner.”

The victory also saw 16-year-old Steven Nolan make his first-team debut for the club, albeit for the last few moments of injury-time.

Long said: “As a club, we want and need players progressing through to the first team from the Under-17s and Under-19s.

“Steven’s done really well for our Under-17s last season and was promoted to Graham Lawlor’s Under-19s this year.

“He’s someone who looks like he can make the step up and he’s adapted to every challenge so far.”

Bohs host a St Pat’s side who brought their stumbling start to the season to an end with a Dublin derby victory last Saturday.

With just one point from their opening five games, Liam Buckley’s men got off the mark with a morale-boosting 2-1 win against Shamrock Rovers.

Long added: “Pat’s have some excellent players, results were going to come.

“But we have to concentrate on ourselves. Our performance needs to be better than it was in Drogheda.

“We are at home, hopefully we can have another big crowd.

“The fans have given the players a big lift both at home and away so far this year and we hope that will continue.”

TEAM NEWS

Ian Morris (knee) and Derek Pender (groin) are doubts, while Dinny Corcoran (knee) remains out.

Long-term absentees Izzy Akinade (recovering from surgery to have his spleen removed) and Eoin Wearen (cruciate) remain out.

Long said: “Seven points from three games was a good return, but three games in eight days took their toll on the players.

“I think that showed in our performance last Friday. After two very good wins, we looked a little bit laboured against Galway and we didn’t do enough to get the victory.”

Corcoran’s absence puts another strain on a squad that is already missing long-term absentees Eoin Wearen (cruciate) and Ismahil Akinade (surgery to remove spleen).

Long said: “It’s far from ideal being without Dinny. We are very stretched in that position already and to lose Dinny, particularly in the form that he’s in, is a big blow.

“But we have players who can play up front like Kaleem Simon and Jamie Doyle. It’s an opportunity for others to come into the team and make the jersey their own.”

After two defeats at the start of the season to Derry City and Shamrock Rovers, Bohs have been buoyed with two wins and a draw from their last three outings.

But continuing that form will be tough against one of the most experienced management teams in the league and a squad that contains six former Bohemians.

Long added: “Drogheda is a difficult place to go. I’ve enormous respect for Pete Mahon and John Gill and the work they’ve done.

“They’ve been around the league for a long time and have a huge amount of experience.

“They came to watch us last Friday, so they’ll have a plan for us and we will have to be ready for that.”

TEAM NEWS

Dinny Corcoran (knee) and Dean Casey (calf) miss out, which sees Stephen Nolan promoted to the matchday squad from the Under-19s.

Derek Pender (hamstring) and Georgie Poynton (bug), who were both enforced substitutions against Galway United, are available for selection.

Long-term absentees Izzy Akinade (recovering from surgery to have his spleen removed) and Eoin Wearen (cruciate) remain out.

Ronan Murray looked a dead cert to score after just 10 minutes in. The Galway man, turned excellently from a knockdown in the box but leaned back just a bit too much and his volley sailed over the bar from 12 yards out.

The Gypsies took the lead five minutes later, following some exciting end to end play. Paddy Kavanagh’s dancing feet down the right wing forced the visitors to concede a corner. Lorcan Fitzgerald delivered a great in-swinging cross and in form striker Dinny Corcoran deftly flicked the ball to the far post.

The hosts weren’t content with just sitting on the one nil. Shortly after, winger Jamie Doyle skipped past his marker but his powerful left footed drive was inches wide of the near post.

Galway began getting a foot hold in the game and on the 40th minute managed to get themselves back on level terms. Vinny Faherty raced on to a clever through ball just to the right of the box and Supple slid in to bring him down.

The horrible conditions were certainly playing their part now with the ball getting held up and seemed to catch out the Bohs number 1.

From the resulting free kick, Murray whipped in low cross that evaded everyone in the box and crept into the far post.

Bohs were dealt a big blow at half time with talismanic striker Corcoran being replaced by Kaleem Simon, but the front man seemed to end the half moving about ok.

Galway, now playing with the wind at their back, began forcing Bohs onto the back foot, keeping the majority of possession without threatening Supple too much. On the hour mark the home side were cursing their luck again with skipper Derek Pender being forced off with a muscle injury and Dylan Hayes coming on in his place.

The visitors found themselves down to 10 men on 67 minutes when Alex Byrne received his second yellow from bringing down Fitzgerald from behind. Referee Neil Doyle was left with no other option but to give his marching orders to the combative midfielder.

The home supporters began to sense victory against the side second from bottom but, on the pitch, were struggling to break down a well organized United defence. With time running out, the optimism was slowly turning to frustration around the ground.

The home side were unable to find the needed breakthrough and it will be Galway who will be happy to get out of Phibsboro with their second point of the season. Meanwhile, Keith Long’s troops will see it as potentially two points dropped but extend their unbeaten run to three games nevertheless.

Bohemian FC: Shane Supple, Derek Pender (Dylan Hayes), Lorcan Fitzgerald, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne, Dinny Corcoran (Kaleem Simon), Keith Ward, Patrick Kavanagh, Jamie Doyle, Ian Morris, Georgie Poynton (Oscar Brennan)

Subs: Greg Murray, Stephen Best, Philip Gannon, Dean Casey,

Manager: Keith Long

Assistant: Trevor Croly

Galway United: Conor Winn, Colm Horgan, Marc Ludden, Lee Grace, Alex Byrne, David Cawley, Vinny Faherty (Conor Melody), Kevin Devaney (Jesse Devers), Gary Shanahan, Ronan Murray, Stephen Folan

Subs: Ciaran Nugent, Maurice Nugent, Aaron Conway, Robert Spelman, Gary Kinneen

Manager: Shane Keegan

Assistant: Johnny Glynn

Referee: Neil Doyle