NORTHERN RAIDERS SPOIL OPENING NIGHT
February 24, 2017
BOHEMIANS 1 – 4 DERRY CITY
Bohemians’ 2017 season got off to a rocky start as Derry City capitalized on a string of defensive errors in front of a packed Jodi Stand at Dalymount Park. The old ground has seen a few opening day defeats over the decades, but the wind was still knocked out of the boisterous home crowd as Kenny Shiels’ side punished Bohs at every possible opportunity. A brace from Nathan Boyle was sandwiched in between an opening penalty from Aaron McEneff and a rebounded effort from Lukas Schubert. Dinny Corcoran had briefly given the home support some hope by bringing the score back to 1-3 early in the second half, but Derry ran out comfortable winners in the end.
Bohs boss Keith Long handed first team debuts to Oscar Brennan, Georgie Poynton, and Jamie Doyle, while Corcoran and Keith Ward were making their ‘second debuts’ for the club. As had been the hope of many Gypsies fans in pre-season, Bohs went with a 4-4-2 formation with Doyle and Corcoran up front. Ward and Paddy Kavanagh provided width with Poynton and Ian Morris in central midfield. For the promise in the front six, it was the back four of Derek Pender, Dan Byrne, Oscar Brennan and Lorcan Fitzgerald who definitely had a night to forget, writes KEVIN FAGAN. The night started with some fitting pomp and ceremony as the players were introduced to Bohs’ Honorary Life President Tony O’Connell, and the Finglas Brass Band provided music. With the confusion of Brexit perhaps still swirling, the playing of Amhrann na Bfhiann caused some puzzled faces in the Derry lineup. However, the men in green turned to face the flag eventually. The game itself began with a familiar home-away pattern. Bohs looked to get the ball forward to Corcoran and Doyle as often as possible, while Derry looked to hit on the counter attack. It was from one of these counter attacks that the opening goal came on 14 minutes. Barry McNamee clipped the ball through to Rory Patterson on the right side of the box, and Bohs keeper Shane Supple raced out to meet him. Patterson touched the ball past Supple – on the way out of play, and the former Dublin keeper somewhat rashly took the striker out. The lack of real protestation from the Bohs players told the story as Paul McLaughlin pointed to the spot. Aaron McEneff dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner, despite Supple diving the right way. Bohs came into the game in the middle period of the first half. The first real chance fell to the wrong man – Dan Byrne went on a rampaging run and played a one-two with Corcoran. However, he scuffed his shot when bearing down on Ger Doherty’s goal. Jamie Doyle was lively for the home side, stinging the palms of Doherty with a couple of low shots from outside the area. Doyle never stopped running and displayed the kind of attitude that goes down well in Dublin 7. It looked like half-time would come with a relatively workable 0-1 scoreline, but an injury time moment of calamity gave Derry a huge cushion. Derek Pender had a routine backpass to Supple, but the ball was struck way too hard – and towards the open goal. Supple scrambled to hook the ball off the line, although it looked to many in the Jodi that it had already crossed. However, he could only direct it straight to Nathan Boyle who had the simple task of finishing it off. The second half was only four minutes old when Derry got the killer goal. After a Bohs corner had been scrambled wide, Doherty launched a quick kick to Boyle on the right wing. Boyle, who had only replaced Paterson early in the first half, out-muscled Oscar Brennan, and after running almost 40 yards with the ball, smashed it through Supple’s legs. With the mood in the Jodi low, Bohs got a lifeline on 55 minutes. Georgie Poynton scooped a ball through towards Corcoran, and a deflection off a Derry midfielder meant the ball bounced kindly for Dinny, who finished clinically past Doherty. A goal to make it 3-2 would have set the cat amongst the pigeons, and Bohs thought they had it on the hour mark. Pender’s cross was spilled by Doherty under pressure from Doyle, and Keith Ward tapped in – but referee McLaughlin (harshly) adjudged that Doyle had fouled Doherty while jumping. However, the burgeoning Bohs comeback was snuffed out on 65 minutes. Jamie Doyle’s square ball across the pitch was cut out by McNamee who played Boyle through. The Derry man was denied a hat-trick by a smart save from Supple, but another Derry sub – Lukas Schubert – was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net. The last 20 minutes or so were played out at a slower pace – both teams knew the game was over. Long took the opportunity to give debuts to Kaleem Simon and Philly Gannon from the bench, but neither had the chance to make an impact. Minds turn to next week’s meeting with Shamrock Rovers. If there’s ever a game to erase the memory of a defeat, it’s a trip to that particular part of the world. Bohemian FC: Shane Supple, Derek Pender, Dan Byrne, Oscar Brennan, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Paddy Kavanagh, Ian Morris, Georgie Poynton, Keith Ward (Kaleem Simon, 61), Jamie Doyle (Philly Gannon, 78), Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Greg Murray, Stephen Best, Rob Cornwall, Eoghan Morgan, Dean Casey. Derry City: Ger Doherty, Conor McDermott, Ben Doherty (Scott Whiteside, 68), Ryan McBride, Dean Jarvis, Nicky Low, Joshua Daniels (Lucas Schubert, 63), Aaron McEniff, Barry McNamee, Ronan Curtis, Rory Patterson (Nathan Boyle, 28). Subs not used: Eric Grimes, Rory Holden, Mark Timlin, Alon Netzer. BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Jamie DoyleREAD MORE
