While the gulf in class was apparent, Bohs will be extremely disappointed with a listless first half performance that showed very little heart and determination. The goals came within just three minutes of each other, and knocked what little stuffing was left out of Callaghan’s young side.

The opening 20 minutes was painfully cagey, with both teams feeling each other out on a deceptively bobbly surface in Phibsboro. You felt it would take a moment of magic or a mistake to open the game, and it was the latter, unfortunately for Bohs and Stephen Traynor. The midfielder was caught in possession 30 yards from goal on 23 minutes by John Russell, who quickly slipped a lovely ball through to Christy Fagan. The former Man United trainee showed his class by slotting the ball between the legs of Dean Delany to give the Saints the lead.

A clearly shell-shocked Bohs had barely registered the opener when the lead was doubled. Just 90 seconds had passed when Chris Forrester’s mis-hit cross was clearly handled just inside the box by Derek Pender. It was a silly and needless error from the experienced Pender, and referee Alan Kelly had no choice but to point to the spot. Killian Brennan smashed the penalty home with an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Brennan’s Ronaldo-esque apologetic celebration showed some respect to the club he spent 4 successful years.

Half-time couldn’t come quick enough for the Gypsies who were at sixes and sevens. Traynor was having a particularly torrid evening alongside Ciaran Nangle. The left back was culpable again as Fagan got in behind for a second time, but this time his shot creeped just past the post.

Callaghan changed to a 3-5-2 in the second period, but Bohs still struggled to create any clear cut chances. The home fans were howling on the hour mark when a Dave Scully cross seemed to strike the arm of Kenny Browne. Although Pender’s was more obvious, many felt Alan Kelly would even up the penalty count – but to no avail. The Bohs fans were particularly irked by a string of Kelly decisions. Perhaps that was a good thing for the Bohs players as it took the attention away from probably one of the team’s worst performances in a long time.

With the next league game away to Sligo Rovers, Bohs may well be still in the bottom two by the time Shelbourne visit on the 14^th of June. What a huge game that might be in the context of the season.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Luke Byrne, Ciaran Nangle (Kevin O’Leary, 66), Shane Murray, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor (Roberto Lopes, 46), Andy Mulligan (Karl Moore, 83), Chris Lyons, Dave Scully. Subs not used: Greg Murray, Kevin Devaney, Michael Barker, Michael Scott.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke, Ger O’Brien, Conor Kenna, Kenny Browne (Aidan Price, 77), Ian Bermingham, Chris Forrester, Greg Bolger, Conan Byrne, Killian Brennan, John Russell, Christy Fagan (Anto ‘Bisto’ Flood, 86). Subs not used: Dave Ryan, Jake Carroll, Shane McFaul, Sean Gannon, Jake Kelly.

Bohs Man of the Match: Luke Byrne

Last Friday’s late equaliser against Shamrock Rovers represented just reward for the players’ efforts, added Callaghan. “That was probably our best performance of the season. We passed the ball well and we had a great confidence and energy about us.”

Ryan McEvoy’s equaliser also cancelled out a deficit due to “as bad a referee’s decision as I’ve seen anywhere in the game”, according to the Bohemian manager.

“To come back from that and get a goal in injury time was brilliant. But it would have been one hell of an injustice if we hadn’t got something from that game.”

Friday’s match will be Bohemians’ second league game against St Patrick’s Athletic in less than a month. “We went over to them a few weeks back and we had a good performance. They’re a very good side and it will be a difficult game in Dalymount. We will have to be at our best to get a result,” said Callaghan.

Nine of the last ten league games between Bohemians and Pats have been drawn or decided by a single goal either way.

Captain Owen Heary (hip) and Conor O’Brien (illness) are out, as is Keith Buckley who serves out the second game of his two-match suspension.

Callaghan made eight changes from last Friday to Monday. “You take a big risk when you do that but you’ve got to give these guys game-time because you will need them before the end of the season.”

Against Shamrock Rovers he put on 19-year-old defender Michael Scott for his first league appearance, placing him up-front in the hope of taking advantage of his height and he was on the field when the equaliser was scored.

Callaghan’s faith in the other less-tested players was rewarded on Monday, as was his entrusting of the captaincy to Luke Byrne, the third 19-year-old to lead Bohemians’ senior team in the last three years.

“I saw leadership qualities in Luke the first week I trained with him. Asking him to skipper the side is just reward for Luke’s attitude, effort and dedication.”

Limerick have a record that reads W4 D6 L4, and despite fancy predictions from some quarters, are probably sitting in roughly the league position most people would have expected of them.

Indeed, the table has now settled into something of a familiar look, with maybe only Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk in the opposite spots than would have been predicted, and Shelbourne 5 points worse than UCD and Bray another slight surprise.

Limerick host Sligo Rovers, who are seen by many as having “reacted well” to getting beaten 2-0 at Inchicore by St Pat’s. Their results since then, however, have included away draws at Shamrock and Bray, a home draw with Drogheda, and a Setanta cup elimination from the same outfit.

The manner of their 3-0 home win against Derry was convincing save for some generous refereeing decisions, but in general that Derry result may have been overplayed somewhat. In the Home-only league table, Limerick are two places better off than their league position of 7th, and at the result of sounding like a broken record here, this column is again tipping the draw at 53/21 on betfair

The other bet comes at the Tallaght Stadium, where the home side will hope to avoid another draw, which would incredibly be their tenth in 14 games this season (drawn 3 of their last 6). As they struggle to put a decent run together in the league, Trevor Croly will find that people will forget about the Setanta Cup final rather quickly. Tonight’s visitors are Shelbourne, and we all know how poor they have been this season, both in terms of discipline and everything else.

Even if they don’t snap a 3-game losing run in Tallaght, however, they have shown already this season that they can frustrate certain teams in certain games. They held tonight’s opponents scoreless in the first series of games, and tonight’s encounter may well again be low-scoring. Take under 2.5 goals at 6/5 with Pinnacle.

Our own game against St Pat’s will look an open and shut case for the neutrals. Our home record is poor, losing 4 of 7 thus far in the season. The Saints have been missing a league-winner’s ruthless edge for around ten years now, although as with most seasons, some observers will suggest this could be their year.

Killian Brennan is having a superb season and at his best he can drag those around him up another gear. Their general lack of ruthlessness means they don’t always do things the easy way though, and a short-list bet (not a full recommendation) for tonight’s game is the half-time draw at 13/11.

Recommended:
Limerick v Sligo Draw, 1pt 53/21 (betfair)
Shamrock v Shelbourne, under 2.5 goals, 1pt 6/5 (Pinnacle)

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