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All the latest club news and updates from Dalymount Park.

Report: Bohemians 0 – Dundalk 1

Kevin Fagan @ Dalymount Park – Friday, September 14th 2012

Bohemians crashed out of the FAI Cup at the quarter final stage following a disappointing defeat to the Airtricity League’s bottom side Dundalk in Dalymount Park. It was a classic case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ for Bohs, who put in a surprisingly flat display following Monday night’s heroics in Tallaght.

A spectacular Mark Griffin free kick put paid to the Gysies Aviva dreams, with his curling 25 yard screamer proving the difference between the sides. Bohs boss Aaron Callaghan made just one change from the side that humbled Shamrock Rovers, with skipper Owen Heary making a surprising return to right back…

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As FAI Cup quarter finals go, the first half of this one will not live long in the memory. There was little or no goalmouth action at all. Kevin Devaney flashed a cross along the six yard box in the opening minutes, but that was as threatening as it got for either side in the first 45 minutes. Bohs played marginally the better football, with Keith Buckley particularly impressive on the right side.

Before the game, Aaron Callaghan praised Dundalk manager Darius Kierans for making the Lilywhites a team that were ‘hard to beat’, and the away side lived up to that billing – Liam Burns and Derek Foran were rock solid at centre back.

Following a toothless 45 minutes for Bohs, Evan McMillan was shifted up front for the second period. He offered a better outlet for the home side, but the spark just wasnt there for Bohs. Dundalk slowly started to come into the game, taking control around the hour mark. Mark Griffin looked particularly skillful and dangerous – his goal against Drogheda last month is widely regarded as the leading contender for Goal of the Season.

Griffin’s delivery from a left-sided free kick should have yielded the opener for Chris Shields, but the Dundalk captain completely missed his header. With 15 minutes to go, it was looking like a replay – unless a moment of magic was to settle matters. That moment arrived when Dave Mulcahy’s clumsy challenge felled Michael Rafter 25 yards out from Greg Murray’s goal.

Griffin stepped up, and let fly with an unstoppable right-footed effort that soared into the top corner. The travelling fans in the Des Kelly Stand went ballistic, and Bohs found themselves backed into a corner.

Callaghan threw on Andy Mulligan and John O’Connor for a hectic last ten minutes. Mulligan provided some much-needed penetration down the left flank. and with 5 minutes to go, his pullback agonizingly avoided everyone in the box as Bohs grew more and more desperate. A Keith Ward cross was headed down to Dave Mulcahy as the game entered injury time – but Mulcahy’s twisting volley clipped the top of the bar and went over. The last throw of the dice was a Ryan McEvoy corner which goalkeeper Murray went up for. Fittingly, Liam Burns headed away – and Bohs FAI Cup dreams were left in tatters.

Five league games remain for Callaghan’s young side. With a top-half finish absolutely within reach, that would be a truly admirable achievement considering the position the club were in when he took over. As for trophys, they’ll have to wait for another year to come back to the home of Irish football.  

Bohemians: Greg Murray, Dave Mulcahy, Owen Heary (John O’Connor, 82), Kevin Feely, Roberto Lopes, Karl Moore (Ryan McEvoy, 69), Keith Buckley, Keith Ward, Derek Pender, Evan McMillan, Kevin Devaney (Andy Mulligan 82). Subs not used: Andy McNulty, Michael Barker, Dave Scully, Ken Carr.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Derek Foran, Liam Burns, Chris Shields, Nathan Murphy (Eoghan Osbourne, 90), Mark O’Brien, John Mountney, Stephen McDonnell, Mark Griffin, Gary Shanahan, Michael Rafter (Paul Walsh, 86).Subs not used: Chris Reilly, Lorcan Shannon, Bob McKenna, Conor McDonnell, William Woods.

MATCHREPORT

Bohs at the dogs. Shelbourne Park – Saturday, September 29th

Bohemians are off to the Dogs at Shelbourne Park at the end of the month!

Tickets for this important fundraiser are now on sale for €10 – the same price as normal admission – and covers your entry, racecard and also inclusion in a draw for an FAI season ticket.Tickets are available from Dalymount Park during office hours, on match-nights and from the club bars on weekends.With the first race starting at 7.55pm, this promises to be a great night out and should appeal to more than just the Bohemian community – so please do your bit for the club by inviting friends and family.

Members of the Bohs first-team squad will also be in attendance.

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For early starters, the bars at Dalymount Park will be open during the afternoon and those attending the Dogs night are invited to watch Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur from the comfort of the Members’ Bar, where there will be drinks promotions throughout the day.

If you are unable to attend the Dogs night, there are still other ways to support this event:

Dog sponsor – €10.

You can now sponsor a dog for just €10 via the Bohs Store. If your dog wins the race, you go will be entered into a draw for an FAI season ticket. All dog sponsors go into another draw for other top prizes.
Half-page advert in racecard programme (including two admission tickets) – €50.

Email commercial@bohemians.ie for more information.

Full-page advert in racecard programme (including five admission tickets) – €100.

Email commercial@bohemians.ie for more information.

DOGS

Report: Shamrock Rovers 0 – Bohemians 1

It may have taken eight attempts but on Monday, Bohemians finally recorded their first win against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, Robert O’Reardon reports.

On their seven previous trips to south Dublin since the Hoops moved to their new home in 2009, the best Bohs could muster up was a 1-1 draw last season.  Fans had almost  become accustomed to making the return Luas trip home cursing their luck. But it was different this time.

Kevin Devaney, in only his second start for the Gypsies, fired home from close range just before half-time to send the noisy, bouncing Bohs fans into ecstasy.

Some sturdy defending from Evan McMillan and Kevin Feely in particular ensured the Gypsies notched up their second win over the Hoops this season, having lost 2-0 in Tallaght in March and won 4-0 in Dalymount when the sides met in June.

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 It’s Bohs’ best head-to-head record with Rovers since Pat Fenlon’s double-winning team of 2008.

With Bohs without a league win in seven, Rovers without defeat at home since May and unbeaten in Tallaght against the Gypsies, all the signs looked ominous for Aaron Callaghan’s side.

But it was the visitors who created the early openings. A flurry of quickfire Bohs chances gave the hosts something to think about.

First, Keith Ward shot wide past Oscar Jansson’s post. Then new boy Devaney – formerly of Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps – came close to opening the scoring when he flashed a header wide from a tough angle.

But after that, it was Stephen Kenny’s side who were in the ascendancy for most of the opening half.

Gary Twigg, so often the thorn in Bohs’ side, was beginning to wreak havoc and he came close when he peeled away from Feely to flash a half-volley over the crossbar.

Not long afterwards, a further warning was delivered after Thomas Stewart blasted a shot against the crossbar from 18 yards out.

Bohs were having to withstand some serious pressure, but the likes of the impeccable Feely at the back and impressive 19-year-old Greg Murray in goal – in only his second game for the first team – were more than a match for everything Rovers threw at them.

And Bohs’ dogged performance received an unlikely reward just before half-time.

A Ward free-kick on 44 minutes was delivered into Rovers’ penalty area. McMillan rose for the ball but it hit the onrushing Jansson and fell into the path of  Devaney, who scored his first goal for the club at a vital time.

Bohs fans were delirious, Rovers’ were silenced.

In what proved to be a nail-biting second 45 minutes for the travelling faithful, Ward could have – and should have – made it 2-0 just after break.

Ward capitalised on a mistake from former Bohs man Ken Oman and was one-on-one with Jansson, but his poorly-hit shot flashed wide.

Having been on fire throughout the game, Ward will have been disappointed with a missed opportunity that could have proved costly.

And not long afterwards, Twigg almost made Bohs pay. The Scot latched on to the end of a Stewart cross to divert the ball towards the top corner of Murray’s net.

But Twigg – the league’s top scorer in 2009 and 2010 – saw the ball ricochet off the crossbar and once again, Feely was on hand to clear the danger.

Having come so close in the past, it was beginning to look like it could finally be Bohemians’ night in Tallaght.

Rovers continued to try and press for the equaliser but Callaghan’s instructions seemed to work as his side looked comfortable for the last half-hour or so.

Former Bohs favourite Killian Brennan came on but was unable to make any real impact.

In fact, it was a Bohs substitute – Ken Carr – who came closest to finding the net.

He raced through towards Jansson less than a minute after he was introduced in place of Devaney. But his shot was well-saved by the Swedish goalkeeper.

When McMillan slipped under a high ball in the dying moments, it looked as if Oman would spare his team’s blushes.

But he headed tamely into the ground where the unfazed Murray gathered the ball without any fuss.

Rovers knew the game was up.

We’ll never win in Tallaght, eh?

 

MAN OF THE MATCH: Kevin Feely.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Sullivan, Oman, Hawkins, O’Connor; McCabe (Kilduff 60), Finn, Rice, Dennehy (Brennan 74); Twigg, Stewart (Greene 78).

BOHEMIANS: Murray; Barker, McMillan, Feely, Lopes; Pender, Ward, (J O’Connor 88), Mulcahy; Buckley, Devaney (Carr 80), Moore (Mulligan 68).

REFEREE: P McLaughlin.

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Bohemians vs Dundalk kick-off change.

ALERT: Friday’s (September 14) FAI Ford Cup quarter-final against Dundalk at Dalymount Park will now kick off at the later time of 8pm.
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