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League games remaining:
5 |
| Latest result: Derry City 0-3 Bohemians REPORT | |
| Next match: Bohemians vs. Shelbourne, Nov 14th at 7:45 |
|
|
League games remaining:
5 |
| Latest result: Derry City 0-3 Bohemians REPORT | |
| Next match: Bohemians vs. Shelbourne, Nov 14th at 7:45 |
B
Bohs 1-1 Waterford
A second half equaliser from former Irish underage international Neale Fenn dealt a blow to Bohemians title hopes at Dalymount Park on Friday night. With Shelbourne edging out St Patrick’s Athletic a few miles across the city in Inchicore, Fenn’s 72nd minute leveler for the Blues may prove to be a crucial moment in the race for the Premier Division title. Bohs took over at the summit with their win over Shels earlier in the week, but Shels regained top spot after Friday night’s round of fixtures. Glen Crowe had given the home side the lead in the 13th minute, stealing in behind the Waterford defence after a long punted clearance from Bohs keeper Shay Kelly had been allowed to bounce just outside the Waterford box. Irish international Crowe fired a right-footed shot past recalled Waterford keeper Dan Connor for his 17th goal of the season, which saw him tie for the lead in the top scorer’s race with Shelbourne’s Jason Byrne. Fenn had already been handed a decent opening by that stage, but his ship was easily dealt with by Kelly, and soon after Bohs went ahead, the visitors had a chance to draw level, but Daryl Murphy hesitated fatally and Kelly rushed off his line to cut out the danger. Bohs lost key midfielder Thomas Heary to injury midway through the half, but they had not been totally fluent in his presence, and they rarely found any fluency after his departure either. Dave Morrison had an excellent chance to give Bohs breathing space, but he sent his header wide of Connor’s post, and the growing anxiety on the pitch and in the stands was palpable. In the 72nd minute, it told. A Kevin Waters corner caused confusion in the Bohs defence, and Fenn was on hand to fire to the net after midfielder Wayne Fitzgerald’s initial shot was blocked. The goal stung Bohs into attack, and the home side should have gained the three points when a cross from substitute Mark Rutherford eluded Connor in the Waterford goal, but Crowe shot wide with the goal gaping. With six games each left, Bohs have now fallen back into the slipstream of their greatest rivals.
McGuinness banned, Kenny let off
Bohs boss Stephen Kenny has been fined €50 and warned as to his future conduct as a result of being removed from the technical area against Drogheda United at Dalymount on the 13th of October.
Bohs big centre half Jason McGuinness will miss the crucial league game with Shelbourne having received a one match ban as a result of reaching four penalty points and fined €25. There was one bit of good news from the disciplinary committee meeting, as Tuesday nights goal scorer Richie Baker will also miss the Bohs vs. Shels game for the same reason.
Shels 1-3 Bohs
Bohemians recovered from the concession of an early goal to run out convincing winners of the top-of-the-table clash with Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Tuesday night, in the process moving to the top of the table for the first time this season. Shels took the lead through Richie Baker’s tenth minute opener, but that was as good as it got for the home side, who were in arrears by half-time - by which stage they had also lost two key players to injury - and fell further behind ten minutes into the second half. Baker broke the deadlock with a close-range header after a bad mistake by Bohs keeper Seamus Kelly following David Crawley’s long throw, but that goal was cancelled out within 90 seconds as the league’s pre-eminent duo went toe to toe in a sensational start. Paul Keegan, preferred by manager Stephen Kenny to the fit again Robbie Doyle as Glen Crowe’s partner in attack, repaid the faith of his boss by finding the net for his third goal in three games. The former Bray Wanderers man rose to meet Bobby Ryan’s corner, and his header dipped over the hapless Steve Williams for the equaliser. Both goalscorers came close to adding to their tally in the next five minutes as the top two put on a show for the Tolka Park crowd. However, Shels manager Pat Fenlon was forced into two unplanned changes in the first 35 minutes as left winger Ollie Cahill and centre half Kevin Doherty were both forced off through injury, with Wes Houlihan and Tony McCarthy coming into the action much earlier than their manager would have hoped. And it got even worse for the home side as Thomas Heary, who has quickly become a key member of this Bohs set-up in his first season back in Ireland, put the visitors ahead with a cracker three minutes before the break. The former Huddersfield man sent a looping volley over Williams to the Shels net, and Bohs never looked back from there on in. Half-time failed to stunt the momentum of the visitors, and they decisively added to their advantage within ten minutes of the restart. Shels had been quelled by a winner from Bohs centre half Ken Oman two months ago, and it was Oman’s defensive partner Colin Hawkins who hammered the nail in their coffin this time around. Again it was a vulnerability defending the set piece that undid Shels, as Dave Morrison’s corner was met by Hawkins, who nodded to the Shels net. It opened up a two-goal gap, and it was a lead, despite Shels’ best efforts, that Bohs never looked like relinquishing. Pat Fenlon’s side - who had recovered from two down to win a Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers only last week - battled on gallantly, forcing a couple of good saves from Bohs keeper Shay Kelly, but they were never likely to repeat their heroics of eight nights previously. The Gypsies could even have added to their tally before the end, with Dave Morrison and Kevin Hunt coming close to a fourth Bohs goal before referee Eddie Barr put the Drumcondra side out of their misery. The league is far from over - both sides’ have seven matches left, and there is another top-of-the-table clash scheduled for Dalymount Park in a fortnight’s time - but Bohs have an ominous look about them as they steer their way to the top of the table for the first time all season.
Bohs 1-0 Cork
A goal from Glen Crowe nine minutes from time gave Bohemians victory over third-placed Cork City in an uninspired encounter at Dalymount Park on Friday night, and help move the champions to within two points of leaders Shelbourne. Bohs are piling on the pressure on the current leaders, and ensuring that the Drumcondra side will have to be at their best to maintain their grip on the title race. With the Hallowe’en fireworks lighting up the night sky over Dalymount, the attentions of the crowd will have been distracted on several occasions, for there was often little going on on the pitch to hold the gaze. The importance of the game far outweighed its level of excitement, however, and Bohs will not worry that there was little in the way of excitement on this occasion. Three points were paramount. And as so often, Crowe was the man to provide them with his 81st minute winner, his 16th goal of the season. Substitute Mark Rutherford played a key part in the goal. His eager chasing prevented a ball from crossing the line; he fed striker Paul Keegan, whose cross was finished off by Crowe. It may not have been a precise finish, but there was no doubting its effectiveness. Cork, apparently content with the prospect of a scoreless draw for much of the game, were forced onto the front foot, and midfielder Greg O’Halloran came closest to finding an equaliser, but his shot whizzed just wide of Shay Kelly’s goal. Bohs were forced into a reshuffle at the back, with central defender Paul McNally playing at right back and usual right full Damien Lynch switching to the left to combat the loss of Simon Webb. But in truth, they were rarely tested by a Cork attack that lacked momentum. Kevin Hunt and Thomas Heary, who is quickly emerging into a key component in the Bohs midfield, dominated the central exchanges, restricting the space required for George O’Callaghan to work his magic for lone striker Kevin Doyle.
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