A late Patrick Hickey Header sealed all three points for Bohemians at Dalymount Park
Bohemians 1
Galway United 0
The opening stages of this chilly encounter at Dalymount Park saw both sides testing each other aerially, but it was Bohemians who gradually began to stamp their authority on proceedings. Senan Mullen was the first to find space down the left, slipping a neat pass inside to Ross Tierney whose effort from the edge of the area failed to trouble Galway goalkeeper Evan Watts.
The left flank quickly became Bohs’ most promising outlet. Mullen again found room to advance and tried his luck from distance, though Watts remained largely untested. Colm Whelan was lively across the Bohs front line in the early stages, chasing loose balls and putting the Galway defence under pressure as the hosts controlled much of the early territory.
Galway’s best moment of the half arrived against the run of play on 25 minutes when Lomboto drove directly at the Bohs backline before sliding a pass towards Jimmy Keohane, only for the danger to be quickly smothered by Martin Chorazka.
Despite Bohs continuing to turn the screw, clear chances remained scarce. Devoy was booked late in the half after halting a Galway counter attack, while Aaron Bolger’s long range effort before the break sailed comfortably over the bar troubling those on the roads outside Dalymount. For all Bohs’ dominance, the sides went in level at halftime.
Galway emerged for the second half with the energy of a side that had just received what one can only assume was a John Caulfield hairdryer treatment, looking far sharper than they had in the opening 45 minutes. The early pressure from the visitors saw Ed McCarthy curl an effort from distance which was well saved by the Bohs goalkeeper low to his left.
Aaron Bolger soon conceded a free kick deep in Galway territory which allowed Dawson Devoy to test Evan Watts, the Galway goalkeeper doing well to divert the well struck effort wide. Watts was called into action again moments later when the resulting corner fell to Patrick Hickey, whose close range effort was smartly saved. The flurry of chances continued and the next opportunity fell to Jimmy Keohane, who latched onto a clever McCarthy pass but dragged his effort just wide of the right hand post.
Photo taken by Vihaan Mohan (LOI Talk)
Alan Reynolds introduced a trio of changes on the hour mark in an effort to regain control of the game, a move quickly mirrored by Galway with a double substitution that included former Bohs man Kris Twardek. Bolger soon found himself in the referee’s book for a foul on Devoy as the contest continued to swing from end to end.
Keohane continued to push Galway forward, winning a free on the edge of the Bohs penalty area after a foul by Hickey, though his effort was struck directly into the wall. Bohs then saw three quick fire attempts blocked inside the area with fifteen minutes remaining, the final strike coming from Zane Myers.
Galway nearly produced the moment of the night when a long throw from McCarthy was flicked on to Twardek, whose close range header was brilliantly saved by Chorazka. Bohs introduced sixteen year old Hugh Martin soon after as they searched for a late winner.
That moment eventually arrived in the 87th minute. A mix up between Bolger and Watts gifted Bohs a corner and the mistake proved costly when Strods delivery found Patrick Hickey rising highest in the Galway box to power home a header and send Dalymount into raptures.
Caufield rolled the dice one last time bringing in Pierrot and his gamble almost paid dividends with Galway having the last big chance of the game with Wolfe missing a sitter after the ball ricocheted around the Bohs area falling kindly to him but he lashed his effort wide.
Man Of The Match
Dawson Devoy – Bohemians
It felt like all that was right for Bohs came from the potential Ireland International. Picking up pockets all over the pitch with the hope of driving Bohs forward. He was followed closely by Senan Mullen who did not put a foot wrong for the Gypsies.
Lineups
Bohemian (3-5-2): Chorazka (GK), Morahan, Mullen, Todd, Hickey, McDonnell, Devoy (CPT), Vaughan, Parsons, Tierney, Whelan
Subs: Power For Morahan, Myers For Vaughan, Flores For McDonnell (All 60th min), Strods For Parsons (70th min)
Galway United (4-5-1): Watts (GK), Parker, Kazeem, Facchineri, Brouder, Keohane (CPT), Bolger, McCarthy, Devitt, Hurley, Lomboto
Subs: Twardek For Lomboto, Walsh For Kazeem (Both 60th min), Williams For Brouder (75th min), Martin For Tierney (80th min), Pierrot for Keohane, Parker For Wolfe (Both 90th min)
Referee
Daniel Murphy