Bohemian Football Club Crest

Airtricity Under-19 League Elite Division

Sunday 29th April 2012

Bohemians 2, Bray Wanderers 3

In the final Under-19 league game of the season, played at Bray's Carlisle Grounds owing to works being carried out on the Dalymount Park pitch, Bray Wanderers came out on top against a plucky Bohemian team shorn of three of their regular back four.

[Click on photo above for more photos from Bohs v Bray.]

The teams gave a good account of themselves, particularly considering the conditions, in a match played in the best spirit. It really was wild and windy at the Carlisle Grounds, bitterly cold gusts of wind strafing the venue. Mercifully the skies never really opened to add to our misery!

Bray arguably had more to play for, as this win ensured they retained their place in the Elite Division for season 2012/13, but the Gypsies -- who will probably now finish fifth -- fought them hard all the way for the points.

Bray played into the elements in the first with a great deal of composure and it wasn't too much of a surprise when they got the lead goal. Bohs had plenty of shots, trying to use the strong, unpredictable wind, but most of them were off target. However, Dan Mahon poached an equaliser after Correy Davidson whipped in a free kick from the right, and just before the break Gary Caffrey smartly headed home Michael Scott's corner from the left wing at the back post.

Bohs lost their advantage three minutes into the second period when some sloppy defending was quickly punished. Thus it was 2-2 before they'd got accustomed to playing into the wind, and were literally and physically now on the back foot. In the 70th minute Bohs' task grew even harder when another smart home finish made it 3-2. How the Gypsies tried to get back into this match, but the Wanderers continued to carve out the better chances, Greg Murray forced into several good saves before the finish.

Bohemians - Greg Murray; Lee Lismore, Dan Byrne, Ryan Thorp, Cian Gorman; Michael Scott (55 Lee Halford), Conor O'Brien, Donal Coghlan, Correy Davidson; Gary Caffrey (68 Jack Watson), Dan Mahon.

Airtricity Under-19 League Elite Division,  Wednesday, 11th April 2012 

Bohemians 0, Shamrock Rovers 0

The Young Gypsies dampened the visitors' title prospects when they held them to a goal-less draw at Dalymount Park.

[Click on photo above for more photos from Bohs v Rovers.]

Bohs had to battle hard throughout and, though lacking  first choice full backs Michael Barker (injured) and Philip McCabe (suspended), as well as central midfielder Donal Coghlan, this was something of a return to form for Owen Heary's charges.  Rovers lost Donal Branagan in the 38th minute to a red card, but made light of their disadvantage and looked far more fluent in the second half.

Correy Davidson and Jack Watson came to close to getting a winner for Bohs in the closing quarter hour, but Rovers also might have grabbed all three points late on from a precocious long-range free kick that keeper Greg Murray did well to flick away. However, in the closing stages the visitors rather peculiarly played out time instead of going for the goal that might have edged them two points closer to Cork City.

Bohemians - Greg Murray; Lee Lismore (88 Cian Gorman), Dan Byrne, Ryan Thorp, Paddy Seery (capt); Michael Scott (60 Jack Watson), Conor O'Brien, Lee Halford (79 Gary Caffrey), Andy Mulligan; Dan Mahon, Correy Davidson.

Unused subs - Dan Higgins, Mark Radford, Sean Dunne (gk).

Shamrock - Lee Steacy; Dean Power, Jack Memery, Garry Comerford (capt), Donal Branagan, Karl McGrath, Lorcan Shannon, Charles Kenna, Dean Ebbe, Niall Forrester, Kelvin Jackson.

Subs - James Mullaney, Ciaran Byrne, Marc Keeley, Steven Foy, Sean Dixon, Thomas O'Rourke.