League leaders Derry City recorded a 1-0 victory at Dalymount Park on Friday to bolster their title challenge, Shane Quinn reports.
Substitute Christopher Forrester had a notable late opportunity for the Gypsies, but when that effort was missed, any chance of earning a point had gone.
Stephen Kenny’s men departed Dalymount Park on the back of truly stunning form as they have yet to lose a match since 26 May. In that vast period, they have won eight and drawn five games, and this from a team freshly promoted.
With the two sides settling into the match, and showing ample respect for each other, there was little goalmouth action in the early stages. There were examples of a needless waste of possession from both teams, unforced errors with no pressure on the ball. Barry Molloy, the Derry central midfielder, was particularly poor in his passing.
Eamon Zayed had the game’s first effort in the 24th minute when winger Stephen McLaughlin located him with a fine left-footed cross. The prolific striker disappointed with his header, getting the timing wrong as the ball sailed harmlessly over Barry Murphy’s framework.
Indeed Derry, bar that one opening for Zayed, were getting very little change from such an experienced Bohs defence consisting of Owen Heary (34), Liam Burns (32), Aidan Price (29) and Ollie Cahill (above) (35).
Three of that defence, Heary, Burns and Price (below) have thankfully been almost ever-present this season, with Cahill being hampered by niggling injuries.
Bohs’ first opportunity arose following a fluffed clearance in the Derry defence in the 42nd minute. It fell to the man who sank Sligo Rovers last Saturday, Aidan Downes (below).
The attacker pounced to shoot low towards goal, but Shane McEleney was on hand to boot off the line. Bohs had managed to get on top of their opponents near the end of a hugely cautious first period.
But the Candystripes struck the woodwork moments after the re-start. McLaughlin, a direct and pacey wide player, was put through on goal at an acute angle and struck a powerful shot that clipped the outside of the left-hand post.
The 11-time league winners responded quickly and Heary went close to scoring a rare goal with his foot, but to see it loop over the crossbar.
Zayed has enjoyed a good goalscoring campaign so far, but there was little evidence of his striking instincts here as he spurned a second good chance in the 56th minute. Daniel Lafferty executed a devilish cross to the back post when Zayed was lurking, but his finish was a tame one as it fell badly wide.
A beautiful piece of skill by Killian Brennan drew hearty applause from the home support. The former Derry player flicked the ball out stylishly to Cahill, whose cross unfortunately was not a good one.
The Bohs players thought they had taken a 1-0 lead mid-way through the second half. Brennan delivered the corner-kick and Price headed to the net (below), only for the goal to be disallowed by referee Neil Dowd for climbing from the centre-back.
To rub salt into wounds, the visitors took the lead in the 69th minute when Patrick McEleney back-heeled the ball into the net from close range after the home defence failed to clear a corner.
The breakthrough strengthened Derry’s conviction, and Murphy pulled off a wonderful fingertip save to thwart McLaughlin’s header from Kevin Deery’s corner. Forrester had that glorious chance for Bohs in the 90th minute when Brennan picked him out unmarked in the box, but his volley flew wide.
Bohemians: Murphy; Heary (C), Burns (Forrester, 83), Price, Cahill; Buckley (Hurley, 45), O’Brien, Cronin, Brennan; Fagan (Flood, 60), Downes.
Derry City: Doherty; 2 McCallion, 6 McEleney, 5 Greacen, 24 Lafferty; 8 Deery (C), 4 Molloy, 16 Higgins (Harkin, 90), 15 McLaughlin; 10 McEleney, Zayed (McDaid, 81).
Possession – Bohs: 48%; Derry: 52%.
Attempts on target – Bohs: 1; Derry: 7.
Attempts off target – Bohs: 2; Derry: 1.
Corners – Bohs: 2; Derry: 6.
Yellow Cards – Bohs: None. Derry: Daniel Lafferty, Barry Molloy, Gerard Doherty.
Referee – Neil Doyle (Dublin).
