| Bohemian FC 5 - 0 Galway United |
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| Written by Shane Quinn |
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Bohemians extended their league lead to seven points after sticking five goals past Galway United and seeing Shamrock Rovers held to a draw by Dundalk the following day. It was one of the season’s most comfortable victories for the Gypsies and mounts the pressure on Michael O’Neill’s men.
The intensity of this match was in complete contrast to the cup victory over Dundalk. Sixth place Galway scarcely threatened. A 4-5-1 formation showed their intent to sit deep, pack midfield and ask the Champions to break them down. It wasn’t a clever strategy. Certainly not against a team who last conceded a league goal at home on April the 3rd, a 1-0 defeat to Cork City. Glen Crowe, who put in a polished performance, went close to opening the scoring on eight minutes. He controlled Brennan’s pass smartly, but goalkeeper, Barry Ryan, got a right hand to his low shot and pushed to safety. A goalkeeping howler from Ryan, however, gave Bohemians the lead in the 18th minute. Glenn Cronin hoisted a hopeful ball into the area that Ryan fumbled straight into Anto Murphy’s path for a simple finish. Messrs Trapattoni and Tardelli in the Jodi Stand would have been none too impressed. Teams often suffer from a lack of concentration after scoring and that proved the case here. Derek O’Brien got in behind Conor Powell and delivered a superb cross to the unmarked striker, Vinny Faherty, who could not stretch far enough and sliced over from four yards. Galway thought they had scored five minutes from the break when Brian Murphy spilled a high ball into his net, but referee, Alan Kelly, ruled that Faherty had forced the goalkeeper’s hand. Instead it was bohemians who went 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time. Brennan supplied a superb corner to Ken Oman who charged in front of his man to head home his third league goal in two games. Galway’s relative security in mid-table was perhaps contributing to their insipid display. It was likely they were also feeling the after-affects of being dumped out of the FAI Cup by first division Longford Town. The Connaught club were caught cold at the beginning of the second half as Ndo rolled into the path of Crowe who eased the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper for an unassailable deficit. The substitute, Paddy Madden, stung the palms of Ryan with a well-struck effort but seconds later it was 4-0. Mark O’Toole clumsily tackled Murphy in the penalty box and Brennan sent Ryan the wrong way with his spot-kick (82).
Another substitute, Neale Fenn, almost made it five when his free took a huge deflection off the wall as Ryan readjusted his feet to push behind. The fifth goal was instead left to Brian Shelley who darted into the box and calmly stroked the ball through Ryan’s legs (89).
Bohemians: B Murphy; Heary (C) (McGuinness, 56), Shelley, Oman, Powell; A Murphy, Ndo, Cronin, Brennan; J Byrne (Fenn, 63), Crowe (Madden, 77)
Galway United: Ryan; Conneely, Breen, Guthrie, O'Toole; O'Brien, Kelly, Russell (C) (McBrien, 75), Murphy (Molloy, 81), Davoren; Faherty (Green, 58).
Possession: Bohs: 59% Galway: 41%
Shots on target: Bohs: 8 Galway: 2
Corners: Bohs: 8 Galway: 3
Bookings: Bohs: None Galway: Seán Kelly
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork) |
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