Bohemian Football Club Crest

@bfcdublin “This Isn’t The End” was the message from the Bohs fans at the end of their final league game away to Derry City on Friday. A large banner with that message  was unfurled for all to see when the match was over.

On the pitch, there was nothing but pride to play for as both sides couldn’t be caught by the teams directly below them, nor could they overtake whoever was ahead of them in the table. 

Nevertheless, both teams played out a competetive game and both tried to round their season off with victory. 

The away side enjoyed much of the possession in the opening exchanges, but the first real opportunity of the game fell to Eamon Zayed. 

Mark Farren, starting in his first game since returning from his serious illness, fed the ball to Zayed, but his shot could only find the side netting. 

Aidan Downes should have been awarded a free-kick in a very advantageous position for the Gypsies, as he was taken down by a Emmet Friars while rushing onto a misplaced pass.

But referee Tom Connolly didn’t see it that way and Ger Doherty collected the ball and cleared the danger. 

Downes had a great chance to open the scoring when he neatly controlled a pass from the wing in the box. He quickly shifted his body to shoot but Doherty was able to save well, making use of his legs. 

In the second half, Barry Murphy pulled off a magnificent save to deny Danny Lafferty. The youngster rose highest after a free-kick was curled into the box, but the Bohs keeper was equal to it, pushing it onto the post and out.

Derry had another free-kick shortly afterwards, as they began to take control of the flow of the game in the second half. From a similar position to their last set-piece, a similar delivary was sent into the box. This time nobody was able to meet the ball and Murphy followed it all the way out wide. 

Unusually for Zayed, his header from Lafferty’s excellent cross went wayward, not troubling Murphy between the posts.

Ollie Cahill started a Bohs move late in the game, as he found acres of space on the break to run into Derry territory. The attacked was eventually snuffed out with the scores still level.

In the closing moments of the game, Murphy had to make another great save from Danny Lafferty. As a corner was sent into the box, the energetic defender who had a great game nearly won the game for the Candystripes, but Murphy’s reflexes were quick enough to get a palm to the ball.

At the end of the final game of the season, Bohs finished in a very respectable fifth place. The team also made it to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup. For Derry, they finish the season with the League Cup trophy and in third place in the league, challenging the two Rovers for the title all year long.