Bohemian Football Club Crest

Paddy Madden twice dragged Bohemians back from the dead when the 10 men seemed set for a disastrous defeat at Terryland Park.

The Dubliners struggled to get out of first gear in the opening 45 but were tremendous when their backs were to the wall in the second half. Three goals in the space of five minutes (from 70-75) favoured Bohemians as their ability to fight adversity saw them remain in the title hunt.

The task was made exceptionally difficult early on as Brian Shelley was sent off for taking down Karl Sheppard. The ex-Bohemian, Stephen O’Donnell, converted the resultant penalty.

A 7-1 victory over Glenville was a decent result for the Gypsies and a good night for Paddy Madden followed by another one here for him. Galway have made a disappointing start under Seán Connor’s tenure, sitting third from bottom, just six points above a poor Drogheda United side.

Madden showed signs of things to come as he almost scored a brilliant goal on 13 minutes. He out-muscled and out-paced centre-half Paul Sinnott, and the clever 20-yard lob landed half a yard over. There was worrying news for Pat Fenlon on 17 minutes when top-scorer Jason Byrne limped off with Mark Quigley coming on.

Things were to get much worse 60 seconds later. Shelley was left in Sheppard’s wake and once the striker was in the area he threw himself to ground for a penalty. It looked as if Sheppard was first touched outside the box before continuing his run and then going down inside. Shelley felt aggrieved as O’Donnell netted the spot-kick with a cheeky dink over Barry Murphy.

Jason McGuinness, making his 100th appearance for Bohemians, went desperately close to making contact with Brennan’s fine delivery on 38 minutes and Barry Ryan was grateful to gather. The Phibsboro side were struggling to get in behind the Galway defence in that first half.

Brennan was presented with a set-piece in prime area at the beginning of the second half, but disappointingly shot straight into Ryan’s arms. Madden threatened again when Sinnott dealt poorly with a long ball which the forward volleyed narrowly over.

But seconds later he was celebrating as the pressure from the 10 men paid off. Brennan hoisted a free kick into the area which eventually came over to Oman who flicked onto to Madden. The 20-year-old forward turned and struck a powerful first time finish into the net (70).

Bohemians’ fans were not rejoicing for long. Murphy came out, failed to claim a corner, and substitute Tom King’s effort squeezed over the line (74), despite protestations by the visiting players.

Before the crowds had time to sit yet another goal had flown in as Bohemians resurrected themselves once more. Dreadful defending in which Ciaran Foley put Ryan in heaps of trouble with his hospital back-pass, forced the ‘keeper into first controlling with his chest. His attempted clearance then cannoned off the closing Madden, who harried brilliantly, with the ball bouncing into the net (75).

Bohemians played this game with 10 men for more than 70 minutes. In that second half, for all the world it looked as if Galway were shorn of a player. Madden almost grabbed his second hat-trick in two games in the 92nd minute but his glancing header from Keegan’s delivery fell a yard wide of the back post.

Galway United: Ryan (C); 2 Conneely, 5 McKenzie, 20 Sinnott, 14 Meynell; 16 Curran, 8 O’Donnell, 6 Foley, 7 Ryan; 10 Sheppard, 18 Flood (King, 31)

Bohemians: Murphy; Shelley, McGuinness, Oman, Powell; McGlynn, Keegan (C), Cronin (Heary, 66), Brennan (Rossiter, 86); Byrne (Quigley, 17), Madden

Possession: Galway: 44% Bohs: 56%

Attempts on target: Galway: 2 Bohs: 4

Attempts off target: Galway: 2 Bohs: 8

Corners: Galway: 5 Bohs: 4

Bookings: Galway: Tom King, Gary Curran, Paul Sinnott

Bohs: Killian Brennan, Ken Oman, Gareth McGlynn

Sent off: Galway: None Bohs: Brian Shelley

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)