Bohemians 1 (Doyle 52, Hunt s/o 37) Longford Town 1 (Gartland 5)
Shelbourne 2 (J Byrne 74, S Byrne 85) Drogheda United 0
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Bohemians minus Hunt and Crowe fail to inspire
Ten-man Bohemians lost crucial ground in the Premier Division title race as they had to come from behind to rescue a point against Cup winners Longford Town at Dalymount Park. The 1-1 result leaves Bohs four points adrift of leaders Shelbourne and in trouble as captain Kevin Hunt was sent off for the first time in his five-year career with the Gypsies, seeing him miss their next game against Drogheda at 02 Park.
The home side started with recalled defender Damien Lynch, and second-half substitutes against Shelbourne, Fergal Harkin and Robbie Doyle. Top scorer Glen Crowe looked set to add to his eighteen league goals this season, but injured himself in the warm-up and took to the bench, with Paul Keegan lining up with Doyle. And they were dealt a further blow when 20-year-old Graham Gartland headed home a fifth minute Philip Keogh corner to their net, with the former U17 and U19 international completely unchallenged. Both Keegan and Doyle had long-range efforts to level matters but nothing clear-cut came the way of the reigning champions.
On 35 minutes Longford, who had Republic U20 World Championship call-up Stephen Paisley in their side, defended a corner that rebounded out to Colin Hawkins on the edge of the area. Barry Ferguson flung himself at the ball and Hawkins’ shot seemed to strike the Town man on the hand. Bohemians protested to Cork referee Anthony Buttimer, but to no avail and just two minutes later that frustration boiled over with the sending off of skipper Kevin Hunt for a second booking, and a bad challenge on Keogh.
Into the second-half and Bohemians showed an improved effort with Robbie Doyle finding the net on 52 minutes from a superbly struck free kick which caught out Town goalkeeper Stephen O’Brien, who slipped on his line. Longford had chances to win it through Eric Lavine but the striker, who hasn’t scored in eight games, fumbled his chance when put through on goal by Alan Kirby late in the half. He also had a header flash wide, while Bohemians couldn’t mount a series of telling attacks with their best chance coming from defender Ken Oman’s near post header which was flicked over.
Bohemians travel to meet Drogheda for a seventh time in league and Cup next Friday, before a difficult journey north to face relegation threatened Derry. They end their campaign with a home tie against Dublin rivals St Pat’s.
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'Byrne-ing' ambition provides the key for Shelbourne
Striker Jason Byrne scored his third goal in four games against Drogheda United this season, as a 2-0 win for Shelbourne against the County Louth side at Tolka Park, saw them move four points ahead of second-placed Bohemians tonight. Byrne’s eighteenth league goal draws him level with Bohemians’ Glen Crowe in the scoring stakes, and gave his side a third win in four games.
With three fixtures remaining in the title race, the cards are now heavily stacked in Pat Fenlon’s side’s favour as they attempt to garner the Premier Division crown for a third time in five years. Shelbourne set their stall out early with a quick cross from Richie Baker, back from suspension, putting top scorer Jason Byrne into a scoring position after twenty seconds, but the former Bray striker shot wide.
The high stakes were evident for both sides with Drogheda still not certain of their Premier status, and the game spluttered and stuttered along until Andy Myler hit a left-footed snap shot in the nineteenth minute. A spell of pressure from the visitors saw them win a first corner three minutes later when Tony McCarthy flicked a Declan O’Brien ball behind. The resultant corner, swung in by Gary Cronin, was headed marginally over by defender John Flanagan, just a one-time scorer this season.
Striker Andy Myler tussled with Shelbourne’s Baker just before the half-hour and the game seemed to come to life thereafter. Flanagan almost found himself in a scoring position again, but Dave Rogers cleared well. The recalled Ger Rowe made his way into the United area moments later to shoot narrowly wide with Jason Byrne lurking in the six-yard box for any sort of deflection.
A possible handball incident had the Shelbourne faithful incensed moving into first half stoppage time, but with referee Paul Tuite waving play on, the best the league leaders could manage from the attack was a left-footed rising effort from Dave Rogers. Pat Fenlon introduced Kevin Doherty and Wes Hoolahan after the break and those switches were to prove decisive with Hoolahan elusive in attack and Doherty coming on to release Jamie Harris up front.
But it was Drogheda who came the closest to scoring before Shelbourne eventually clicked. After a listless period of action, Barry Molloy sped off down Shelbourne’s right flank after picking up a loose ball in the 70th minute, and the former Derby County midfielder hit a superb shot on the run that unfortunately met the inside of Shelbourne’s right post and evaded the diving Declan O’Brien at the far post.
Just two minutes later, Shelbourne decisively had the game’s only goal with substitute Hoolahan’s whipped cross from the left flank being nudged into the path of Byrne by second-half striker partner Jamie Harris and the in-form striker made no mistake with a quality finish from fifteen yards. Ger McCarthy robbed United stopper Gary Rogers with five minutes remaining and his neat lay-off to Stuart Byrne saw the midfielder double the Shels lead and score his second goal in four days, having netted the first-half winner against Bohemians on Friday.
Fenlon’s men though face a potential banana skin trip to Cork’s Turner’s Cross next Friday night, with a visit to Longford in seven days’ time. Their title bid ends at home, against tenants Shamrock Rovers.