League Report: Bohemians 1 - 1 Derry City

An early Jason Byrne goal, a super Patrick McEleney strike and two red cards for Rory Patterson and Dinny Corcoran summed up an eventful Friday night in Dalymount Park. With both sides coming off the back of a poor start to the season, it was a game that promised to have plenty of drama and it didn’t disappoint. 

After a positive draw last Friday night against Cork, Bohemians were keen to build on that and they set their stall out early with winger Karl Moore getting down the wing finding his team mate Dinny Corcoran, but Corcoran couldn't turn in his shot, seeing it drift just wide. 

That didn't deter Bohemians, however, when minutes later Corcoran's strike partner, Jason Byrne, found himself at the end of another superb move started by the lively Karl Moore. Byrne latched onto the pass and got enough on it to direct it into the net. 

That early goal set the stall for the home team who pushed for more but couldn't find that elusive second goal. 

On the 27th minute it was that man again, Jason Byrne, who found himself at the end of a pass from Dinny Corcoran after wonderful build up play on the right side of the midfield but even though Byrne's shot found opposition goalkeeper Gerard Doherty motionless it wasn't enough to score. 

Derry City, who have found themselves under fire from the critics in recent weeks, took the initiative. Derry pair, Patrick McEleney and Rory Patterson, worked well to gradually bring their team back into the game.

It was the former who, even though his side came away with one point, will have come away with a "goal of the night" award. 

McEleney picked up the ball outside the box from Rory Patterson who turned on a sixpence to send a curling shot past Boh’s helpless 'keeper, Lee Murphy. 

The goal of the season contender rejuvenated the visitors but their optimism was rocked towards the end of the half when striker, Rory Patterson, was sent off for a lunge on Dave Mulcahy. A 50/50 ball went against Derry when Patterson led with the foot to leave Bohemians captain, Mulcahy, writhing on the ground with agony. 

The blow to the away side left the game hanging in the balance as they went in even on the scoreboard at the break. 

With the momentum swung back in favour of Bohemians, the home side took the game to Derry at the start of the second half. Paddy Kavanagh for Bohemians took it on his accord to carve out the first chance of the half when he battled in the opposition box with some nice footwork but could only see his shot deflected. 

With their tails up Bohemians went again and in the 53rd minute a fantastic cross from Kavanagh found Byrne in the six yard box but he couldn't direct his header on target and the chance went a begging. 

In another dramatic twist the momentum swung back towards Derry when, on the 55th minute, Dinny Corcoran saw red for an off the ball challenge. The linesman on the stand side signaled to the referee who duly obliged and sent off Corcoran. 

With the game now at 10 v 10 Derry took the initiative; Patrick McEleney had another audacious shot, this time Bohemians goalkeeper Lee Murphy stopped it, much to the relief of home manager, Owen Heary. 

Heary will be left rueing the sending off that left him light up front. A nervy last quarter to the game saw plenty of Bohemians pressure but ultimately no end product. Derry, to their credit, stuck to their defensive duties and in doing so saw out the result. 

The home side will see this game as two points dropped after dominating for long periods in the initial period. They missed the chance to go ahead of Derry City, a situation that Roddy Collins will be glad he avoided. 

Bohemians will be glad to have seen their new signing settle into their team and will have taken heart by another positive performance but ultimately they will need to start picking up wins. 

Bohemians: Lee Murphy; Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price (Eoin Wearen 45), Steven Beattie; Paddy Kavanagh, Dave Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy, Karl Moore (Kevin Devaney 76); Dinny Corcoran, Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Dean Delany (GK), Stephen Traynor, Jake Hyland, Darragh Reynor, Keith Buckley.

Booked: Beattie (74).
Sent Off: Corcoran (55).

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Roddy Collins Jr, Cliff Byrne , Ryan McBride, Aaron Barry; Patrick McEleney (Raymond Foy 82), Jon Paul McGovern, Danny Ventre, Michael Duffy (Ryan Curran 60); Enda Curran (Mark Stewart, 76), Rory Patterson.
Subs not used: Ciaran Gallagher (gk), Dean Jarvis, Nathan Boyle, Tony McNamee.

Booked: McBride (30), Doherty (44), Ventre (83).
Sent Off: Patterson (42).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

Attendance: 1,144

Extratime Man of the Match: Patrick McEleney (Derry City).