League Report: St. Patrick's Athletic 0 - 1 Bohemians

Bohemians put a significant dent in St. Patrick’s Athletic’ European hopes on Friday night as a second half Kurtis Byrne free-kick gave the away side a 1-0 win in a tightly fought Dublin derby in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. 

Both sides had made changes from last week's encounters in the cup with Shane Supple and Conor O’Malley both getting the nod in their respective goals, while Dean O’Halloran came into the Bohs midfield after impressing in his previous two substitute appearances.

A slow opening five minutes was brightened up when Eoin Wearen won a free kick for Bohs after skipping past Mark Timlin. Lorcan Fitzgerald’s free dropped on a plate to Kurtis Byrne who turned and shot wide from six-yards.

The glaring miss failed to stun Pats however who had a good chance of their own three minutes later when Graham Kelly broke forward to shoot low into the bottom left corner, but Shane Supple, back in the Bohs team after a brief break, saved well down low.

Both teams were struggling thereafter to create any pace to the game and it was a mistake from Ger O’Brien that led to another chance for Bohs as Kurtis Byrne was put through but his first time shot from just outside the box was parried by Conor O’Malley.

The Saints were finding it hard to create space and break down a resolute Bohs defence. However after 25 minutes, Lee Desmond did well to get Steven Kinsella free out on the left. The Pat’s winger swung in a dangerous cross that was punched away by Shane Supple, but Ian Bermingham then found room for a shot that went narrowly wide.

Five minutes later and it was Pats who were building much needed momentum. Timlin drove in a brilliant cross which came back out to Conan Byrne who volleyed wide. Byrne had previously tried an audacious long-range chip on Supple, but this effort was more realistic.

As half-time approached both teams were stuck in a genuine stalemate. Despite consistent attacks down the Bohs left, the best opportunities came at the end of the half when Fitzgerald had two set pieces come to nothing; first with a poorly hit free kick on the left and then with a dangerous corner that couldn’t meet a Bohs’ head.

The second half got under way and within five minutes of the restart Bohs should have been ahead. O’Malley had a poor clearance fall to Paddy Kavanagh who attempted to chip it into the corner just inside the box when Kurtis Byrne would have been in on goal if he had chosen the right option.

Two chances in quick succession then arrived at either end after 55 minutes. Firstly, Darren Dennehy should have done better when a Pat’s corner eventually fell his way but his header lacked direction. Then Bohs broke and Byrne’s shot from just outside the six yard box was deflected after good work from Buckley put him through.

Soon after the derby had its first and only goal. Timlin fouled Buckley just under 25 yards out and Byrne stepped up to curl a beautiful shot into the bottom corner sending the Bohs fans behind the goal wild.

It could have been two a couple of minutes later when O’Halloran put in a scintillating ball from the left but Wearen glanced a header just wide.

Despite the introduction of Billy Dennehy and Keith Treacy, the Saints were failing to halt the tide. Paddy Kavanagh had a good opportunity after Buckley slipped him through down the right but Bermingham blocked his cross.

It was Bohs who threatened again on 72 minutes when Kavanagh crossed for Byrne whose header backwards just dipped over O’Malley’s crossbar.

When Dinny Corcoran was brought into bolster the Pats attack with 15 minutes to go, he nearly got straight into the action as Christy Fagan, quiet throughout, raced clear down the left but when he tried to put Corcoran in, Prendergast was there clear away.

It was the start of some sustained pressure from the home side as a couple of corners quickly followed but their most concerted effort fell to Treacy whose volley was blocked on the edge of the box.

Unfortunately for the home side, they were restricted to long shots despite their pressure. Lee Desmond had strong effort go narrowly wide from 30 yards with five minutes remaining, but the equaliser was proving elusive.

Byrne had the opportunity to seal the win when he broke completely free with full time approaching but as he cut inside O’Malley easily saved his low shot.

The fourth official indicated three minutes injury time and the Saints missed a golden opportunity to equalise as a high ball came into the six yard box to find Fagan totally on his own, but he somehow headed over in first minute of injury time.

The pressure was piled on by the home side as the final whistle came ever closer and in spite of a couple of corners at the end the away side held on for a brilliant win against their Dublin rivals.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Conor O’Malley, Ger O’Brien, Rory Feely, Ian Bermingham, Darren Dennehy, Conan Byrne, Steven Kinsella (Billy Dennehy 55), Graham Kelly (Dinny Corcoran 75), Mark Timlin (Keith Treacy 61), Lee Desmond, Christy Fagan

Subs Not Used: Brendan Clarke, Michael Barker, Sam Verdon, Jamie McGrath

Booked: None

Bohemians: Shane Supple, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Daniel Byrne, Eoin Wearen (Ian Morris 84), Keith Buckley, Kurtis Byrne, Paddy Kavanagh, Dean O’Halloran, Dylan Hayes

Subs Not Used: Dean Delaney, Marco Chindea, Warren O’Hara, Jake Kelly, Dean Casey

Booked: Dean O’Halloran (80)

Referee: Graham Kelly

Attendance: 1,486

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Kurtis Byrne (Bohemians)

See photos from the game as taken by Eoin Smith, Laszlo Geczo and Tom Beary here.