League Report: Limerick 0 - 1 Bohemians

Bohemians got their first win on the road since August with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Limerick at the Markets Field on Monday night.

Dinny Corcoran’s 50^th minute goal was enough to secure a second successive three points for Keith Long’s men as Limerick suffered their first home league defeat in 16 months.

Despite being under the cosh for long periods, Bohs were comfortable, especially in a second-half when the hosts were expected to build up ahead of steam.

They often failed to penetrate in the final third though, in contrast to the winners who always posed a threat with Paddy Kavanagh exceptional for Bohs on the right.

And, although they did have to rely upon brilliance from Shane Supple between the sticks at times, they held out with relative ease to move above Limerick and into seventh place in the table.

The night had started with so much promise and expectation on Shannonside. Chiedozie Ogbene was of three changes made by Martin Russell from Friday night’s defeat to Dundalk, with Bastien Hery and Ian Turner also coming in.

The winger showed glimpses of brilliance, particularly early on when isolated with Bohs captain Derek Pender, but his end product was lacking.

Despite having to chase possession for lengthy periods, it was the visitors who created the clearer-cut opportunities when they turned the ball over, with Corcoran twice and Jamie Doyle missing gilt-edged chances to put the Gypsies ahead.

The closest Limerick came in the opening-half saw Shane Duggan sting the hands of Supple from the edge of the area. Apart from that, and a few other half-chances, the Super Blues were poor in the final third for much of the game.

They did feel aggrieved with referee Anthony Buttimer nine minutes before half-time when, for the second consecutive game, Rodrigo Tosi saw a penalty claim waved away despite Rob Cornwall appearing to hack the Brazilian down.

Cornwall was punished soon after however for a ludicrous lunge on the striker, who was lucky to skip away from the challenge unscathed.

The failure to award Tosi the penalty was the main talking point and saw Buttimer leave the pitch to a chorus of boos from the home faithful at half-time.

Corcoran's fourth goal of the season put the Dubliner’s ahead five minutes after the restart as, after Tommy Robson missed the ball at the back post, he deflected Kavanagh’s neat cross past Freddy Hall.

Understandably, with home advantage, Limerick expected to force the issue, but on the balance of chances the goal was much deserved and Bohs grew in composure on the back of it with Kavanagh and Keith Ward impressing.

For all their pressing, Limerick continually lacked an end product as several ventures forward yielded little in the way of clear openings.

Tosi persisted in throwing his weight around up top, but with little service the hat-trick hero from the opening night was unable to have much impact.

Martin Russell introduced Dean Clarke and Chris Mulhall shortly after the hour mark and the latter made an immediate impact, playing the ball through for Duggan who saw his shot smothered by Supple, who was promptly off his line.

Clarke also tried his luck in the next phase from 20 yards, but his vicious effort went just over as the frustration around the Limerick city venue intensified.

That shot, with just over 20 minutes left, was the last meaningful opportunity that Limerick mustered despite a flurry of attacking set-pieces in the final quarter, none of which saw the Shannonsiders test Supple.

Limerick: Freddy Hall; Shaun Kelly, Tony Whitehead, Robbie Williams, Tommy Robson; Lee J Lynch (Chris Mulhall 66), Shane Duggan ©, Bastien Hery; Ian Turner (Stephen Kenny 85), Rodrigo Tosi, Cheidozie Ogbene (Dean Clarke 66).

Subs not used: Brendan Clarke (gk), Killian Brouder, Paul O’Conor, Garbhan Coughlan.

Booked: None.

Bohemians: Shane Supple; Derek Pender ©, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald; George Poynton, Ian Morris (Oscar Brennan 26); Paddy Kavanagh, Keith Ward (Kaleen Simon 85), Jamie Doyle; Dinny Corcoran.

Subs not used: Greg Murray (gk), Stephen Best, Phillip Gannon, Dean Casey, Dylan Hayes.

Booked: Cornwall (41), Fitzgerald (90).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 1,756 (official).

Man of the Match: Paddy Kavanagh (Bohemians).