Report: Bohemians 3 - 0 Finn Harps

Jason Byrne was the star of the show as Bohemians notched their first home win of the season with a comfortable 3-0 win over ten–man Finn Harps at Dalymount Park on Friday night.

The former Shelbourne striker set up Owen Heary for Bohs opening goal after 27 minutes before grabbing his first goal for his new club from the penalty spot midway through the second half. Glen Crowe added a third on 71 minutes as Pat Fenlon’s men made it three league wins out of four. Harps miserable night was compounded by the sending off of Kevin Ramsay after just 21 minutes after picking up two yellow cards. Manager Paul Hegarty was also red-carded for protesting about the decision.

Bohs manager Pat Fenlon had the luxury of naming an unchanged side from the one which defeated Sligo Rovers last weekend. Finn Harps made four changes with Aaron Labonte, Stuart Malcolm, Gerry Gill and Shaun Holmes coming in. Declan Boyle and Chris Breen dropped to the bench, while Tony Shields and Sean Roddy missed out altogether.

It took Bohemians just 30 seconds to carve out the first chance. A long ball through the middle sent Mark Rossiter racing in on goal but Malcolm got back just in time to intervene, just as the midfielder looked set to pick his spot.

Before the game, only goal difference separated the two sides in the league. However, what was always going to be a tough task for the away side became harder still on 21 minutes when striker Kevin Ramsay was giving his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for a wild challenge on Rossiter. Having been booked in the opening minutes for a late challenge on John Paul Kelly, Ramsay could have few complaints.

Bohs almost made the breakthrough from the resulting free kick with Byrne’s whipping drive forcing a reflex save from James Gallagher in the Harps goal. Gallagher could do little six minutes later when Heary fired Bohs into the lead. It was a goal made in Tolka Park. Byrne clipped a neat ball into the feet of Heary inside the 18-yard box and the Bohs captain composed himself before firing a right foot shot in off the inside of the right-hand post.

Bohs almost doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval when the two former Shelbourne men combined again. Heary’s long ball found Byrne 20-yards out but his dipping half-volley flew narrowly over the crossbar. The industrious Kelly was next to threaten for the home side just before the interval. Conor Powell’s pass across the edge of the 18-yard box found Kelly in acres of space, but his first time shot drifted high and wide of Gallaghers right hand post.

The one way traffic continued after the break with the impressive Byrne again going close when his clever chip from the edge of the box clipped the top of the crossbar. Byrne then shot wide from outside the box as he looked to grab his first goal in Bohs colours. The striker didn’t have to wait too much longer though. Just after the hour mark he was brought down in the box Malcolm and referee Alan Kelly quite rightly pointed to the spot. After dusting himself off, Byrne coolly dispatched his penalty high to Gallagher’s right.

Bohs added a third nine minutes later when Glen Crowe side-footed substitute Harpal Singh’s cross under the legs of Gallagher. With ten minutes remaining, man-of-the-match Byrne, for so long a villain in the eyes of Bohs fans, received a richly deserved standing ovation when he was replaced by Darren Mansaram.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Liam Burns, Ken Oman, Conor Powell; John Paul Kelly, Chris Turner (Harpal Singh 63), Mark Rossiter, Stephen O’Donnell; Glen Crowe (Michael McGinlay 88), Jason Byrne (Darren Mansaram 80).
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Jason McGuinness.

Booked: Turner.

Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Aaron Labonte, Marc Mukendi, Stuart Malcolm, Jonathan Minnock; Gerry Gill (Chris Breen 72), Shaun McGowan, Shaun Williams (Mark Brolly 76), Shaun Holmes (Michael Funston 76); Kevin Ramsey, Conor Gethins.
Subs not used: Declan Boyle, Gavin Cullen.

Booked: Ramsey, Minnock.
Sent Off: Ramsey (21).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
Attendance: 1,869
Man of the match: Jason Byrne (Bohemians).