League Report: Bohemians 0 - 0 Limerick

Sam McKeever reports from Dalymount Park  

View gallery of the game from Martin Doherty and Peter Fitzpatrick

Bohemians and Limerick played out a goalless draw as both teams looked for a vital three points at Dalymount Park on Friday night.

The first effort on goal was around the 10^th minute mark as Dan Byrne let fly with his right foot but he got under the ball a bit too much as it sailed over Brendan Clarke’s crossbar.

Limerick came close to scoring moments later from a corner as a bit of head tennis took place in the box and the ball almost reached the head of Mark O’Sullivan, but a vital touch from Dan Casey prevented O’Sullivan from getting on the end of it and the home side cleared their lines.

The away side had the next chance to break the deadlock as good play down the right between Shane Tracey and Shaun Kelly produced a fantastic cross to the front post which found O’Sullivan.

He got a touch on it, which have looked to have beaten Shane Supple in the Bohemians goal, before a vital clearance from Ian Morris saved Keith Long’s side from going a goal down.

Former Leeds United striker Eoghan Stokes had the next opportunity as Dan Casey picked out his fantastic run with a long pass.

Stokes took the pass down well with his first touch but his finish lacked the same quality as he scooped it over the bar.

Midfielder Dylan Watts was the next man to test the keeper as his curling effort from a Keith Ward pass called Brendan Clarke into action as he tipped the ball for a corner.

In a game which turned into a midfield battle for the latter stages of the first half it was Limerick who had the next big chance just on the stroke of half time.

A good cut back from William Fitzgerald on the left found Shane Tracey inside the six-yard box but Shane Supple was equal to his effort and tipped it around the post.

It was winger Eoghan Stokes who had the first shot of the second half as a cross from the right hand side was dealt poorly by the Limerick defence and it fell to the winger on the edge of the box.

He turned onto his right foot and hit a rasping shot which called Clarke into action as he dived down to his left to save.

Minutes later and Stokes had another effort as he was played in by Keith Ward. Stokes turned well to get away from Tony Whitehead his finish lacked any power as Clarke gathered the ball at the front post.

Despite the home side taking control of the second half, they couldn’t seem to make any real chances with their dominance as the Limerick defence stood firm and were able to deal with what the likes of Ward and Stokes were throwing at them on the attacking front.

Keith Long’s side did come close from a corner.

A short ball played towards Keith Ward in the box gave him the opportunity to work an opening. He beat his man and released a fantastic left foot strike which beat Brendan Clarke before being stopped on the line by Shaun Kelly at the vital moment.

Bohemians: Shane Supple; Keith Buckley, Dan Casey (Karl Moore 88), Ian Morris, Darragh Leahy; Dan Byrne; Dan Byrne, Dylan Watts, Danny Grant (Dinny Corcoran 79), JJ Lunney, Keith Ward; Eoghan Stokes

Subs not used: Colin McCabe, Dylan Thornton, John Ross Wilson, Patrick Kirk, Ryan Graydon

Booked: TBC

Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Shaun Kelly, Killian Cantwell, Tony Whitehead, Cian Coleman; Shane Duggan, Shane Tracy(Barry Maguire 65), Killian Brouder(Darren Dennehy 43), William Fitzgerald(Danny Morrissey 72); Billy Dennehy, Mark O’Sullivan

Subs not used: Tommy Holland,Conor Ellis, Karl O’Sullivan, Henry Cameron,

Booked: TBC

Referee: John McLoughlin

Attendance: 1,674 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dan Casey (Bohemians).