WLOI Analysis: Bohemian Boomers exude brilliance

It’s only a matter of time before Bohemians bounce into contention for a league title.

Scrawled inside one of my battered notebooks is the line

“Bohs. Frightening on the wings.”

This hastily drawn observation stems from an afternoon spent under the shade of the Jodi Stand, watching Ken Kiernan’s eleven entertain a bustling Dalymount Park as they tore up the channels against Shamrock Rovers.

At the trill of the final whistle, the result was for sure one-sided.

The Hoops put four past Rachael Kelly and could have scored more were it not for Kelly’s acrobatics and a smattering of heroic defending from Ciara Smith and Lisa Murphy.

With that said, the passages of play executed in the first half should be recognised by those outside of Dublin 7 for what they were.

And that is, Quality.

The Gypsies roamed unshackled in the first 45’ and were a handful for The Hoops on the wings, Sarah McKevitt and Katie Malone propelling forward as the Dalymount turf became their runway.

Against a side without the formidable centre-back partnership of Maria Reynolds and Jessica Hennessy, Bohs are sure to have run R!OT as their wingers cut inside and sought to stun.

The young squad have hit back with a vengeance since their 4-0 defeat to Rovers a fortnight ago and were unlucky not to come away with the full complement of points when they faced Peamount United this weekend - denied by skipper Karen Duggan’s late equaliser.

Bohemians now sit in 9th place in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Table on 8 points. 

A top three finish looks unlikely given the experience and squad depth of those who hold the line above.

Yet the Bohemian boomers are most certainly a team to watch as they grow and develop under the shadow of St Peter's Church and Kiernan’s tutelage.

Here’s why.

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Full Time.
The points are shared at Dalymount Park at the end of an entertaining game of football.

2-2 pic.twitter.com/uwkAwToc0E

— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) June 15, 2024

Fixture: Bohemians v Peamount United

Competition: SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division

Clip time’s: 5:26 & 87: 37 

Player: Lisa Murphy 

Soundtrack: ‘Wanna be startin somethin’ by Michael Jackson

Context: The woman with an iron will - Murphy makes two crucial clearances with her head at either end of the contest from set pieces. A real leader from the back and a tenacious goal minder ahead of her keeper, Rachael Kelly.

Fixture: Bohemians v Peamount United

Clip time: 13:35

Competition: SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division

Soundtrack: You Should See Me In A Crown - Billie Eilish

Player/s: Sarah McKevitt, Lisa Murphy, Alannah McEvoy, Katie Malone

Context: Bohs have a treacle of talent in the centre and up front. In this clip, we see that in spades. 

Number 17 Katie Lovely throws the ball to Katie Malone who heads it down to McKevitt. 

The winger then chops it back to Aoibhe Brennan who takes a moment to stop on the ball and take in the scenery - then spins and turns her marker.

Brennan then trickles the ball back to Murphy’s feet who punts it forward to Malone. 

Malone dinks it to McEvoy down the pipe who stretches to get a touch ahead of the Peas defender. 

McKevitt picks the ball up on the right wing and swirls the cross into the heart of the D. 

Unlucky for Bohs, it sails just beyond Shauna Carroll’s reach.

Fixture: Bohemians v Peamount United

Competition: Women’s Premier Division

Clip time: 36:47

Soundtrack: Swish Swish - Katy Perry ft. Nicki Minaj

Player/s: Katie Malone, Aoibhe Brennan, Alannah McEvoy

Context: Erin McLaughlin is pickpocketed in this clip in the heart of the park  - Brennan and Malone swarming the 21 year old prodigy.

Brennan takes one touch, looks up and then whips the ball down the left lane towards McEvoy. Sensing the danger, Ciara Maher does well to re-position herself in front of the goal line and blocks McEvoy’s shot when the number 9 shows deft footwork to circle beyond Niamh Reid Burke and fire on goal.

Fixture: Bohemians v Peamount United

Competition: Women’s Premier Division

Clip time: 68’ 37

Soundtrack: Thank You, Next by Ariana Grande

Player/s: Shauna Carroll 

Context: Carroll shows excellent ball control as she takes Kelly’s skewed clearance down with her left boot. 

Keeping the ball in play in a narrow channel, the former Youths player shows sublime strength to keep possession before cheekily nutmegging Pea Lauryn O 'Callaghan who has been buzzing at her back.

Gerr up out of that!

Fixture: Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers

Stream here.

Competition: Women’s Premier Division

Round: 9

Clip time: 59:37

Soundtrack: Sail by Awolnation

Players: Lisa Murphy, Tiegan Ruddy, Alannah McEvoy, Aoibhe Brennan and Katie Lovely.

Context: Murphy switches it wide from the back to McEvoy on the right channel who is tailed by Scarlett Herron.  

Under pressure, the former Hoop does well to curve the ball back inside the centre of the park to  Tiegan Ruddy, who, to her credit, has sprinted across the pitch to her aid.

Ruddy dinks a first time ball to Brennan who takes it down on the volley and looks to roam towards goal.

Brennan then comes face to face with Jessica Hennessy and Aoife Kelly.

She keeps her composure and lays the ball off for Donnelly who spots McEvoy sprinting down the right lane.

When McEvoy reaches the ball she switches it back along the sideline to Ruddy, who does well to step away from Aine O’Gorman and pass to the unmarked Lovely.

Lovely whips it towards the lip of the box to McKevitt who keeps Katie O’Reilly at a distance, allowing for her volley on goal. 

Underestimate the Bohemian women at your peril.