Bohemians 1-1 Dundalk

Bohemians were held at home by first division Dundalk as both sides stepped up their preparations for the forthcoming league campaign.

A sublime Neale Fenn volley looked to have given Pat Fenlon’s men the victory, but Paul Lynch snatched a draw for Dundalk with just 18 minutes left following a scramble in the Bohemians box. The game was both sides penultimate pre-season friendly ahead of next Friday’s big kick-off.

Bohs, fresh from their week long training camp in Spain, gave Darren Mansaram his first taste of pre-season action, with the Englishman joining Neale Fenn in attack. Close season signings Killian Brennan and Glenn Cronin lined up in midfield alongside Kevin Hunt and Mark Rossiter, while other new recruit Ken Oman joined Jason McGuiness in the centre of defence.

Dundalk made three changes from the side which had lost to Shamrock Rovers in their last friendly outing, with Paul Marney and recent signings Paul Crowley and Robert Farrell coming in for John Flanagan, David Cassidy and Trevor Vaughan. Club captain Aidan Lynch again had to make do with a place on the bench.

The away side almost snatched an early lead when the ball broke to Robert Farrell just outside the six yard box but his weak shot was comfortably saved by Brian Murphy in the Bohs goal. It was to be one of few sights at goal the Dundalk forwards were to get in a first half in which Bohs dominated and created numerous chances.

Brennan was first to try his luck for the Gypsies after 16 minutes. The former Derry City man’s initial disappointing corner found its way back to him in the corner and his snap first time shot forced Chris Bennion in the Dundalk goal to dive to the left and parry the ball around the post.

Former Hearts and Shelbourne stopper Bennion was called into action again seconds later when the lively Darren Mansaram let fly with a dipping drive from 18 yards following a neat flick on from Fenn. The ball looked destined to hit the roof of the net, but Bennion’s right hand turned the ball over the crossbar.

Bohs were forced into a change just before the half hour mark when the injured Killian Brennan was replaced by John Paul Kelly on the left flank. The change failed to disrupt the home side’s momentum, with Mark Rossiter next to go close for the Gypsies. A fine measured through ball from Kelly, following a neat one-two with Fenn, put Rossiter in behind the Dundalk defence but the former Sunderland man lacked composure and shot straight at the legs of the out-rushing Bennion. It was to be the last chance of a first half in which the gulf between the two sides had shown, at least in possession if not goals.

Bohs dominance continued after the restart. With the second half just two minutes old, Kelly was again the provider, laying off a neat pass to Fenn on the edge of the 18-yard box, but his weak shot spun harmlessly wide of the post. Mansaram went closer moments later, however, his flicked header from a Rossiter corner was just a little too high and drifted narrowly over the crossbar.

Bohs deservedly made the breakthrough four minutes before the hour mark. Cronin made some room on the corner of the Dundalk 18 yard box with some tidy skill. He cut inside and found the feet of Mansaram who’s neat lay-off was volleyed emphatically into Bennion’s bottom corner by the right boot of Fenn. The goal was met with rapturous applause by the 1,000 or so Bohemians fans inside Dalymount as Fenn had failed to find the net once in his debut season at Bohs.

After 64 minutes, Bohs introduced defender Brian McCarthy in place of Conor Powell at left-back. The out-of-contract Athlone Town defender looks set to sign on at Dalymount, having recently spent a week on trial with English Premier League side Sunderland.

However, McCarthy was to endure a debut to forget as just minutes after coming on substitute Paul Lynch pulled the Lillywhites level following a scramble in the home side’s box after 72 minutes. Bohs’ goalkeeper Murphy saved Crowley’s initial shot, but Lynch stabbed the ball over the line with the aid of the post following a poor attempted clearance by McCarthy.

Rossiter came close to putting Bohs straight back in front. His dipping free-kick from 20-years looked destined for the bottom corner, but Bennion was again equal to the task, diving to his left to turn the ball out for a Bohs corner.

The home side had one final chance to win it in the dying minutes, when Kelly screwed wide from just inside the Dundalk box following a neat exchange of passes between Heary and substitute Glen Crowe.

Next up for Bohs is another home friendly against local rivals Shelbourne on Friday night, before they kick off their Premier League campaign on March 7, with a trip West to face Galway United. Dundalk travel Derry on Friday night for their final pre-season friendly, before returning to Dublin on March 7 to take on Shelbourne at Tolka Park in their opening First Division match of the 2008 season.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Ken Oman, Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell (Brian McCarthy 64); Mark Rossiter (Stephen O’Donnell 74), Kevin Hunt, Glenn Cronin, Killian Brennan (John Paul Kelly 27); Darren Mansaram (Glen Crowe 80), Neale Fenn.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Harpal Singh, McGinlay.

Dundalk: Chris Bennion (Aaron Shanahan 79); Paul Marney, Ian Ryan (Tiarnan Mulvenna 77), Ben Whelehan (Trevor Vaughan ‘67), David Crawley; Jamie Duffy (Aidan Lynch 67), Paul Shiels, Paul Crowley (Green 83), Robbie Farrell (Paul Smyth 66); Robbie Martin (Stefan McKevitt 83), Dave O’Connor (Shane Grimes 77).
Subs not used: Billy Smith.

Referee: Neil Doyle.