REPORT: Galway Utd 0 - 1 Bohemians

Bohemians opened their FAI Eircom League campaign with a narrow victory over a disappointing Galway Utd side at Terryland Park. Neale Fenn capped a fine individual display with the crucial goal while ‘keeper Brian Murphy was made to work for his clean sheet with a couple of important saves.

The Gypsies were made to utilise the considerable strength of their squad as injuries to Glen Cronin and Liam Burns saw Kevin Hunt and Jason McGuiness introduced at various stages.

John Paul Kelly provided the early attacking impetus for Bohs down the right flank and his 13th minute cross almost provided talisman Glen Crowe with a chance, but skipper John Fitzgerald came to Utd’s rescue.

Tony Cousins was enthused by the clubs pre-season endeavours and gave debuts to four new signings. However his side were wasteful in possession early on and allowed Bohs to dictate the tempo.

Fenn was first to chance his luck with a long range effort that had Galway custodian Gary Rogers scrambling but drifted to the right of the upright. Crowe’s audacious volley from 20 yards on 26 minutes was closer still but strayed just wide.

Bohs then struck for the only goal just before the half hour mark. It was simple route one football as Fenn chased a hopeful long ball and used his strength to outmanoeuvre the hesitant Regillio Nooitmeer before finding the net from 12 yards.

Utd finally raised a gallop with John Lester leading by example with some robust challenges. The midfielder’s long-range free brought a fine stop down to his right by Murphy, before Derek Glynn teed up Jay O’Shea on the edge of the area five minutes before the interval, only for the winger to slice his effort badly wide.

Crowe thought he had doubled Bohs lead when he found the net just after the break but he was flagged offside. Shortly after the home side had serious claims for a penalty waved away as Glynn tumbled under pressure as he chased a through ball.

Glynn’s turn of foot was Galway’s only attacking threat of note and when Gary Deegan released the striker in the 59th minute, Murphy again proving his worth with by turning the ball around the post at the expense of a corner. Fenn was leading the line superbly for the visitors, combining with Kelly and Chris Turner to good effect.

Bohs were content to defend deep to negate the threat of Glynn’s pace and this they did quite comfortably, with only substitute Ollie Fenn’s 77th minute drive raising the hopes of the home crowd.

Cousins pushed defender Wes Charles forward in a desperate last effort to snatch an equaliser but it never looked likely and Bohs held on, having scored with their only shot on target to register an amazing ninth successive victory at Terryland Park.

Next up for Galway is an away trip to St. Colman’s Park to face Cobh next Saturday, while Pat Fenlon’s side entertain St. Pat’s at Dalymount Park on Friday night.

Galway United: Rogers; McCulloch, Fitzgerald, Nooitmeer, Wesley Charles; Derek O’Brien, Deegan, John Lester (Ollie Fenn 57), Jay O’Shea (John Russell 63); Derek Glynn, Mark Leech (Vinny Faherty 72).
Subs not used: Alvin Rouse, Daryl Robson. 

Bookings: None.
 

Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Mark Rossitter, Ken Oman, Liam Burns (Jason McGuinness 51), Owen Heary; Killian Brennan, Glenn Cronin (Kevin Hunt 21), Chris Turner, John Paul Kelly; Neale Fenn (Darren Mansaram 86), Glen Crowe.
Subs not used: Stephen O'Donnell, Jason Byrne. 

Bookings: Heary, Kelly.
 

Referee: Alan Kelly

Attendance: 2,193