Bohemians 0 - 1 Derry City
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Bohemians may have finally got their hands on the eircom Premier Division trophy but their 27 game unbeaten league run came to a shuddering halt as they lost at home to Derry City at Dalymount Park.
An even contest swung in Derry's favour midway through the second half when Bohs midfielder Anthony Murphy was sent off after picking up a second yellow card. The away side made the numerical advantage pay on 76 minutes when Mark Farren capitalised on a defensive error to give his side the three points. The win keeps alive Derry's chances of pipping St Patrick's Athletic to second place and ends Bohs' 12 game winning streak.
It was a much changed Bohemians side from the one that clinched the title against Drogheda with Liam Burns, Killian Brennan and Stephen O'Donnell all dropping to the bench. John Paul Kelly started wide on the left, while Ken Oman was joined in defence by Conor Powell.
Jason Byrne, having scored two goals in the win over Drogheda, again partnered Glen Crowe in attack and he came close to firing Bohs ahead on 12 minutes, but his shot from 16 yards was brilliantly tipped away by Derry 'keeper Ger Doherty. With the title already in the bag, Bohs' play in the opening half hour was lacking of any real urgency. Nevertheless, Byrne again went close on 21 minutes when his powerful 35-yard free-kick forced Doherty into another fine save.
Derry, who were the only Premier Division side not to have been beaten by Bohs this season before this game, began to push forward themselves and winger Niall McGinn forced Brian Murphy into two fine saves before the interval.
Derry's belief continued to grow after the break and Gareth McGlynn volleyed narrowly over before Farren failed to connect with a driven McGlynn cross.
The game was turned on its head on 69 minutes when Anthony Murphy raced in on goal and tumbled under the challenge of Doherty, but instead of pointing to the spot - which looked to be the appropriate decision - referee Winter awarded a free-kick to Derry and showed Murphy a yellow card for simulation. The midfielder had already been booked in the first half and was given his marching orders. Bohs coach, Dermot O'Neill, was also sent to the stand for protesting.
That decision gave Derry a renewed impetus and they grabbed the only goal of the game with 14 minutes left on the clock when Sammy Morrow put Farren in behind a static Bohs defence and he finished clinically past Murphy.
The Gypsies huffed and puffed in the closing minutes but they never seriously threatened to grab an equaliser. It was only their second league defeat of the season - both of which have came at home - but the loss wasn't about to dampen the party spirit inside Dalymount Park as Owen Heary and the rest of the Bohs squad re-emerged after the final whistle to collect their medals and the league trophy.
Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Jason McGuinness, Ken Oman (Liam Burns, 89), Conor Powell; Anthony Murphy, Glenn Cronin, Gary Deegan (Stephen O'Donnell, 62), John Paul Kelly (Mindaugas Kalonas, 72); Glen Crowe, Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Killian Brennan.
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Eddie McCallion (Aaron Callaghan, 53), Clive Delaney, Mark McChrystal, Steven Gray; Gareth McGlynn, Barry Molloy (Ruaidhri Higgins, 75), Kevin Deery, Niall McGinn; Sammy Morrow, Mark Farren (Thomas Stewart, 92).
Subs not used: Darren Quigley, Kevin McHugh.
Referee: Richie Winter.
Attendance: 2,500 (estimate).
