- Graeme McQueen
- Fri, Oct 10 2008
Bohemians are champions of Ireland for the tenth time after they defeated last year's Premier League winners Drogheda United 2-1 at United Park on Friday night.
Jason Byrne fired Bohs ahead midway through the first half with an audacious chip from 20 yards, before Faz Kudozovic's 37th minute strike from close range sent the sides in level at the interval. The Louthmen then had Adam Hughes sent-off on 79 minutes after he picked up a second yellow card before Byrne grabbed his second of the game in injury time to grab all three points for Bohs.
As things transpired, St Patrick's Athletic lost at home to Cobh Ramblers - a result which would have meant Bohs were champions regardless of the result in Drogheda. However, that was of no concern to Bohs manager Pat Fenlon and his players who were left to celebrate the club's first Premier League title since 2003, secured with five games remaining.
Drogheda manager Paul Doolin made two changes to the side which lost to UCD in their previous outing. John Tambouras replaced Brian Shelley in the centre of defence, while Adam Hughes came in for Shaun Maher in midfield. With Neale Fenn missing through injury and Mindaugas Kalonas away on international duty with Lithuania, Fenlon brought Anthony Murphy in to midfield with Byrne partnering Glen Crowe in attack.
All the talk before the match may have centred on Drogheda's off-field problems, but if Bohs were under any illusions about the commitment of the Drogheda players then they would've been blown away in an opening 20 minute spell, which saw the home side dominate. Adam Hughes was first to go close on 11 minutes but his header from a Paul Keegan cross failed to trouble Brian Murphy in the Bohs goal. Kudozovic then spurned an even better chance for Drogs just 60 seconds later when he blazed over from point blank range. Ollie Cahill left Jason McGuinness for dust down the left before swinging an inch perfect cross into the path of Kudozovic, but the striker lacked composure and his shot flew high and wide.
Drogheda's inability to turn their possession into an opening goal was to come back to haunt them midway through the half when Byrne fired Bohs ahead with a sublime finish. A last ditch tackle from Keegan had denied Bohs' midfielder Gary Deegan just moments earlier, but there was nothing he could do on 22 minutes when Anthony Murphy slipped the ball into the path of Byrne on the edge of the area and, having spotted Ewings off his line, the striker lobbed the ball over the stranded 'keeper and high into the net.
That lead was only to last 15 minutes, however, with Kudozovic deservedly firing home an equaliser eight minutes before half-time. Cahill again found space down the left and played the ball into Kendrick whose shot rebounded back to Kudozovic on the edge of the six yard box and, with the Bohs defence caught sleeping, he this time showed a cool head to slam the ball past Brian Murphy.
Bohs almost regained the lead with their next attack when Owen Heary headed the ball back across the six-yard box and into the path of McGuinness whose downward header looked goal bound before Ewings dived accrobatically to his right to turn the ball past the post. The Gypsies continued to look the more likely to grab the next goal as the half progressed, and Owen Heary thought he had put his side back in front in first half injury time when he fired home McGuinness' knock-down only for referee Anthony Buttimer to blow for a foul by McGuinness on Tambouras.
The second period proved to be a much nervier and it took until the 64th minute for either side to create a chance of note - Byrne shooting narrowly wide for Bohs from 20 yards. With the news coming through that Pat's were losing by two goals to nil at home to Cobh, Bohs began to push forward a little more and really should have taken the lead with just over 20 minutes remaining when first Deegan and then Byrne and substitute John Paul Kelly all passed up gilt-edged chances. Deegan played the ball through to Byrne on the edge of the area and although his intital shot was blocked, the ball fell to Deegan but his shot from 20 yards was parried by Ewings. The ball then broke out to an off-balance Byrne whose strike cannoned back off the post, across the six yard box and into the path of Kelly, but his shot was deflected clear by Kendrick.
Drogheda had somehow managed to survive that assault on their goal, but Bohs were not to be denied their winner. Just as the clock ticked past the 90 minute mark Byrne beat the offside trap and rounded Ewings before sliding the ball home from a tight angle to send the hordes of Bohs fans packed inside United Park in to raptures.
The win extends Bohs winning streak in the league to 12 games and strectches their unbeaten run to 26 games. Most importantly though it means Bohemians are eircom Premier League champions for 2008 - and deservingly so too.
Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Shane Robinson, John Tambouras, Graham Gartland, Joe Kendrick; Richie Baker (Sami Ristila 88), Adam Hughes, Paul Keegan, Ollie Cahill; Eamon Zayed, Fahrudin Kuduzovic (Declan O'Brien 62).
Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Shaun Williams, Ibrahim Thiam Iyane.
Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Jason McGuinness (Ken Oman 60), Liam Burns, Mark Rossiter; Anto Murphy (John Paul Kelly 69), Gary Deegan, Stephen O'Donnell, Killian Brennan; Jason Byrne, Glen Crowe.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
Attendance: 2,400 (estimate).
