Bohemians 3 - 1 Waterford United

• Dean Hayes
• Sun, Sep 27 2009


Bohemians claimed their third League Cup win with a battling 3-1 victory over Waterford United at the RSC. All of Bohs’ goals came in the first half with Killian Brennan netting two before Neale Fenn’s strike late on in the half. Waterford’s sole consolation came courtesy of centre-back Kenny Browne.

Bohs got the game underway and immediately won a corner, which Waterford struggled to clear. The Dublin side were already looking menacing but Waterford slowly began to find their passing rhythm. On eight minutes, however, they were hit with a sucker-punch. Bohs were awarded a free-kick on the right-hand edge of the Blues’ box for an apparent handball spotted by the linesman and Killian Brennan curled the ball over the wall and inside Michael Devine’s post. Not the start the First Division side had in mind.

The game was very nip and tuck and neither side were particularly dominant. On 22 minutes Willie John Kiely cut inside from the left and floated an inviting ball ahead of Vinny Sullivan, but his touch was just too heavy and it carried through to Brian Murphy in the Bohs goal. The second goal, when it came, would be crucial and on 29 minutes referee Derek Tomney gifted it to the Premier Division side. Marc Hughes controlled the ball inside the Waterford box and fell under pressure from Kevin Murray as he headed for the left flank. Tomney immediately pointed to the spot, to the shock and disgust of the Waterford support, players and staff.

Brennan stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty beyond Devine for his and his team’s second goal of the game. It was looking a very big ask now for the Blues and it got even bigger just before half-time. Neale Fenn picked the ball up on the turn 30 yards from goal and took a few steps before firing a shot straight at Devine which the Waterford captain somehow parried into the bottom corner of his own net from a standing position. The Suirsiders refused to let their heads drop and carved out two chances before the half-time whistle.

First the lively Graham Cummins headed wide at the near post from a Sullivan cross and one minute later Sullivan was again the provider, this time teeing up Kiely to nod wide at the back post. Tomney’s whistle closed a nightmare half for the Blues and the man in the middle was met by a chorus of boos as he left the pitch.

Bohemians’ travelling support were in fine voice as their team emerged for the second-half and must have already been celebrating their first trophy of the season. The first chance of the half, however, fell to the ‘home’ side. Joseph Ndo cleared the ball to the edge of the Bohs box and Dave Warren thrashed the ball well over Murphy’s crossbar. Bohs were looking comfortable now and were happy to sit back and absorb Waterford pressure. The Blues were dominating possession but lacked the cutting edge to pry open the Bohs back line.

They came close on 67 minutes when Sullivan just failed to connect with a Warren corner and the ball drifted wide. Then on 77 minutes Sullivan missed an even clearer chance. Kiely chested the ball down on the edge of the six- yard box and laid off for Sullivan to fire over from seven yards. It was all Waterford now and four minutes later they had a goal back. Substitute Kevin Waters floated in a free-kick which Murphy failed to claim, allowing Paul Walsh to pull the ball back for Kenny Browne to tap in.

The majority of the crowd were desperately urging the Suirsiders on and they continued to pour forward. Cummins blasted agonisingly wide of the post with Murphy beaten and Kiely failed to connect properly with a shot on the turn. Fenlon’s men continued to repel the one-way traffic and eventually saw the game out to be crowned League Cup champions. The travelling Bohs faithful were ecstatic and the party for them could now begin in earnest. The Dublin side were helped by some questionable officiating over the course of the match but, in the end, were worthy winners.

Waterford United (4-3-3): Devine; Carey, Long (Waters 68), Browne, Murray; Warren (Walsh), Grant, Kearney; Sullivan, Kiely, Cummins.
Subs not used: Burns, Mulcahy, Fitzgerald.

Bohemians (4-4-2): B Murphy; Cronin, Heary, Powell, Shelley; Hughes, Keegan, Ndo (A Murphy 71), Oman; Brennan, Fenn (Crowe 86).
Subs not used: Gregg, McEvoy, Byrne.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)

Attendance: 3000