Owen Heary's reign as Bohemians manager ended on Friday night with a 2-1 win against Derry City in Dalymount Park on the final night of the 2014 season. Jason Byrne's penalty on the stroke of half time was enough to give the home team the three points and end Heary's tenure on a high point. Bohemians confirmed Heary's departure after the full time whistle with Sligo Rovers the likely destination for the former LOI defender
Derry City, who named just five substitutes for the game, started the better of the two teams and came close to scoring in the 10th minute. Striker Nathan Boyle made a fine run from midfield before finding Mark Timlin on the left. Timlin cut inside but his shot was always rising
However, just three minutes later Timlin was on hand to give the visitors the lead. Joshua Tracey showed excellent composure in the area before setting up Derry's number 12 who finished expertly to the bottom corner
It wasn't until the 28th minute that the home team had their first shot on target. Dinny Corcoran set up Karl Moore who shot from the edge of the area but Ger Doherty got down smartly to save
The Gypsies did manage to equalise in the 33rd minute. Eoin Wearen's ball into the area picked out Bohs top scorer Corcoran, who controlled the ball on his chest before brilliantly finishing to the bottom corner
The home supporters were give even more reason to celebrate on the stroke of half time. Kevin Devaney played a ball into the Derry penalty area. Steven Beattie got to it first but was clearly fouled by Ger Doherty. The City goalkeeper was subsequently booked by referee Andrew Mullally, who also awarded a penalty, which Jason Byrne score from to give the home side the lead
Most of the game was played in the Bohemians half in the opening stages of the second half. The nearest that either side came to scoring was when Dinny Corcoran headed a Derry corner off his own line in the 66th minute
Joshua Tracey tried his luck from outside the area with twenty minutes remaining for the cup finalists but his shot went wide. Derry had to play the final 10 minutes of the match with ten men after Ryan McBride went off injured, but the visitors had already made their three substitutions
Corcoran had two chances to add a third late on for his side. First of all he cut in from the left and got his shot away but Doherty managed to make the save. Then in the first minute of injury time after Jason Byrne was substituted he could only put his penalty wide
However after five minutes of injury time there was to be no late drama. Derry City can now focus on preparing for the FAI Cup final, while the victory for the home team means that will finish above their opponents in the table. It will also give Owen Heary something to smile about before his almost expected move to Sligo Rovers.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Steven Beattie, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price, Jack Memery; Kevin Devaney (Jake Hyland 90), Keith Buckley (Paddy Kavanagh 90), Eoin Wearen, Karl Moore; Dinny Corcoran, Jason Byrne (c) (Craig Walsh 90).
Subs not used: Ryan McEvoy, Adam Evans, Paddy Collins, Gavin Moore.
Derry City: Greard Doherty; Barry Molloy (c), Shane McEleney, Aaron Barry (Ryan McBride 46), Dean Jarvis; Mark Timlin, Danny Ventre, Sean Houston (Philip Lowry 15), Joshua Tracey; Ryan Curran, Nathan Boyle (Stephen Dooley 68).
Subs not used: Michael Duffy, Ciaran Gallagher (gk).
Referee: Andrew Mullally
Attendance: 1,155.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Keith Buckley (Bohemians).
