- Paul Corcoran
- Fri, May 26 2017
A balmy evening in Galway saw Bohemians emerge the victors in Eamonn Deacy Park with the Gypsies overcoming Galway United 2-1.
The match started off as a scrappy affair with lots of high balls and poor passing but still this tie saw an early goal.
Keith Ward placed a tidy through ball into the Galway box finding Dinny Corcoran. Corcoran hasn’t been shy of scoring goals so far this season, with seven Premier Division goals going into Friday night’s game, and the forward easily put the ball past Conor Winn in the Galway goal.
The Tribesmen were by no means off the pace initially, however, and they were able to create some decent chances. 15 minutes into the game Gary Shanahan played a clever pass to Ronan Murray in the Bohemians box but the striker’s subsequent shot was blocked down by the Bohs defence.
Minutes later Murray went close for Galway United when he took advantage of some poor defending by Bohemians. The striker collected the ball outside the box and blasted a shot at the goal but Shane Supple was able to fist the ball away.
Bohemians doubled their lead later in the first half when a George Poynton cross found its way to Lorcan Fitzgerald from the right flank. Fitzgerald smacked the ball into the bottom corner with fabulous strike to put the away side up by two goals.
United attempted to take hold of the game in the second half and they were rewarded with a goal after ten minutes.
Ronan Murray stood over a Galway United free-kick and the Belmullet man showed his confidence and struck a beautiful shot into the bottom corner of Shane Supple’s goal.
Just five minutes later Murray stood over another free-kick in an almost identical position but this time his shot was saved with Bohemians goalkeeper Shane Supple being at full stretch to tip the ball behind.
Bohemians were close to getting their third when it was between Keith Ward and goalkeeper Conor Winn to get to the breaking ball but the intimidating keeper got to the ball first and snuffed out any possibility of a chance for The Gypsies.
Galway United had a last clear cut chance when Gavan Holohan struck a dinger of a ball but only hit the woodwork.
Finally, deep into injury time The Tribesmen got a lifeline with a free-kick to the left of Bohemians box. Marc Ludden found imposing centre back Lee Grace in the box but the former Wexford Youths player nodded the ball over the bar.
No joy for Galway United as they couldn’t find an equaliser in the end. A poor first half cost The Tribesmen and Bohemians took full advantage.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Lee Grace, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan (Jesse Devers, 85), Gavan Holohan, David Cawley, Kevin Devaney; Ronan Murray, Vinny Faherty (Padraic Cunningham, 79).
Subs not used: Ciaran Nugent, Paul Sinnott, Alex Byrne, Conor Melody, Aaron Conway.
Booked: Vinny Faherty (31), Colm Horgan (80)
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald (Kaleem Simon, 67), Robert Cornwall, Daniel Byrne; Keith Ward (Dean Casey, 81), Oscar Brennan, Fuad Sule (Philip Gannon, 77), Ian Morris, George Poynton; Dinny Corcoran.
Subs not used: Greg Murray, Eoghan Morgan, Jamie Hamilton.
Booked: Daniel Byrne (25), Lorcan Fitzgerald (57), Keith Ward (67), Oscar Brennan (80)
Referee: Ben Connolly
Attendance: 1,361
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Keith Ward
