- Dave Donnelly
- Sat, Aug 17 2019
Dave Donnelly reports from Dalymount Park
Bohemians moved back into third spot and wiped out Derry City’s goal difference advantage in the space of 90 exhilarating minutes at Dalymount Park on Friday night.
New signing Andre Wright opened his Bohs account with four goals and Danny Mandroiu also earned himself a matchball as Keith Long’s side put up a record league win at home to UCD.
Conor Levingston, Danny Grant and sub Ross Tierney also found the net on a night where everything went right for the Gypsies and all went wrong for a callow College side.
Collie O’Neill’s side did manage a late consolation, a spectacular finish from Jason McClelland, but ceded further ground in the relegation scrap despite Finn Harps shipping five at Dundalk.
18-year-old goalkeeper Tom Murphy undeservedly saw eight goals pass him in the second half, though he was culpable for conceding two penalties and saved another from Wright.
The opening quarter gave little indication of what was to follow as Bohs, though pinning UCD in their own half for large periods, rarely troubled the away goal.
Rob Cornwall – returning to the team after four months out with an achilles injury – tested Murphy with a low shot early on but the former Everton trainee got down well to save.
Grant had the freedom of the right wing up against teenage wing-back Dara Keane and he struck the base of the post with a left-footed shot as the home side began to ramp up the pressure.
The winger was the creator for the opening goal midway through the half as he sent in a pinpoint cross for Wright to glance gracefully into the far corner.
The best UCD could muster early on was a scuffed shot from Sam Byrne and Richie O’Farrell’s through-ball for Liam Kerrigan that Cornwall just about managed to snuff out.
UCD looked set to make it to the interval one goal in arrears but an injury to captain Paul Doyle in concession of a corner presented Bohs with a temporary one man advantage.
Mandroiu spotted the potential immediately and picked out an unmarked Levingston on the edge of the box and the Wexford man smashed home a second four minutes before the break.
Grant made it three within a minute of the restart as he was slipped in by Mandroiu and the winger clipped the ball over the advancing Murphy.
Mandroiu smashed home a free kick to make it four before Wright was played in to arc a shot past the despairing UCD keeper almost straight from the kick-off.
When it’s not going your way, things have a habit of falling on the wrong side and Sam Byrne was denied a goal against his former side by the post after racing clear of the Bohs defence.
Wright was presented a golden opportunity to seal his hat-trick from the spot when Evan Farrell took down Andy Lyons but his spot-kick was saved by Murphy – but he tucked home the rebound.
Sub Ross Tierney added the most stylish goal of the night with a deft flick from Luke Wade-Slater’s cross before Mandroiu brought up his treble with two quick penalties.
Wright had time to add a fourth from close range before Jason McClelland ensured UCD wouldn’t go home without a goal to their name with a spectacular late strike.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Andy Lyons, Rob Cornwall (Aaron Barry 64), Michael Barker, Darragh Leahy; Keith Buckley, Conor Levingston (Keith Ward 53), Danny Mandroiu; Danny Grant (Ross Tierney 58), Luke Wade-Slater, Andre Wright.
Subs not used: Michael Kelly (gk), Paddy Kirk, Robbie McCourt, Ryan Swan.
Booked: Keith Buckley (56).
UCD: Tom Murphy; Liam Scales, Harry McEvoy, Evan Farrell; Isaac Akinsete, Paul Doyle (Aaron McGrath 42), Jason McClelland, Richie O’Farrell, Dara Keane (James Daly 46); Liam Kerrigan, Sam Byrne (Yoyo Mahdy 72).
Subs not used: Gavin Sheridan (gk), Luke Boore, Dan Tobin, Danu Kinsella Bishop.
Booked: Tom Murphy (73).
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).
Attendance: TBC.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Andre Wright (Bohemians).
