Shelbourne 0 - 1 Bohemians

A fifth minute Kevin Devaney goal was enough to give Bohemians their second win of the season at Tolka Park on Monday evening. Shelbourne yet again finished the game with ten men after having captain Ian Ryan sent off for a second yellow card in the final quarter. The defeat leaves Shels without a league win this season.

Bohemians took the lead after five minutes when a Stephen Traynor corner was miskicked by Roberto Lopes on the six yard box. The ball found its way to Kevin Devaney who fired home for his second goal of the season.

Alan Mathews’ side reacted positively to the concession of the early goal with Philly Hughes twice going close. His first chance saw him out-muscle his marker before seeing his shot cleared from danger by Derek Pender. A minute later he found himself on the end of a Robert Cornwall cross, however his header was unable to trouble Dean Delany in the Bohs goal.

The home side continued to threaten with Ian Ryan having a header saved comfortably by Delany. Traynor’s ambitious attempt to double the Bohs lead from 25 yards sailed over Burdon’s crossbar.

Hughes almost leveled it with a moment of genius on 21 minutes when he connected with Dean Kelly’s knockdown from 20 yards, only to see his ‘over the shoulder’ volley miss the target.

The two front men for Shels were linking up well and on 31 minutes Hughes sent Kelly clear behind the Bohs defence, his shot was well blocked by the retreating Luke Byrne.

Pender was the architect of Bohs next opening on 33 minutes playing a one-two before his low cross found Devaney eight yards out. His shot was headed for the target but was well blocked by Brian Shortall.

Shelbourne dominated the early second half exchanges, pinning Bohs deep inside their own territory. Kelly fired a free header straight at Delany and a minute later linked up well with Paul Crowley before seeing his goal-bound effort blocked for a corner.

The home side continued to own the ball with numerous attempts of aerial bombardment failing to breach the Bohs defence. It was during these minutes that Stephen Paisley, playing against his old club and deputizing for injured captain and leader Owen Heary, made numerous vital interventions.

There was nothing Paisley could do on 62 minutes when a Shels corner resulted in a penalty box scramble. Traynor’s attempted clearance fell at the feet of Bayly whose shot from 20 yards rattled off the crossbar and out to safety.

Having failed to make their pressure pay Shels again found themselves on the back foot when Dave Mulcahy cut through midfield before finding Dave Scully on the left, the striker cut inside to his stronger right foot before firing an effort just wide of Burdon’s left hand post.

On 73 minutes further good work from the tireless Scully saw him body checked late by Ryan. The yellow card he was shown was his second and the Drumcondra side found themselves in the all too familiar situation of being down a man and down a captain entering into the crucial closing stages.

If anything the sending off neutralised the intensity of the game with neither side gaining an upper hand or creating clear cut chances.

Substitute Dwayne Wilson did almost double the visitors lead on 85 minutes when he beat Pat Flynn in a foot race to get on the end of Mulcahy’s ball but Burdon did well to make the stop.

The Bohs back four dealt with any late threat, seeing the game out for their first away win of the season.

Shelbourne: Niall Burdon; Robert Cornwall (Mark Leech ’86), Ian Ryan, Brian Shortall, Jack Memery; Adam Hanlon, Pat Flynn, Paul Crowley, Robert Bayly (Stephen Hurley ’82); Dean Kelly, Philly Hughes.
Subs not used: Sean Brennan, Alex Prizeman, Craig Mooney, Darren Tinnelly, Eoin Comerford.

Booked: Ryan (31), Memery (75).
Sent Off: Ryan (73).

Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Stephen Paisley, Luke Byrne; Ciaran Nangle, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor (Dwayne Wilson ‘64), David Mulcahy; Dave Scully, Kevin Devaney (Keith Buckley ’77).
Subs not used: Greg Murray, Shane Murray, Karl Moore, Michael Barker, Andy Mulligan.

Booked: Devaney (20), Mulcahy (71), Buckley (78). Wilson (88).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Attendance: 1,329.

Extratime Man of the Match: Derek Pender (Bohemians) - He impressed going forward and was part of a Bohs defensive unit that coped well without influential Owen Heary.