By: Liam Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, Courtesy, The Sligo Weekender

Dalymount eircom League Premier Division
Bohemians 0, Sligo Rovers 2

Sean Connor’s well-organised side deservedly won 2-0 – both goals scored by rejuvenated striker Paul McTiernan – to register their first away win in this season’s eircom League Premier Division.
This win, Rovers’ third in-a-row and their fourth in 12 top flight fixtures, keeps the team in sixth place – four points behind fifth placed St Patrick’s Athletic, whom they face next Friday, and 10 points adrift of present leaders Cork City.

Friday’s result will also have reinforced Rovers’ mood ahead of last night’s [Monday] fixture at The Showgrounds against Derry City, who trailed champions Cork City by a point before the game.
The outcome of this game [the result of which was too late for this issue’s deadline] was of two-fold importance – Rovers were bidding to protect an unbeaten home record since their return to the Premier Division and the memories of March’s 3-1 defeat to Derry City at the Brandywell Stadium still rankles.

Sean Connor feared that the momentum kindled prior to the three-weeks hiatus would somehow have petered out when the players stepped out on Dalymount’s hallowed sod.
He need not have worried. Although this was their first game in 20 days, the traits that have already earned acclaim this season, the foremost being cohesive defending, remained undiminished.

Rovers striker Paul McTiernan will rightly take the acclaim for a clinical finish in each half – Adam Hughes provided both assists – but goalkeeper John O’Hara’s wonder save after 33 seconds, when he splendidly denied Vinny Arkins, set the game’s tone, as did midfielder Conor O’Grady’s impressive first-half showing.

Sean Connor maintained afterwards that his intention was to dig out a result at the expense of entertainment, yet his starting eleven, arguably his strongest selection prior to whatever the transfer window brings, have proven themselves adept at both eking out a result and weaving one.
Bohemians may have enjoyed greater portions of possession, but the number of goal attempts that they generated – 15 – was just one greater than that of Rovers, who got eight of their opportunities on target.

But the home side should have scored inside the first minute.
Full-back Des Byrne’s pass left Gavin Peers, the Rovers defender, stagnant and winger Aidan O’Keefe, who would trouble the visitors’ defence the most, set up Vinny Arkins for what appeared a simple conversion in front of goal.

The veteran striker must have scored dozens of goals from this sort of situation but John O’Hara, the Rovers custodian, reacted brilliantly to turn the ball out for a corner.
Three minutes later Rovers attacked for the first time. Paul McTiernan ran at the Bohs’ rearguard but he pulled his effort wide of Keith Gallagher’s goal.

McTiernan and Gallagher would cross swords shortly afterwards when, from a ninth minute move instigated by Conor O’Grady, Rovers took the lead.

O’Grady’s clever pass released Adam Hughes on the right wing. When the Australian broke into the penalty area he managed to dodge around the inexperienced Bohs net-minder Keith Gallagher, who had rashly charged out to meet the Rovers midfielder instead of standing his ground.
Hughes cut the ball back from the bye-line to the waiting Paul McTiernan, who swept it home.
Rovers created little over the next 30 minutes or so, as Bohs, obviously stung by going behind, pressed for an equaliser.

While Aidan O’Keefe was making some inroads on the left wing – he whipped in a wicked cross that went unconverted and then fired a shot goalwards that O’Hara comfortably dealt with – and Gareth Farrelly was living up to his reputation as a former Republic of Ireland international, Rovers’ lead remained intact.

Conor O’Grady’s only flaw was to pick up a 20th minute booking for a foul on Farrelly, but other than that he, along with the equally industrious Chris Turner, stifled the impact of both the Bohs player-manager and Kevin Hunt, the Bohs captain.

Michael McNamara and Liam Burns, Rovers’ centre-backs, were doing their utmost to repel Bohs, while full-back Keith Foy’s sharp clearance was required to steer Aidan O’Keefe’s excellent 28th minute cross away from danger.

Rovers twice could have enhanced their lead in the closing minutes of the first-half.
Paul McTiernan got on the end of Keith Foy’s superbly flighted 34th minute free-kick, but the striker, who was looking for his third goal of the season, could only head the ball into the arms of Keith Gallagher.

Three minutes before the interval Chris Turner burst into the Bohs penalty area but he drove a shot well over.
Vinny Arkins continued to be defied by John O’Hara, who saved the forward’s header, while Kevin Hunt pleaded in vain for a 33rd minute penalty following a legitimate challenge by Liam Burns.Both teams saw sight of goal after the re-start – Chris Turner sent an effort wide and Gareth Farrelly’s attempt was blocked by Michael McNamara – but it was Rovers who almost stamped their authority on proceedings in the 62nd minute.

Keith Foy, once again, delivered the ball sweetly into the box but Paul McTiernan, as he did earlier, could only direct his header too close to Keith Gallagher, who saved.
Bohs’ relief was short-lived. Five minutes later 1-0 became 2-0.
Darren Mansaram ran onto Foy’s through ball but his attempt was smothered. Rovers remained in the Bohs’ half, however, and after a corner led to Vinny Arkins making a desperate clearance, the subsequent corner, taken by Fahrudin Kudozovic, silenced the hitherto hopeful home support.
The ball was adroitly headed into the net by Paul McTiernan, who latched onto Adam Hughes’ flick.
Substitute Sean Flannery, who replaced goalscorer Paul McTiernan, might have made it 3-0. But, in a similar situation that saw fellow striker Darren Mansaram thwarted, Flannery’s shot was held, albeit at the second attempt, by Keith Gallagher.

Bohs were still a force, but a fading one. John Paul Kelly scooped the ball goalwards, rather harmlessly, Gareth Farrelly, who was now hearing chants of ‘Ooh aah, Farrelly out, say ooh aah Farrelly out!’ from sections of the crowd, lifted a shot over John O’Hara’s crossbar following a flowing 78th minute move.

Rovers threatened at the other end with a volley from Chris Turner, who was becoming increasingly influential, while Conor O’Grady made a fine tackle in the 81st minute to puncture a tricky Bohs counter-attack.

The winners remained composed in the final minutes. Gavin Peers made a brisk challenge on Bohs substitute Tony Grant and Tubbercurry’s Gary Curran, who came on for Conor O’Grady in the 86th minute, immediately made his presence felt with a tackle on Kevin Hunt.

In the 87th minute Bohs were denied even a consolation goal. Jason McGuinness wastefully hooked the ball over from inside the six-yard box after John Paul Kelly’s initial shot sliced off Michael McNamara.

Teams & Scorers
eircom League Premier Division
Bohemians v Sligo Rovers
Player of the Match: Keith Foy

Sligo Rovers: John O’Hara, Gavin Peers, Keith Foy, Michael McNamara ©, Liam Burns, Conor O’Grady (Gary Curran 86), Adam Hughes, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Paul McTiernan (Sean Flannery 69), Darren Mansaram, Chris Turner

Subs not used: Richard Brush, Jamie MacKenzie, Matthew Judge

Booked: Conor O’Grady (20 minutes), Sean Flannery (71 minutes)

Goals: Paul McTiernan (9 minutes, 67 minutes)

Bohemians: Keith Gallagher, Stephen Rice (Thomas Heary 84), Des Byrne, Kevin Hunt (captain), Barry Ferguson, Jason McGuinness, Aidan O’Keefe (Tony Grant 68), Gareth Farrelly, John Paul Kelly, Vinny Arkins (Paul Dunphy 84), Stephen Ward

Subs not used: Mark O’Brien, Conor Powell

Booked: Kevin Hunt (33 minutes)

Goals: 0

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)