Airtricity League Premier Division: Bohemians 2 Derry City 0
By Daire Walsh
A brace of opening period goals by Ryan McEvoy proved to be the difference between the teams at Dalymount Park last night as Derry City’s European prospects suffered a dent against a highly motivated Bohemians in the north Dublin venue.
The 2012 FAI Cup winners still find themselves fourth in the table with five games remaining, but the greater desire of the relegation-threatened home side was in evidence throughout the contest.
Although the injury-plagued Kevin Deery was ruled out as he prepares to go under the knife once again, the return of Ryan McBride and Barry McNamee from suspension was a welcome boost as The Candystripes aimed to replicate their stunning performance in the same venue back in April, when they emerged with a magnificent 4-0 victory.
However, this game was never likely to develop in the same manner as, just four minutes into the tie, Cork whistler Alan Kelly pointed to the spot following a shove on Bohs striker Dinny Corcoran in the area by McBride, with the ever-impressive McEvoy making no mistake from the subsequent penalty kick.
Thanks to this early lead, the hosts gained a large degree of confidence, and with Derry struggling to respond to an unexpected setback, the Dubliners extended their lead on 22 minutes, as a superb delivery on the right-wing by Keith Buckley was finished off by a thundering header from McEvoy, which had Candystripes netminder Gerard Doherty beaten all ends up.
The excellent McEvoy was perilously close to sealing his hat-trick with a similar effort 26 minutes in and McBride was narrowly off the mark from a promising set-piece a couple of minutes later.
Having played in a deeper role during the opening half-hour, Rory Patterson eventually joined Michael Rafter in the Derry attack, but even though the league’s top-scorer and the lively Michael Duffy did go close for Declan Devine’s charges, they couldn’t breach the compact Bohs rearguard before the interval.
A strong showing upon the resumption had the potential to force Derry back into contention, but despite going close on the hour mark when a tricky Barry McNamee cross was eventually held at the second time of asking by Gypsies custodian Dean Delaney, Derry’s chances of a securing a positive result all but more evaporated with 22 minutes of play remaining.
Livewire front man Corcoran managed to find room to run in behind the Candystripes’ back-four on this occasion, and when McBride upended him just outside the area, Kelly was left with no choice but to issue him the centre-half with a straight red card.
It was another hammer blow for the visitors, but with Bohs being content to hold on to their two-goal advantage, and Derry continuing to display admirable endeavour, the numerical advantage wasn’t as significant as it might have been.
A miscued Michael Duffy flick-on and a dragged strike from a tight angle by Patterson were as close as Derry came in the final quarter, though, as Bohemians secured maximum points in a professional fashion.
MATCH STATS
BOHEMIANS: Delany; Pender, Lopes, Yadolahi, L Byrne; Buckley (Mulligan 86), Mulcahy, McEvoy, Moore; Traynor; Corcoran (Lyons 93).
Subs not used: Reynor, Scully, Barker, D Byrne, Murray.
Goals: McEvoy 4, 22
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, S McEleney, McBride, Jarvis; McDaid (P McEleney 57), Higgins, McNamee, Duffy (Curran 81); Patterson; Rafter.
Subs not used: Ferry, Griffin, Tracey, Foy, Molloy.
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).