A dominant display on a miserable night in tough conditions at the UCD Bowl saw Bohemians comfortably overcome great Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers to capture the SSE Airtricity National Under-17 League crown with 2-0 victory. Bohemians wasted little
A dominant display on a miserable night in tough conditions at the UCD Bowl saw Bohemians comfortably overcome great Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers to capture the SSE Airtricity National Under-17 League crown with 2-0 victory.
Bohemians wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game and were a goal up within 15 seconds.
Evan Ferguson set up the chance for Aaron Doran with a beautiful through ball into his path and Doran applied a clinical finish to give Killian Cahill little chance of keeping it out.
A whirlwind start for the young Gypsies and Chris Lotefa might have doubled the lead a few minutes later but his effort was well blocked by the covering defender Ben Curtis.
Another chance for Bohs to go further ahead was foiled by Oisin Hand who did well to take the sting out of Ferguson’s shot.
It was all Bohemians at this stage and Ferguson powered down the right wing and it took the combined efforts of Cahill and Eric Abundiore to prevent his finish making the score 2-0.
The second Bohemians goal did arrive midway in the half when goalkeeper Reece Byrne began a swift counter attack with a well place goal kick which found Doran on the left flank and his pace got him past Oisin Hand to cross low into box where Ferguson brilliantly flicked the ball past a helpless Cahill.
Bohs were completely on top and with Collie Conroy and Cian Byrne controlling midfield and Lotofa, Doran and Ferguson proving a handful for the Rovers defence there was only one team in the game for the majority of the opening half.
Rovers only response was a speculative shot from defender Abundiore that sailed over the crossbar.
Half-time words from coach Thomas Morgan inspired Rovers to step up their game on the resumption and a classy strike from Kevin Zefi forced Byrne to make an equally marvellous save.
Unfortunately that proved to be their best chance of getting back into the game as a well drilled Bohs side showed great discipline to defend solidly, soak up any pressure and make it hard for Rovers to break them down.
In a couple of counter attacks Ferguson cracked a stinging shot off the post and Doran too might have added to the Bohs total but Cahill was able to deflect his effort out for a corner.
Rovers boss Thomas Morgan will be bitterly disappointed with the performance as they never got into the game and Byrne was only called into action on a couple of occasions.
While Bohs boss Derek Pender will be mighty pleased to see his talented side capture the league title in his first season in management.
Man of the Match: Collie Conroy (Bohemians)
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Killian Cahill; Oisin Hand, Ben Curtis, Eric Abundiore; Sean Carey, Evan Caffrey, John Ryan, Kevin Zefi; Conan Noonan, Dara McGuinness, Michael Leddy.
Subs: Sam Curtis (for Carey h-t), Zayd Abada (for Abundiore h-t), Eureal Abidoye (for McGuinness h-t), Roland Banya (for Caffrey 64) Carl Lennox (for Hand 73) Not used: Kieran Cruise, Manni Nilongo, Cian Curtis, Shay O’Leary.
BOHEMIANS: Reece Byrne; Gavin O’Brien, Sean Greman, Daragh Reilly, Len O’Sullivan; Collie Conroy, Cian Byrne; Chris Lotefa, Aaron Doran, Jamie Mullins; Evan Ferguson.
Subs: James McManus (for Lotefa 52), Odhran Lawlor (for Ferguson 72), Callum Warren (for Mullins 88). Not used: Josh Lancaster, Alex O’Brien, Darragh Murtagh, Luke Browne, Kian Moore.
Referee: David Gallagher
Assistants: Joe McDonnell, Robbie Byrne
Fourth Official: Brendan Twamley.
