Galway United  0 Bohemians 1:WHEN REFEREE Alan Kelly blew the full-time whistle at Terryland Park last night the smile that was etched across Neale Fenn's face captured this tale.

Without a goal since netting for Cork City in a 4-1 rout of Waterford United 16 months ago, Fenn finally opened his Bohemians account with a measured, first-half strike as the Dublin side bagged the spoils.

A dash of expectation inevitably surrounds the opening fixture of the season. Galway and Bohemians entered this contest armed with hope, so a lively tussle was expected.

Having unfurled Pat Fenlon as manager during the close season, Bohemians are adamant a sustained title push will follow.

At the tail end of 2007 Bohemians finished the campaign with an admirable flourish, winning six and drawing one in their last seven fixtures. Such efficiency will need to demonstrated in the coming months.

The early portents suggested Bohemians' confidence isn't misplaced as Fenn and Glen Crowe went close before the 29th-minute breakthrough.

Mark Rossiter lofted a long ball that was dripping with hope rather than expectation, and Fenn out-muscled Regillio Nootimer before poking the visitors ahead.

Galway threatened briefly either side of the restart with Derek Glynn's pace, but Fenn had landed the decisive blow.

GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Charles, Nootimer, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; O'Shea (Russell, 64), Lester (Fenn, 58), Deegan, O'Brien; Leech (Faherty, 73), Glynn.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, Oman, Burns (McGuinness, 53), Rossiter; Kelly, Turner, Cronin (Hunt, 22), Brennan; Fenn (Mansaram, 87) Crowe.

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).