Bohemians 2 Galway United 3:STEPHEN O'DONNELL scored a late penalty to give Galway a first win over Bohemians in over 10 years. But the former Bohemians midfielder was then one of three players sent off, as the champions would finish with nine men.

O’Donnell sent home goalkeeper Barry Murphy the wrong way from the 94th-minute spot kick after Karl Sheppard, who had earlier scored twice, had been tripped by Ken Oman. Booked for a foul early in the second half, Oman was then the first to see red for a second card for a foul on Sheppard a minute latter. Within a minute, Bohemians’ striker Raffaele Cretaro was also dismissed, shown a straight red card for a lunge on Sheppard. Hancock also gave a red card to O’Donnell for pushing Cretaro which brought a scuffle on the final whistle.

Galway punished sloppy passing to take a 15th-minute lead. Paul Keegan’s misplaced pass to Glenn Cronin was intercepted by Derek O’Brien who put Sheppard in on goal and the one-time Everton trainee slid the ball under Murphy for a well taken goal.

Bohemians should have been level within two minutes. Paddy Madden’s first shot came off James Creaney and he then blazed the rebound over the top. If that was rash, Bohemians’ equaliser on 22 minutes had composure written all over it. Negligent defending allowed Keegan’s cross run to Cretaro who controlled the ball on his chest before casually side footing to the bottom corner.

A clever turn by Byrne past Paul Sinnott saw the Bohemians striker rifle over the top in the opening minutes of the second half. But a bizarre goalkeeping error allowed Galway regain the lead in the 50th minute. Murphy failed to claim Séamus Conneely’s long diagonal free-kick and Sheppard ran in to head past the errant goalkeeper.

The goal of the game then appeared to be set to earn uninspiring Bohemians a point on 76 minutes. Ruaidhri Higgins swept the ball wide left for left-back Conor Powell to get behind Conneely to cross for Byrne to poke home at the near post. Barry Ryan saved well from Keegan while substitute Mark Quigley’s diving header was wide.

Both sides fluffed chances in a frantic finish. Galway sub Tom King had a shot cleared off the line and Keegan then ballooned over the top at the other end.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Shelley, Heary, Oman, Powell; Cretaro, Keegan, Cronin (Higgins, 58 mins), McGlynn; J. Byrne, Madden (Quigley, 76 mins).

GALWAY UNITED: Barry Ryan; Conneely, Sinnott, Meynell, Creaney; Bobby Ryan (King, 83 mins), Foley, O’Donnell, O’Brien (McBrien, 89 mins); Sheppard, Flood.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).