Soccer

Bohemians pay the price as Kavanagh pounces

Bohemians 0 UCD 1: A lthough neither side had anything meaningful to play for, supporters making the trip to Dalymount were …

Paul O'Hehir at Dalymount Park
Sat Oct 28 2006 - 01:00

Bohemians 0 UCD 1: Although neither side had anything meaningful to play for, supporters making the trip to Dalymount were at least expecting a competitive game.

Competitive it may have been, but pretty it certainly wasn't. A rough and tumble attitude was adopted from the outset, both sides shipping shuddering tackles and neither team exactly shy in dishing them out.

That physicality, rather unfortunately, dominated exchanges throughout, leaving expectant supporters wincing in the stands instead of reveling in the fare they had hoped for.

That said, both sides had their chances with the visitors definitely shading what little goalmouth action there was in a dour first half.

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Ronan Finn, played into space by Gary Dicker, galloped towards goal but Bohemians goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien was quickly off his line and saved smartly with his legs.

Soon after, Finn's striker partner Conor Sammon could, and probably should, have edged UCD in front but he squandered a free header from close range.

Bohemians' attacks were sporadic at best and, consequently, they spent a good deal of the game working overtime at the back.

Still, Irish under-21 fullback Conor Powell threatened going forward, while Stephen Ward was also menacing in possession.

Indeed, it took a smart save from Darren Quigley to keep the striker at bay on the half hour; Ward having trapped, turned and shot superbly from Mark Duggan's cross.

But Bohemians paid for their sluggishness just 12 minutes into the second half. Patrick Kavanagh intercepted Jason McGuinness' stray pass and beat O'Brien with a low drive from just inside the area.

Late on, Sammon should have added a second but spurned his shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

If truth be told, it was a ridiculously disappointing night for the home side. Off-field fortunes potentially augur well but this offering typifies the luckless season an, albeit, youthful Bohemians have endured.

Bohemians: O'Brien; O'Reilly, Ferguson, McGuinness, Powell; Kelly, Rice, Hunt, Duggan; Ward, Dunphy. Subs: Byrne for Kelly (41), Caffrey for Duggan (61), Brady for Ward (67). Booked: Rice (26), Duggan (28), McGuinness (56), Dunphy (77).

UCD: Quigley; Kenna, McNally, McDonnell, K Doyle; Kavanagh, Crowley, Dicker, D Doyle; Finn, Sammon. Subs: Hurley for Crowley (39).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin)