Brennan sees red as rusty Bohemians sunk by Ports

PORTADOWN recorded a deserved 2-1 victory over 10-man Bohemians in the Setanta Sports Cup first round, first leg clash at Dalymount Park last night.

After the initial early sparring, the visitors created the first genuine scoring chance in the 17th minute when Alan Cawley’s 25-yard free-kick was superbly tipped over the bar by Bohs’ keeper Barry Murphy.

The hosts were showing symptoms of early-season rustiness, with Owen Heary’s long-range attempt which sailed well wide on 24 minutes, the height of their attacking ambitions.

Bohemians were made to pay for their lethargy when Portadown opened the scoring a minute before the break when Kevin Braniff spectacularly volleyed home from 25 yards after a poor headed clearance from Robert Bayly.

Matters deteriorated for the Dublin side just over the hour mark when Braniff fed fellow midfielder Keith O’Hara whose cross-shot from 18 yards evaded the despairing dive of replacement goalkeeper Craig Sexton to find the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

However, their advantage was halved within two minutes when Anthony Flood bustled his way to the end line and his cross was calmly converted by strike partner Karl Somers from close range but Killian Brennan’s 77th minute sending-off put paid to any hopes of a comeback.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy (Sexton, 46); Heary, Cahill, Price, Feely; Dixon (Burke, 59), O’Brien, Bayly, Brennan; Somers (Traynor, 75), Flood.

PORTADOWN: Miskelly; Craig, Redman (Ramsey, 46), Breen, Gartland; Baker, O’Hara, Mouncey (McCabe, 78), Cawley, Braniff; Lecky.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).