Devoy stunner for Bohs sends Derry back to drawing board
Dawson Devoy of Bohemians celebrates after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division victory over Derry. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
A stunning Dawson Devoy free-kick deservedly secured a statement win for Bohemians, at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
The Dubliners’ performance in truth should have saw them win by a bigger margin, but for Derry it’s back to the drawing board for manager Tiernan Lynch, as his new look side struggled to get going.
Despite only having one training session with his new team-mates Derry City gave goalkeeper Edward Beach a first start, while Ben Doherty and Jamie Stott also came in for Adam O’Reilly and Rob Slevin, who like young keeper Shea Callister dropped to the bench.
As for Bohs they suffered an injury set-back in the warm-up with frontman Douglas James-Taylor having to be replaced by Harry Vaughan.
The change didn’t seem to harm Bohs as they had the first chance early on as Colm Whelan’s left wing cross found Ross Tierney and although he failed to connect with the ball properly, his close range effort hit the post, before Brandon Fleming cleared the ball off the line.
On 37 minutes a neat cut-back Bohs’ Vaughan found Senan Mullen, but his left footed shot from 12 yards through a ruck of players, was booted away by Beach.
The woodwork came to Bohs' rescue minutes later as Doherty's 20 yard shot was deflected into James Clarke's path inside the box, the ex-Bohs man cut inside from the right, but his toe poke effort, which had keeper Kacper Chorazka beaten, hit the post.
Incredibly the woodwork was hit for a third time as Dayle Rooney’s corner from the left picked out Patrick Hickey, but the Bohs defender’s glancing header, which had Beach beaten, clipped the crossbar.
Chorakza was called into action moments later as Carl Winchester’s stunning 25 yard strike was straight at the keeper, who did well to hold onto the shot.
The deadlock was broken in sublime fashion as Dawson Devoy's stunning 25 yard free-kick from the left hand side of the box flew high into Beach's top right hand corner, despite the keeper's best attempts at trying to keep the ball out.
Soon after more good play down the Bohs right ended with Tierney picking out substitute Connor Parsons, but the substitute's tame shot was straight at Beach.
On 75 minutes Alan Reynolds’ side went close to doubling their lead but Dayle Rooney’s shot was kept out by a diving Beach.
Soon after City substitute Gavin White went close, but his goal-bound strike was blocked by a brave Sam Todd, after Chorazka had initially denied Josh Thomas.
Right at the death Parsons was denied by Beach as Bohs should have netted a second in stoppage time.
Beach, Doherty, Stott, P McClean, Fleming; Winchester, J McClean; Markey (White 71), Clarke (Akinyemi 77), Duffy; Thomas (Rylah 88).
Chorazka, Power, Hickey, Todd, Mullen; Rooney (Morahan 82), Devoy, Flores (McDonnell 88), Vaughan (Parsons 64); Tierney (Byrne 88); Whelan (Martin 82).
Marc Lynch.
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