Bohemians 2
Galway United 0

IT MAY STILL be too early in the season to assess Bohemians’ credentials but they’ve started the campaign with a purpose which suggests they mean business under Keith Long.

Anto Murphy’s double, both from set-pieces, ensured the Gypsies followed-up last week’s win in Limerick with another on Friday evening against a disappointing Galway United at Dalymount Park.

The hosts dominated for much of the contest and hit the front after just six minutes. Lorcan Fitzgerald’s in-swinging free-kick from the right found the unmarked Murphy who emphatically finished past Conor Gleeson.

Galway, who lost their opening fixture of the campaign, were unable to settle into the game and were out-muscled in the engine room where Keith Buckley orchestrated proceedings.

But, much like last term, Bohs lacked penetration and a cutting edge in the final third.

Dean Kelly was unable to keep Adam Evans’ cross on target, Buckley fired high and wide after the visitors failed to clear their lines and Derek Prendergast’s header from another set-piece lacked the power or placement to cause Gleeson trouble.

Tommy Dunne’s side improved after the break but the Tribesmen were off the pace from the outset. The Premier Division new boys will be determined to get on the board sooner rather than later but they showed little evidence here to suggest they’ll cause the league’s protagonists too much concern.

The introduction of Robbie Creevy and Marc Griffin injected a new lease of life into Bohs and it was the former who forced a fine stop from Gleeson on 70 minutes as the midfielder met Evans’ centre.

The second goal eventually arrived with seven minutes remaining. Murphy enjoyed the freedom of the six-yard box and needed no second invitation to sweep Paddy Kavanagh’s corner home.

The majority of the 1,488 supporters, of which President Michael D Higgins was one, inside Dalymount Park sang ‘we are top of the league’ in the closing minutes but the challenge will be staying there as the season progresses.

BOHEMIANS: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Keith Buckley, Dean Kelly (Marc Griffin 74′), Patrick Kavanagh, Kealan Dillon (Robbie Creevy 60′), Anto Murphy, Adam Evans (Karl Moore 90′).

GALWAY UNITED: Conor Gleeson, Colm Horgan, Marc Ludden, Stephen Walsh, Sam Oji (Padraic Cunningham 74′), Alex Byrne (Andy O’Connell, 93′), Paul Sinnott, Ryan Connolly, Jason Molloy, Enda Curran (Jake Keegan 69′), Gary Shanahan.

Man-of-the-match: Anto Murphy.

Referee: Ray Matthews.

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