By Paul Buttner at Dalymount Park
Bohemians 2-0 Galway
Goals early and late from Anto Murphy kept Bohemians top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table, but Keith Long’s side should have won by more at Dalymount Park.
Central defender Murphy headed home a Lorcan Fitzgerald cross after five minutes of a first half Bohs utterly dominated against an out-of-sorts Galway.
Murphy was there again to seal the win on 82 minutes when shooting home from Marc Griffin’s corner.
Not surprisingly, Bohemians kept an unchanged side from that which got them off to a flying start with last week’s 3-0 win in Limerick.
Galway boss Tommy Dunne made three changes following their home defeat to Derry last time out in the league with Marc Ludden, Alex Byrne and Jason Molloy all coming in.
One-time Galway secretary and president, Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins, took in his second successive Tribesmen game, gracing Dalymount for the first time this season as the Gypsies celebrate their 125th year.
And President Higgins didn’t have long to wait before the action began in earnest, though he may not have been entirely happy as it was Bohemians who raced into a fifth-minute lead.
A foul on Kealan Dillon on the right resulted in Fitzgerald swinging over a cross which central defender Murphy powered to the back of the net with a crisp header.
A sweeping move down the opposite flank exposed Galway again five minutes later. This time there was a reprieve for the visitors' goal as Dean Kelly’s header from Adam Evans’ fine delivery looped over Conor Gleeson’s crossbar.
Keith Long’s Dubliners maintained their bright start with midfielder Dillon having a goal bound shot well blocked away off the head of Stephen Walsh midway through the half.
The impressive Dillon, one of several players Long brought with him from Athlone, was there again to shoot over the top from Paddy Kavanagh’s pull back on the half hour as Bohs kept the pressure on.
Galway received another let-off five minutes before the interval. Another fine ball into their area, once again by Fitzgerald, from a corner was met by central defender Derek Prendergast whose firm header was straight at Gleeson.
Galway got their first real sniff of the home goal four minutes into the second half. Ryan Connolly put over a low cross from the right and Byrne’s low drive was blocked by a posse of Bohemians defenders.
A mistake by Gleeson at the other end almost allowed Bohemians to double their lead on 70 minutes.
The keeper's poor clearance was well intercepted by Evans on the left. The excellent cross was met by the head of substitute Robbie Creevy but Gleeson redeemed his error with a fine one-hand save.
Gleeson was there again six minutes later when getting down well to save as substitute Griffin was put in began to get away an angled shot.
Bohemians finally sealed their fully merited win on 82 minutes.
Griffin swept over a corner and Murphy was lurking with intent to spin on the loose ball and force it home.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Anto Murphy, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Paddy Kavanagh, Roberto Lopes, Kealan Dillon (Robbie Creevy 60), Adam Evans (Karl Moore 90+1); Keith Buckley; Dean Kelly (Marc Griffin 75).
Galway United: Conor Gleeson; Colm Horgan, Sami Oji (Padraic Cunningham 75), Stephen Walsh, Marc Ludden; Paul Sinnott, Alex Byrne (Andy O'Connell 90+2); Gary Shanahan, Ryan Connolly, Jason Molloy; Enda Curran (Jake Keegan 69).
Referee: Ray Matthews (Westmeath)
Attendance: 1,488
