Owen Heary; Post Match Interview.

Bohemians captain Owen Heary believes that there is room for improvement following his team's 2-1 win over Dundalk in the Premier Division of the Airtricity League at Dalymount Park on Friday night “In the first half we were very good but in the second half we never got out of second gear and we allowed them to come back into it. We didn't play the way we did in the first half and we got very sloppy. I think once you give away a goal it is backs to the wall for the last 10 minutes. Thankfully we held out.”

Heary believes that a complacent attitude allowed Dundalk to come back into the game “I think it was because of complacency. In the first half we dominated the game and we were 2-0 up. We didn't want the break to come but once it happens it is a case of getting motivated again. Fellows think it is a little bit too easy but that is down to age as well, but thankfully we saw it out.”

The win over Dundalk leaves Bohemians in 5^th place in the table and Heary believes that this relatively inexperienced squad are aiming to return to European football next season “We've done well in the last couple of games in the league. We are happy with our league form and our league position at the moment. The aim is to get back into Europe especially after the performance that we put in against the Iceland team (Thor Akureyri) where we never played and never got going. It was hard to take getting beat 5-1 by one of the worst teams that I have played in Europe. That is a learning curve for the lads too and the only way to bouce back is by trying to get into Europe again and hopefully get into Europe for the young lads as well.”

Heary is claiming his side's fist goal in the 35^th minute despite the stadium announcer giving it to Evan McMillan “It was definitely my goal. Evan took a touch but it was over the line when he took that touch. It was definitely mine” concluded the Bohs captain.

© Seamus Egan 2012.

Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Bray Wanderers

Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers drew for the second time in the
Airtricity Premier League this season. A 0-0 draw at the Tallaght
Stadium on Friday night will probably please Pat Devlin more than it
will please Stephen Kenny.

In a game which was played in the summer sunshine, Bray created the
first chance of the game and should have taken the lead in the 9th
minute. After a fine passing movement on the right Kevin O'Connor
played in Adam Hanlon but Hanlon somehow hit his shot high and wide
from 8 yards out.

Ronan Finn had Rover's first real effort on goal in the 15th minute.
He turned away from Kevin O'Connor and hit a fine shot from 30 yards
out. Bray goalkeeper Darren Quigley dived high to his left to keep the
ball out.

Soon after Daryl Kavanagh missed a great chance for the home side.
Stephen O'Donnell played the ball to Finn who found Billy Dennehy.
Dennehy crossed from the left with his right foot.   He picked out
Kavanagh but the former Pats striker headed wide from close range when
it seemed easier to score.

In the 33rd minute Dennehy missed an open goal for Rovers.  Finn put
in a perfect cross from the right and Dennehy got to it first but he
managed to put the ball over the bar, although he was under pressure
from Adam Mitchell.

The busy Dennehy created another chance for Rovers in the 3rd minute
of injury time. Once again he crossed from the left. This time he
picked out Gary O'Neill. However O'Neill just like Kavanagh before him
headed wide from 6 yards out.

After Kavanagh came close again for Rovers early in the second half,
Dennehy created another chance for O'Neill in the 63rd minute. The
former Cork City player crossed from the left and found Rover's number
10 who somehow miskicked form six yards out.

Bray were giving as good as they got though, and Jason Byrne almost
scored another league of Ireland goal in the 71st minute. Adam Hanlon
made an excellent run down the right and his cross found Byrne who
rose highest. The Bray striker's header would have found its' way into
the bottom corner but for an excellent fingertip save from Oscar
Jansson. From the resultant corner Adam Mitchell headed straight at
the Shamrock Rover goalkeeper.

The visitors almost scored on the counter attack in the 75th minute.
After a poor corner from Dennehy the ball found its way to John Mulroy
on the Bray left. Mulroy's outstanding reverse pass found Byrne. This
time the experienced striker hit a low shot towards the bottom corner
but his effort just shaved the post.

The chances continued to come. In the 78th minute Shamrock Rovers
substitute Gary McCabe cut in from the left and hit a stunning right
foot shot from 25 yards out which hit the crossbar.

In the 87th minute Dennehy created another opportunity. His corner
from the right picked out Colin Hawkins. Hawkins headed it down to
Killian Brennan but Brennan who was under pressure from the Bray
defence could only hit his half volley over the top.

That was the last chance of an entertaining encounter. Some Shamrock
Rovers fans were chanting “we want Kenny out” at the end of another
frustrating home draw for the champions. Stephen Kenny looked agitated
throughout the second half and on this form his team will not be
defending their league title. Bray deserved a point and will be
encouraged by the fact that they have now drawn away to Sligo Rovers
and Shamrock Rovers in their last two away games.


Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson; Pat Sullivan, Ken Oman (c) (Conor
McCormack 35), Colin Hawkins, Conor Powell, Chris Turner, Ronan Finn,
Stephen O'Donnell (Killian Brennan 37), Billy Dennehy; Gary O'Neill,
Daryl Kavanagh (Gary McCabe 61).

Subs not used: Reyaad Pieterse, Ciaran Kilduff, Stephen Rice, Kerrea Gilbert.

Booked: None.
Sent-off: None.

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; Shane O'Connor, Danny O'Connor, Adam
Mitchell, Dane Massey; Adam Hanlon (Johnatan Kelty 82), Kevin
O'Connor, Dean Zambra, John Mulroy, Sean Houston; Jason Byrne (Ismahil
Akinded 88).

Subs not used: Daire Doyle, Graham Kelly, Lee Dixon, Pat Seery, Brian Kane.

Booked: Kevin O'Connor (77)
Sent-off:  None.

Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 2,100 estimate.
Man of the match: Adam Mitchell (Bray Wanderers).

© Seamus Egan 2012

Radio Playlist

This is my radio playlist from 30-06-2012. I will be on again soon.

Barrell Of A Gun - Depeche Mode

Country Girl - Primal Scream

Remote Control - Beastie Boys

Carrott Rope - Pavement

Ants - Ham Sandwich

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Four Letter Word - Beady Eye

This Is How It Feels - Inspiral Carpets

Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Flaming Lips

A Lady Of A Certain Age - Divine Comedy

She's Leaving Home - The Beatles

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack

What The World Is Waiting For - The Stone Roses

She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses

A.K.A What A Life - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Switchblade Smiles - Kasabian

This Is Love - PJ Harvey

Wake Up Deadman - U2

She's In Fashion - Suede

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen

Swallowed - Bush

Sloop John B - The Beach Boys

There I A Light That Never Goes Out - The Magic Numbers

Baby, I love You - The Ramones

© Seamus Egan 2012.

Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Saint Patricks Athletic.

  

A late late equalizer from Pat Flynn increased the pressure on Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Kenny at Tallaght on Sunday afternoon. Flynn's goal ensured that Saint Patricks Athletic drew 1-1 at the home of the champions.

After an eventful opening to the game in Tallaght, Pats came close to scoring in the 9^th minute. Jake Kelly curled in a free kick from the right which Dean Kelly met at the back post but he could only steer his effort wide.

Their best chance of the opening period came in the 13^th minute.  Kelly and Kelly played an excellent one-two on the right for the visitors before Dean Kelly's cross picked out recent signing Anto Flood. Flood's header looked destined for the corner of the net but Oscar Jansson dived low to his left and produced a stunning save.

Shamrock Rovers had their first real chance in the 29^th minute. Killian Brennan took a free kick from a central position. Gary Twigg challenged for the ball in the air before it broke to Craig Sives six yards out. Sives hit it first time on the half volley but his effort was too high.

Soon after Rovers had another chance. Billy Dennehy's free kick from the left was met by the head of Ken Oman. This time Pats goalkeeper Brendan Clarke dived low to his right deny the home team's captain.

Dennehy missed Rovers best chance of the half in the 41^st minute. James Chambers gave the ball straight to the Hoops substitute before Dennehy beat Conor Kenna and struck a shot at goal that was straight at Clarke.

In the 53^rd minute Flood came close again for Pats. After John Russell won the ball off Conor McCormack the former Bohemians striker curled a right foot shot from the left which beat Jansson but just went past the post.

However Rovers had most of the play in the second half and they took the lead in the 71^st minute. Billy Dennehy took a free kick from the right and Craig Sives with his back to goal flicked it on and the ball made its way into the top corner of the visitors net past a stranded Clarke. Rovers had consistently threatened from set pieces throughout and it was no surprise that this was the route that led to their goal.

Gary Twigg had a couple of chances in a minute to wrap it up for Rovers late on. In the 86^th minute he met Sive's flick on but headed straight at Clarke and just a minute later the Scot was through on goal but once again the Pats keeper was there to knock his shot away for a corner.

Twigg was made to rue those missed chances in the 90^th minute. Saint Pat's John Russell played a sublime cross from the left hand side that picked out right back Pat Flynn. Flynn controlled the ball first time and hit a sublime volley into the corner of the net past Jansson. Once again Stephen Kenny's side were undone by a late goal at home this season.

The game ended just a couple of minutes later and Stephen Kenny looked dejected after the final whistle blew. In contrast Pats manager Liam Buckley looked pretty pleased to have taken a point. Rovers created most of the chances but Pats once again showed the benefit of never giving up.

Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson; Conor McCormack,  Craig Sives, Ken Oman (captain), Conor Powell; Gary McCabe (Gary O'Neill 90), Stephen Rice, Ronan Finn (Chris Turner 83), Killian Brennan, Aaron Greene (Billy Dennehy 22); Gary Twigg.

Subs not used: Reyaad Pieterse,  Daryl Kavanagh, Colin Hawkins,  Kerrea Gilbert.

Booked: Stephen Rice (10), Gary Twigg (38), Killian Brennan (39), Billy Dennehy (84), Craig Sives (87),

Sent-off: None.

Saint Patrick's Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Pat Flynn, Conor Kenna (captain), Kenny Browne, Jake Carroll;  John Russell, James Chambers, Greg Bolger, Jake Kelly (Darren Meenan 63), Dean Kelly (Sean O'Connor 63); Anthony Flood.

Subs not used: Ian Bermingham, Aidan Price, Barry Murphy, Ryan Coombes, Eoin Hyland.

Booked: Conor Kenna (31), Anthony Flood (76)

Sent-off: None.

Referee: Paul Tuite

Attendance: 3,500 estimate.

Man of the match: Brendan Clarke (Saint Patricks Athletic).

© Seamus Egan 2012.

Still Adored: The Stone Roses: Phoenix Park: 05-07-2012

After a rather subdued build up to their first live performance in Ireland since they played in Cork at Feile 95 The Stone Roses took to the Phoenix Park stage at 9.25 on Thursday night. "Brothers and sisters, we need your assistance" declared frontman Ian Brown who was dressed all in black. The sold out crowd did not need to be asked twice once the opening chords of I Wanna Be Adored were struck. It doesn't matter that this genius of a song has so few lyrics especially when 50,000 people are singing every word.

The Roses played every song from their debut album and those 11 masterpieces proved to be the highlights of the night. It didn't always matter that  Brown sounded hoarse on some songs because everybody around me knew every lyric to  beauties such as Waterfall, Made Of Stone and (Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister. However it was also one of the singles from The Second Coming that provided one of the best singsongs of the evening. Ten Storey Love Song is one of my favourite tunes from this band but hearing it live was absolutely spine tingling.

Brown is an impressive front man and regularly walked to both sides and to the front of the stage to engage with the adoring audience. John Squire was his usual nonplussed self and why shouldn't he be when he can play like he can? Bassist Mani appears to be the spiritual leader of this band and he regularly pumped his fist in the air to encourage the crowds assistance, while Reni just bangs the drums like nobody else.

After a splendid opening few tracks there was somewhat of a lull in the middle with a lot of people just talking and standing around during Standing Here and Something's Burning. However once Waterfall kicked in and Ian Brown amazingly sang backwards on Don't Stop, it was inevitable that we were going to have a thrilling climax .

The home run began with the psychedelic This Is The One which was another song that Brown did not need to sing. She Bangs The Drums was quite emotional before predictably they finished with the majestic I Am the Ressurection. This is the ultimate Stone Roses song and it remains their finest moment both in the studio and live on stage.

So after 90 minutes of a set which disappointingly but ultimately not surprisingly did not feature any new material Manchester's second best ever band were giving a heroic ovation by a crowd which varied from the very young to the middle aged. There were plenty of hugs among the four band members with Ian Brown declaring that his band would return to Ireland. Let's hope that they do but that they will provide us with some new music next time.

Setlist

I Wanna Be Adored
Mersey Paradise
( Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister
Sally Cinnamon
Where Angels Play
Bye Bye Badman
Shoot You Down
Ten Storey Love Song
Standing Here
Fools Gold
Something's Burning
Waterfall
Don't Stop
Love Spreads
Made Of Stone
This Is The One
She Bangs The Drums
Elizabeth My Dear
I Am The Reurrection


© Seamus Egan 2012

 

Bohemians 4-0 Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians inflicted another heavy defeat on Shamrock Rovers at
Dalymount Park on Friday night. Two goals each from Peter McMahon and Karl
Moore gave Bohs a 4-0 win over their biggest rivals.

After a quiet opening Shamrock Rover's Billy Dennehy had the game's
first shot from outside the area in the 10th minute which ended up
very far wide.However just a minute later Bohemians took the lead.
Dwayne Wilson crossed from the right and Peter McMahon found himself
unmarked at the back post and his crisp volley went into the corner of
the net despite the best efforts of Oscar Jansson.

The early goal gave seemed to boost Aaron Callaghan's teams
confidence. They    had a half chance in the 27th minute. Keith Ward's
free kick from the right found its way to Owen Heary in space at the
back post. The Bohs captain took the ball down on his chest but his
half volley was too high.

Bohemians continued to have most of the play and in the 36th minute
Keith Ward's inviting cross was met by the head of David Mulchay. The
Bohemians midfielder headed just wide from 6 yards out. Just a minute
later Dwayne Wilson found himself through on goal  but he somehow shot
across goal when it seemed easier to score.

The champions came back into it towards the end of the half and they
very nearly hit back in the 40th minute. Billy Dennehy struck a
wonderful free kick from about 25 yards out. His shot beat Andy
McNulty but hit the crossbar.

On the stroke of half time Denenhy came close again. After Luke Byrne
was booked for a foul on Gary McCabe just outside the area, Rover's
number 20 took the free kick and he beat McNulty once again but his
effort just shaved the post.

Bohemians went two up in the 51st minute. Roversgoalkeeper Jansson gave
the ball away to Keith Buckley. Buckley played it Dwayne Wilson and
like he did for the first goal Wilson played in Peter McMahon who had
the much simpler task of knocking it into the net from six yards out.

Things went from bad to worse for Stephen Kenny's side in the 57th
minute. Keith Ward was racing through on goal. Half time substitute
Stephen O'Donnell took him out of it just outside the area and referee
Rob Rogers produced a red card straight away. Ward's shot was too high
from the resultant free kick.

Shamrock Rovers did come close to pulling one back in the 79th minute.
Captain Oman struck a fine shot which Andy McNulty managed to parry to
safety.

However Bohs were not to be denied and they scored a third in the 84th
minute. Dinny Corcoran gathered possession on the halfway line and
raced towards goal. Corcoran tried to round Oscar Jansson. Jansson
took him down but the ball broke to Karl Moore who had the simple task
of slotting the ball home into the empty net.

Gary Twigg did hit the post soon after the third goal but things got
even better for the Gypsies in the 88th minute.  Moore set off on a
solo run and beat Oman and shot goalwards before Oscar Jansson let the
ball slip under his body and into the net for the the home team's
fourth of the night.

This was Shamrock Rover's heaviest defeat in the league since they
lost 5-1 to St.Pats earlier this season. For Bohemians it was a night
of celebration for their players and jubilant supporters after they
secured a thoroughly deserved  victory.

Bohemians: Andy McNulty: Owen Heary (captain) (Michael Barker 72),
Evan McMillan, Kevin Feely, Luke Byrne: Keith Buckley (Dinny Corcoran
82), David Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy, Keith Ward, Peter McMahon (Karl Moore
67): Dwayne Wilson.
Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Roberto Lopes, Stephen Traynor, Danny Joyce.
Booked: Luke Byrne (45), Keith Ward (66)
Sent-off: None.

Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson: Kerrea Gilbert (Stephen O'Donnell 46),
Ken Oman (captain), Graham Gartland, Conor Powell: Gary McCabe, Conor
McCormack (Aaron Greene 80), Ronan Finn,  Billy Dennehy: Gary O'Neill
(Chris Turner 55), Gary Twigg.
Subs not used: Craig Sives, Stephen Rice, Killian Brennan, Reyaad Piererse.
Booked: Graham Gartland (31), Ken Oman (88)
Sent-off: Stephen O'Donnell (57)

Referee: Rob Rogers
Attendance: 3,000 estimate.
Man of the match: Dwayne Wilson (Bohemians)


© Seamus Egan 2012.