Boheminas 4-2 Bray Wanderers

Goals from Chris Lyons and Kevin O'Leary in extratime helped Bohemians to a 4-2 victory over Bray Wanderers in the second round of the EA Cup at Dalymount Park on Monday night.

After a quiet opening to the game Bohs took the lead in the 7^th minute. Chris Lyons' strike was blocked by Danny O'Connor. The ball broke to Stepehen Traynor who took it on and hit an excellent shot into the corner of the net, leaving Sean Holmes with no chance.

The home side doubled their lead 6 minutes later from the penalty spot. Chris Lyons made his way into the area and went down after a challenge from Peter Thomas. Referee Paul MacLaughlin pointed to the spot straight away. Lyons steeped up to take the penalty and sent Holmes the wrong way to make it 2-0.

Aaron Callaghan's team looked comfortable for the first half an hour. It wasn't until the 32^nd minute that Bray had their first effort on goal. Conor Earley's shot deflected off the Bohs wall and out for a corner. From the resultant set piece, which was taken by Danny Joyce, the ball was flicked on and Bray captain Danny O'Connor arrived at the back post to score despite the best efforts of Greg Murray.

The goal seemed to give Pat Devlin's side more confidence and they nearly got back on level terms soon after. Joyce took another corner from the left. This time John Mulroy rose highest. His header looked to be destined for the corner of the net but the ball came back off the post.

However Bray continued to improve as the half went on and they did eventually equalize in the 39^th minute. Sean Hurley received possession on the left hand side and put an excellent cross into the danger area. Striker Ismahil Akinade got there before any Bohemians defender to head home into the corner of the net.

There was little to choose between the teams in the opening quater of an hour of the second half. Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away too easily. It wasn't until the 19^th minute when we saw the first shot on goal. However  Chris Lyon's long range effort was off target and went harmlessly wide. Just a minute later Ismahil Akinade, who played very well on the night, got in behind the Gypsies defence and managed to shoot but his effort went across the goal and wide.

There was definitely a more cautious approach from both managers in the second 45 minutes. As the half progressed chances became more limited. However substitute Kieran Marty Waters very nearly made an immediate impact in the 80^th minute. He found himself in time and space about 25 yards from goal and with his first touch hit a fine left foot shot which Murray in the Bohemians goal did very well to palm away for a corner.

The game went into extratime and Bohemians were not to be denied. They scored in the first minute of the first period. After Bray failed to properly clear a corner the ball broke to Chris Lyons on the edge of the area. Boh's number 14 hit it first time and the ball took a deflection before finding its’ way into the net.

Kevin O'Leary made it 4-2 in the 97^th minute. O'Leary gathered possession and decided to take on substitute David Webster. After failing to properly shrug off Webster the Bohs number 24 with his back to goal decided to turn and try his luck. It proved to be the right decision as the ball found its’ way into the net much to the delight of the home fans.

Substitue Dave Scully came close to adding a fifth in the second period of extratime. His right foot shot from outside the area went wide though. It didn't really matter in the end because Bohemians ran out comfortable winners to qualify for the third round of the competition.

Bohemians: Greg Murray: Michael Barker, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne(c), Ciaran Nangle: Shane Fitzgerald (Dwayne Wilson 55), Stephen Traynor (Dave Scully 91), Shane Murray (Darragh Reynor 77),  Karl Moore: Chris Lyons, Kevin O'Leary.

Subs not used: Adam Kelly, Michael Scott, Santiago Miguel Falbo, Conor Little.

Booked: Dwayne Wilson (120)

Bray Wanderers: Sean Holmes: Peter Thomas (Kieran Marty Waters 80), Danny O'Connor (c) (David Webster 46) Paul Malone, Conor Earley: Sean Hurley, Daire Doyle, Danny Joyce (Dean Zambra 74), Kevin Knight, John Mulroy: Ismahil Akinade.

Subs not used: Ed McDonagh, Paul Moffat, Ger Pender, Stephen McGuinness.

Booked: Paul Malone (24), Peter Thomas (69), Daire Doyle (86)

Referee: Paul MacLaughlin

Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)

© Seamus Egan 2013

Premiership Predictions: Last Day.

This week David Beckham announced that he will be retiring to much hype. Paul Scholes announced that he will be retiring to much less hype. Scholes was never a great tackler but he was a better player than Beckham. Roberto Mancini got sacked as Manchester City manager. Last summer he felt that he wasn't backed in the transfer market. The next City manager will hope and expect that he will be given the funds that he needs to improve the squad this summer.

Rafa Benitez won another trophy as a manager.That's a fine achievement considering what he has had to put up with from some Chelsea fans. Maybe City would be better advised going for Rafa as their next manager, especially considering he has now won trophies in European competition with Valencia, Chelsea and of course the Champions League with Liverpool.

Jamie Carragher will (if selected of course) play his 737th and final game for Liverpool against QPR at Anfield. He made  his debut in 1997 and since then he has won the FA Cup twice, the League Cup three times, the Ueffa Cup and of course the Champions League. Jamie didn't score many goals but I was actually at 2 of the games when he did score. In December of 2006, on my birthday weekend he scored the second goal in a 4-0 win over Fulahm at Anfield.  In 2008 he scored the first goal in a 2-1 win for Liverpool against Middelsborough also at Anfield. I was there on both occasions. First and foremost Carragher was a great defender though with a fantastic attitude to the game and he has been one of Liverpool's greatest ever servants.

It's time for the final week of predictions for the season. Every game kicks off at 4.p.m this Sunday. The final Champions League spots will be decided today so expect plenty of nail biting, particularly at White Hart Lane and Saint James Park from Spurs and Arsenal fans. It is 3 points for the correct score and one point for the correct result.

Chelsea v Everton 2-1

Liverpool v QPR 3-0

Manchester City v Norwich City 2-0

Newcastle v Arsenal 1-2

Southampton v Stoke City 1-1

Swansea v Fulham 2-1

Spurs v Sunderland 3-1

West Brom v Manchester United 1-2

West Ham v Reading 3-2

Wigan v Aston Villa  1-1

© Seamus Egan 2013

Saint Patricks Athletic 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Saint Patricks Athletic and Shamrock Rovers drew 0-0 in an eventful game in the Airtricity League Premier Division at Inchicore on Tuesday night.

In a first half in which there wasn't much to choose between the two sides Pats started the better.  They had the first chance of the game inside the first five minutes. Christy Fagan crossed from the right and Chris Forrester found himself in space in the box.  He didn’t get enough power in his shot though to trouble Barry Murphy.

As the half progressed the home side had most of the play but didn't create many clear cut chances.

However on the half hour mark Killian Brennan got the better of Stephen Rice in a 50/50 challenge. Forrester gathered possession and played it to John Russell who then found Christy Fagan. Fagan made his way across the Rovers area before firing a right foot shot over the bar.

Shortly afterwards the visitors had their only chance of the half. Greg Bolger was booked for a foul on Rice. From the resultant free kick Sean O'Connor picked out Jason McGuinness and the Shamrock Rovers defender headed just wide.

Fourth official Thomas Connolly took over referring duties from Graham Kelly for the second half.

Once again there wasn't too much to choose between the sides after the break but the Saints should have taken the lead 13 minutes after the restart. After neat build up play Conan Byrne found himself in space on the right. Byrne picked out John Russell with a perfect cross. Russell had a free header 6 yards out but somehow he put his effort wide.

Pats also had a chance on the counter attack in the 67^th minute. The busy Conan Byrne broke forward and picked out Christy Fagan. Fagan eventually found Russell who played it to his left to Forrester. Unfortunately for the home team their number 17 took a shot which went out of the stadium and a new match ball was required. A couple of minutes later a Killian Brennan free kick was just too high.

Rovers should have taken the lead in the 77^th minute. Danny Ledwith took a fine shot from outside the area which Brendan Clarke could only parry to substitute Ciaran Kilduff.  Kilduff had the goal at his mercy but somehow he shot wide of the post.

Shamrock Rovers, who had already used their three substitutes were reduced to 10 men shortly afterwards when Ledwith limped off with an injury.

Five minutes from the end of normal time Liam Buckley's side had the final chance of the game. Killian Brennan swung in a free kick from the right and picked out Kenny Browne. Browne headed goalwards but Murphy was there to palm away his effort for a corner.

The draw means that Saint Patricks Athletic are now three points behind leaders and champions Sligo Rovers in second place, while Shamrock Rovers are sixth. 

Saint Patricks Athletic: Brendan Clarke: Ger O'Brien, Conor Kenna(c), Kenny Browne, Ian Bermingham: Conan Byrne ( Jake Kelly 79) , Greg Bolger, John Russell, Killian Brennan, Christopher Forrester: Christy Fagan.

Subs not used: Dave Ryan, Aidan Price, Jake Carroll, Conor Murphy, Shane McFaul, Sean Gannon.

Booked: Greg Bolger (35)

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy: Pat Sullivan (c) (Shane Robinson 51), Derek Foran, Jason McGuinness, Danny Ledwith: Sean O'Connor, Stephen Rice, James Chambers (Ciaran Kilduff 75), Ronan Finn, Billy Dennehy (Gary McCabe 58): Karl Sheppard.

Subs not used: Richard Brush, Conor McCormack, Thomas Stewart, David Elbert.

Booked: Stephen Rice (45) Karl Sheppard (85), Sean O'Connor (85), Derek Foran (89)

Referee: Graham Kelly

Attendance: 2,410

© Seamus Egan 2013

Weekend Predictions

Good Morning. Good Morning. This week Alex Ferguson announced that he will retire as Manchester United manager at the end of the season after winning 38 trophies in his time as United boss. David Moyes, who as won no trophies in 11 years as Everton manager will replace Ferguson.
Both men will take charge of their final home games as manager of their current clubs on Sunday. The FA Cup Final will also take place. For some reason the game between Manchester City and Wigan will kick off at 5.15. Anyway I have decided to predict the scores for this weekends 8 Premier League games and the Cup Final. It is 3 points for the correct score and one point for the correct result.


Saturday May 11th 

FA Cup Final

Manchester City v Wigan Athletic 2-1

Premier League

Aston Villa v Chelsea 1-2

Sunday May 12th

Stoke v Spurs 1-1

Everton v West Ham 1-0

Fulham v Liverpool 1-1

Norwich v West Brom 1-0

QPR v Newcastle 1-2

Sunderland v Southampton 1-1

Man.United v Swansea 2-0

© Seamus Egan 2013

Radio Playlist 04/05/2013

My Generation - The Who

Basketcase - Green Day

Rockin In The Free World - Neil Young

Post Break Up Sex - The Vaccines

Lightning Bolt - Jake Bugg

Well All Right - Buddy Holly

Karma Police - Radiohead

You Feel So Lonely You Could Die - David Bowie

Vogue - Madonna

In The Now - Edwyn Collins

Lucky You - Lightning Seeds

Setting Son - Chemical Brothers

In The Ghetto - Elvis

I'm Waiting For The Man - The Velvet Underground

Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

Linger - The Cranberries

Tap Out - The Strokes

Porcelain - Moby

Two Fingers - Jake Bugg

Miles Away - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Boredom - The Buzzocks

Hersham Boys - Sham 69

Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis

The Day We Caught The Train - Ocean Colour Scene

The Box - Orbital

Ride On - Christy Moore

© Seamus Egan 2013

Shamrock Rovers made hard work of their 1-0 victory over Dundalk on Monday night in what was Stephen Kenny's return to the Tallaght Stadium. Sean O'Connor's goal on the stroke of half time was enough to give the home side the points.

After a tentative start to the game Rovers created the first chance in the 10^th minute. Gary McCabe and Stephen Rice linked up nicely inside the area before Rice found Ronan Finn. Finn got his shot in but it was too soft and it was a comfortable save for the busy Peter Cherrie.

Dundalk improved as the half went on and Richie Towell had their first shot in anger in the 26^th minute. Derek Foran could only head his clearance to the former Celtic player and Towell didn't hesitate before shooting with his right foot from about 25 yards out. His effort had Barry Murphy scrambling across goal as the ball went just past the post.

Shortly afterwards Karl Sheppard came close to scoring.  Rice found O'Connor on the left and Rover's number 10 picked out Sheppard with a pinpoint cross. The Hoops striker looked certain to score but Cherrie denied him by diving low to his left to produce a fine save.

However the home side didn't have it all their own way. Keith Ward beat Stephen Rice with a lovely piece of skill and hit a fine shot from outside the area which was heading for the top corner but Murphy dived to his right to push it away for a corner.

The visitors created another chance just before half-time. The ball found its' way to number nine Patrick Hoban. Hoban raced towards goal but under pressure from Foran he blazed his effort high and wide from inside the 6 yard box.

Rovers took the lead on the stroke of half time. The ball arrived in the Dundalk penalty area from a Karl Sheppard cross. Centre back Andy Boyle tried to clear it. Sean O'Connor blocked it and the former St.Pats player got there before Boyle, and despite the efforts of the onrushing Peter Cherrie, O'Connor managed to find the back of the net to leave the home team the happier at the interval.

It was nearly 2-0 five minutes into the second half. Danny Ledwith struck a low shot from outside the area which looked destined for the bottom corner before hitting the post. The rebound broke to Finn who must have thought he was going to score but Peter Cherrie was there again and dived low to his left to deny Trevor Crolly's men.

The home side had most of the play but the Louth club were capable of creating chances and they had a half chance in the 57^th minute. Darren Meenan took a corner from the left and Hoban found space and time in the area to fire at goal but he couldn't keep his effort down.

Mark Quigley should have scored against his former club in the 76^th minute. Rice played a lovely ball across to Billy Dennehy who headed it across goal to Quigley in space 6 yards out. Somehow the Rovers substitute headed wide when it seemed easier to score.

Just a minute later the Hoops broke on the counter attack. Finn played it to O'Connor  but the left winger hit a poor shot wide of the target.

Dundalk almost made the home team pay for their missed chances seven minutes from time. Towell broke down the right and played an excellent ball into the area. Tiernan Mulvenna got there before Foran but from 6 yards out he put it over the bar. Just like Quigley at the other end Mulvenna will be wondering how he didn't score.

There was to be no late drama or chances for either side. Shamrock Rovers held on for a much needed win after a solid if not spectacular performance. Stephen Kenny will probably rue Tiernan Mulvenna's missed opportunity to get his side back on level terms.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy: Pat Sullivan (c), Derek Foran, Jason McGuinness, Danny Ledwith: James Chambers, Stephen Rice: Gary McCabe (Billy Dennehy 56), Ronan Finn (Shane Robinson 82), Sean O'Connor: Karl Sheppard (Mark Quigley 70).

Subs not used: Richard Brush, Conor McCormack,  Ciaran Kilduff, David Elebert.

Booked: Jason McGuinness (41)

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie: John Mountney,  John Sullivan, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey: Richie Towell, Stephen O'Donnell (c):  Keith Ward (John Dillon 66), Darren Meenan (Stephen McDonnell 81), Kurtis Byrne (Tiernan Mulvenna 74): Patrick Hoban

Subs not used: Eoghan Osborne, Vinny Faherty, Aaron Shanahan. 

Booked: Patrick Hoban (1), Stephen O'Donnell (52), Dane Massey (63)

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

Man of the match:  Stephen Rice (Shamrock Rovers)

© Seamus Egan 2013