Bohemians 1-1 Drogheda United

A late goal from Roberto Lopes earned Bohemians a 1-1 draw against Drogheda United at Dalymount Park in the Airtricity Premier League on Friday night. Alan Byrne had earlier given the visitors the lead.

There weren't many chances for either side in an even first half which was played in bright sunshine in Phibsboro. Keith Buckley did have a half chance for the home team in the 5^{th  minute}. He made his way into the area and got his header away but it was off target.

David Cassidy fired a free kick over the top for Drogheda in the 15^th minute. Just two minutes later the visitors nearly took the lead. Cassidy's corner from the left was headed down by Alan Byrne to Gavin Brennan who took a snapshot from 8 yards out which was smartly saved by Dean Delaney in the Bohs goal.

The Louth club had a chance on the counter attack in the 30^th minute. Gary O'Neill got away from Ryan McEvoy and played it to Peter Hynes.  Hynes found himself in space on the left edge of the area. He tried to get the better of Delaney but the Bohs goalkeeper came out to narrow the angle and made the save once again.

Hynes had the first shot on goal in the second half for the visitors. Shane Grimes broke forward from the right and picked out David Cassidy who then played it to Drogheda's number nine. He decided to try his luck from outside the area but the ball ended up wide.

Drogheda, who wore all white, came even closer to scoring just moments later. Cassidy was involved again. He took a clever corner from the right. Graham Rusk dummied it and Ryan Brennan reacted first and got his shot away but the ball came back off the crossbar.

Paul O'Conor  also came close for United in the 57^th minute. His left foot shot from the edge of the area just shaved the post. Shortly afterwards Grimes tried a fine shot from outside the area which went just over.

On the hour mark Bohemians had a rare chance. Substitute Conor Murphy found himself in space on the right. He pulled the ball back for Dinny Corcoran who tried a low shot which Schlingermann managed to save.

However Drogheda deservedly took the lead in the 65^th minute. Gavin Brennan's in swinging corner from the left caused Dean Delaney all sorts of trouble and the Bohs goalkeeper could only parry it to Alan Byrne who finished from close range.

Dinny Corcoran nearly equalized in the 72^nd minute. Darragh Raynor put in a fine cross in from the left. Corcoran rose highest and headed goalwards but the ball ended up on the wrong side of the post for the home team.

Gary O'Neill nearly set up a second for Drogheda three minutes from time. His right footed cross from the left found Cassidy who hit it first time on the half volley and it went just over.

Mick Cooke's side were made to pay for all those misses just a minute later. Anto Murphy, who got a fine reception from the home fans on his return to Dalymount Park, took a long throw from the left and he picked out his center half partner Roberto Lopes who volleyed it home from six yards out.

Declan O'Brien headed into the net in injury time but his goal was ruled out for offside. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. It was a match which Drogheda should have won but Lope’s late goal keeps the Gypsie’s survival hops alive despite the fact that the result leaves them bottom of the table. Bohemians will face UCD in another crucial match  next Friday night.

Bohemians: Dean Delany (c): Michael Barker (Dave Scully 83), Roberto Lopes, Anto Murphy, Darragh Raynor: Keith Buckley, Stephen Traynor (Andy Mulligan 69), Ryan McEvoy, Karl Moore : Dinny Corocran, Chris Lyons (Conor Murphy 59).

Subs not used:  Kevin Devaney, Ciaran Nangle, Lorcan Shannon, Greg Murray.

Booked: Stephen Traynor (38), Keith Buckley (39), Dave Scully (90+3).

Drogheda United: Michael Schlingermann: Shane Grimes, Derek Prendegast (c), Alan Byrne, Gavin Brennan: Paul O'Conor: Ryan Brennan, Gary O'Neill, David Cassidy : Peter Hynes (Declan O'Brien 69), Graham Rusk.

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Phlip Hand, Brian Gannon, Jason Marks.

Booked: Ryan Brennan (8), Paul O'Conor (45), Derek Prendergast (45+1)

Referee: Robert Rogers.

Attendance: 1,194.

© Seamus Egan 2013

30 Songs From 30

I am writing this while listening to the album Parlour Flames by the band Parlour Flames from this year. The band features Vinny Peculiar and Bonehead who used to be in Oasis. Nice one. The following is a list of 30 great songs from 30 different performers that I have heard in my lifetime. What a tremendous playlist.

Champagne Supernova – Oasis

I Am The Resurrection – The Stone Roses

Blue Monday – New Order

Down In The Tube Station At Midnight – The Jam

Bad – U2

A Day In The Life – The Beatles

Hard To Explain - The Strokes

Life On Mars – David Bowie

Speed To My Side – Rollerskate Skinny

Born Slippy – Underworld

Looking Glass - The La's

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

This Is A Low - Blur

A Rainy Night In Soho - The Pogues

Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais – The Clash

Keep On Rocking In The Free World – Neil Young

Sorted For E's And Wizz – Pulp

Goodbye Kiss – Kasabian

Fake Tales Of San Francisco – Arctic Monkeys

Man On The Moon – REM

Walk Of Life - Dire Straits

Born In The USA - Bruce Springstreen

Come As You Are - Nirvana

The Boys Are back In Town – Thin Lizzy

Nothing Compares To You – Sinead O' Connor

Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

Going Back – Dusty Springfield

Suspicous Minds - Elvis

You'll never Walk Alone – Gerry And the Pacemakers

©Seamus Egan 2013

Radio Playlist: 13/07/2013

This is the playlist from my wonderful programme on Tipperary Mid- West Radio from last Saturday night. Have yourselves a pose people. Some Might Say it's the best playlist of all time.

Fake Tales Of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys

Second Bite Of The Apple - Beady Eye

Bye Bye Badman - The Stone Roses

Partners In Crime - The Strokes

No Line On The Horizon - U2

Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Rocks - Primal Scream

Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths

Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones

The Next Day - David Bowie

Just Like Heaven - The Cure

If I Had A Gun - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello

Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen

Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen

Lightning Bolt - Jake Bugg

Goodbye Kiss - Kasabian

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles

Speed To My Side - Rollerskate Skinny

Pick A Part That's New - Stereophonics

Start Anew - Beady Eye

Paradise City - Guns N Roses

I know What I'm Here For - James

Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers

© Seamus Egan 2013

Shelbourne 2-1 Limerick FC

Shelbourne kept their hopes of staying in the Airtricity Premier League alive after a hard fought 2-1 win over Limerick FC at Tolka Park on Friday night. Second half goals from Adam Hanlon and Lee Murtagh gave Shels the points.

It was Limerick who started the better of the two sides. They had most of the possession in the early stages of the game as Shelbourne found it difficult to get out of their own half and it was no surprise when the blues went in front.

The visitors took the lead in the 17^th minute. The goal came about after first of all Darragh Rainsford and then David O'Leary flicked it on before Axel Bossekota tuurned and finished to the corner of the net from inside the area.

Shelbourne slightly improved as the half went on and they created their first chance of the game in the 26^th minute. Sean Brennan took a freekick from the right hand side. Graham Gartland rose highest and headed just wide.

However Limerick looked comfortable for most of the opening period and in the 35^th minute they threatened on the counter attack. Bossekota gathered possession just inside the Shelbourne half. He raced towards the penalty area, cut inside and hit a shot which went wide of the post.

The home side did come very close to scoring just before half time. Brian O'Callaghan's headed clearance only went as far as Derek Doyle. Doyle's shot was saved by Barry Ryan and just as it looked as if Lee Murtagh was about to put the rebound into the net Ryan got there again to palm it away for a corner.

Jonnhy McDonnell's side got back into the game in the 7^th minute of the second half. Lee Murtagh dispossessed Brian Callaghan and the ball found its' way to Adam Hanlon who struck it low into the corner of the net with his left foot from the edge of the area.

Limerick came close to regaining the lead after an hour. Shane Tracey took a free kick from left to right and picked out Danny Galbraith. Galbraith had time to get his shot away but he could only find the sidenetting.

Stuart Taylor will be disappointed that his team did not go back in front in the 77^th minute. Danny Galbraith played it to his right to Shaun Kelly. Kelly took on and beat Darren Tinnelly. He then crossed for Darragh Rainsford who was in space in the area. However Rainsford could only strike a week shot at Lee Murphy.

Limerick were made to pay for that miss a couple of minutes later after Shels went in front. The goal came about after Adam Hanlon played it to his left to Sean Brennan. Brennan pulled it back into the six yard box and Lee Murtagh was there to put it into the net from close range.

The away team had a number of free kicks in the final ten minutes but they failed to create any clear cut chances. Shelbourne held on for their second successive 2-1 win at home to keep their survival hopes alive.

Shelbourne: Lee Murphy: Brian Shorthall, Ian Ryan, Graham Gartland, Pat Flynn: Sean Brennan (Dean Kelly 87), Glenn Cronin, Stephen Hurley, Derek Doyle (Darren Tinnelly 68): Adam Hnalon,  Lee Murtagh.

Subs not used: Niall Burdon, Jamie McGlynn, Adam O'Connor, Robert Cornwall, Alex Prizeman.

Limerick FC: Barry Ryan: Shaun Kelly, Brian O'Callaghan, Robbie Williams (Stephen Folan 71), Shane Tracy: Joe Gamble (Stephen Bradley 57), David O'Leary, Darragh Rainsford (Barry Sheedy 80), Danny Galbraith: Craig Curran, Axel Bossekota,

Subs not used: Shane Cusack, Rory Gaffney, Shane Costello, Val Feeney.

Booked: David O'Leary (67), Axel Bossekota (89), Shane Tracy (91).

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 783.

© Seamus Egan 2013.

Shamrock Rovers 0-4 Birmingham City

Birmingham City comfortably beat Shamrock Rovers 4-0 in a friendly match at the Tallaght Stadium on Monday night. Goals from Lee Novak, Nicola Zigic, Callum Reilly and Matt Green gave the English Championship side the victory.

The first meaningful chance of the game came in the 9^th minute. Shamrock Rovers captain Pat Sullivan gave the ball straight to Lee Novak, who passed it to Chris Burke. Burke played it to his left to Nicola Zigic on the left edge of the area. Zigic tried to curl a right footed shot into the corner of the net but the ball went just wide.

Birmingham City took the lead in the 18^th minute. Zigic played a fine ball into the Rovers area. Lee Novak raced in behind the home defence and slotted the ball into the corner of the net past substitute goalkeeper Richard Brush, who came on for the injured Barry Murphy.

The Hoops created their first chance soon after. Billy Dennehy crossed from the left. New signing Eamon Zayed met it with his head but he couldn't keep his effort on target and the ball ended up wide of the post.

Zayed had another chance in the 32^nd minute. Karl Sheppard crossed from the right. The ball eventually broke to Rover's number 27 in the box and he tried a snapshot which Darren Randolph did well to push away for a corner.

Zigic doubled the visitors lead in the 35^th minute.  Callum Reilly played it to his left to the Serbian striker who found himself in space. He curled a right foot shot which hit the post before finding its way into the net.

Lee Clarke's side went 3 up just before half-time. Chris Burke and Lee Novak were both involved in the move before Callum Reilly picked up possession on the edge of the area. Reilly's shot took a deflection off Shane Robinson before hitting the back of the net.

Trevor Crolly's team had an opportunity to pull one back early in the second half. Mark Quigley played it to his right to Sheppard who tried to pull it back for Zayed in the box but Johnathan Spector was in the way to clear it away for a corner.

Substitute Matt Green made it 4-0 to Birmingham City in the 57^th minute. Burke was involved again. This time he crossed from the right and he picked out Green who headed into the net from six yards out.

Both sides made a number of substitutions as the half progressed. The changes appeared to disrupt the flow of the game which was also held up for about 5 minutes as Green received treatment for what looked like a serious injury, which led to him being stretchered off.

Substitute Colin Doyle would have taped the ball into an empty net late on if Ken Oman had not got in the way to intercept. Doyle also struck a late free kick which beat the wall but was straight at Randolph.

Birmingham held out for a comfortable victory. However both Trevor Crolly and Lee Clark may well be more concerned by the fact that both Richard Brush and Matt Green went off injured for their respective sides.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy (Richard Brush 16): Pat Sullivan (c) (Stephen Rice 60), Jason McGuinness, Derek Foran (Ken Oman 46), Danny Ledwith: Conor McCormack, Shane Robinson (James Chambers 68): Mark Quigley (Ronan Finn 68): Karl Sheppard, Eamon Zayed, Billy Dennehy (Sean O'Connor 46).

Subs not used: Gary McCabe, Thomas Stewart,  Stephen Confey, Sean Heaney.

Birmingham City: Darren Randolph: Neil Eardley (Wade Elliott 42), Johnatan Spector (Mitch Hancock (58), Hayden Mullins (Kyle Bartley 58), Paul Robinson(c) (Dan Burn 58): Chris Burke, Callum Reilly (Koby Arthur 58), Oliver Lee, Liam Davis (Darren Ambrose 58): Lee Novak (Matt Green 54) (Colin Doyle 83), Nicola Zigic (Andrew Shinnie 58).

Referee: Neil Doyle

© Seamus Egan 2013

Radio Playlist: 15-06-2013

Cigarettes and Alcahol - Oasis

Loser - Beck

There She Goes - The Las

Connection - Elastica

The Changingman - Paul Weller

This Is How It Feels - Inspiral Carpets

Rock N Roll Star - Oasis

Flick Of The Finger - Beady Eye

Finetime - Cast

Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve

Common People - Pulp

Girls And Boys - Blur

Losing My Religion - R.E.M

Come As You Are - Nirvana

Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Supersonic - Oasis

Ballroom Figured - Beady Eye

What You Do To Me - Teenage Fanclub

Firestarter - The Prodigy

Soul Surfing - Fatboy Slim

Iz Rite - Beady Eye

Going Out - Supergrass

Moving On Up - Primal Scream

A Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers

Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O'Connor

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses? - U2

Live Forever - Oasis

Soon Come Tomorrow - Beady Eye

North Country Boy - The Charlatans

© Seamus Egan 2013.