Bohemians 0 Derry City 1
Barry McNamee’s first-half goal was enough to give Derry City the points at Dalymount Park.
This was a scrappy affair from the off with the two sides lacking creativity and both being guilty of giving the ball away cheaply.
The play gradually got better and Derry began to take the upper hand. Indeed, they had the ball in the Bohemians net on 22 minutes when Rory Patterson’s effort was helped over the line by Nathan Boyle. But it was chalked off as Boyle was standing in an offside position.
City did take the lead on 39 minutes when McNamee slammed the ball into the back of the net after Bohs goalkeeper Shane Supple did well to block an initial effort from Ronan Curtis.
Bohemians started the second half in strong form but lost Dan Casey to injury on 55 minutes, to be replaced by Dylan Hayes. Their next change was tactical as just after the hour striker Ismahil Akinade came on for wide man Paddy Kavanagh with Keith Ward dropping back as Bohs went 4-4-2.
Bohs continued to improve but couldn’t break down Derry. And the visitors were reduced to 10 men on 83 minutes when Aaron Barry was shown a straight red card by referee Robert Hennessy for hacking down Akinade just outside the penalty area.
Bohemians: Supple; Casey (Hayes 55 mins), Byrne, O'Hora, Morris; Kavanagh (Akinade 61 mins), Sule, Brennan, O'Connor; Ward; Corcoran.
Derry City: Doherty; McDermott, Cole, Barry, Jarvis; McEneff, Low; Boyle (Timlin 79 mins, (Schubert 88)), McNamee, Curtis; Patterson.
Referee: Robert Hennessy (Clare).
