Drogheda take points but Bohemians safe

Declan O'Brien scored the winner at the Carlisle Grounds

Drogheda’s Declan O’Brien celebrates scoring what turned out to be the only goal of the  game against Bohemians. Photograph:  Donall Farmer/Inpho
Drogheda’s Declan O’Brien celebrates scoring what turned out to be the only goal of the game against Bohemians. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Drogheda United 1 Bohemians 0
Drogheda United wrapped up their league campaign with this win over Bohemians who preserve their Premier Division status despite this defeat as Bray failed to win at the CarlisleGrounds.

It was almost 20 minutes before anything worthwhile happened when a superb Declan O'Brien volley saw goalkeeper Dean Delaney push the ball to safety to deny Drogheda the lead.

It was the visitors turn to go close five minutes later when they won a free on the edge of the box which Karl Moore cracked off the crossbar with net minder Micheal Schlingermann rooted.

With the half-hour approaching O'Brien again tested Delaney, who could only beat the ball away into the path of Mick Daly, who headed over.

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But within a minute there was nothing the Bohemians last line of defence could do when O’Brien latched on to a long ball over the top to rattle the net and put United ahead.

In the final minute of the first half Schlingermann preserved Drogheda’s advantage as he made a fine stop from Dave Mulcahy’s powerful header.

Bohemians showed plenty of endeavour in the second half without ever really threatening to score, while the FAI Cup finalists were content to see it through without incurring cards or injury.
DROGHEDA: Schlingermann, Prendergast, McNally, O'Conor, Brady, Grimes, Cassidy (Foley 63), O'Brien, Daly, Marks (G Brennan 79), Byrne.
BOHEMIANS: Delaney, Pender, Lopes, Mulcahy, McEvoy (Heary 79), Moore (Mulligan 62), C Murphy, A Murphy, Byrne, Traynor, Devaney (Buckley 69).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)