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Bohs and Drogs battle to Dalymount draw

Friday 24th August 2007, 9:57 pm

Brian Shelley and John-Paul Kelly tussle for possession.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Bohemians and Drogheda United played out a 1-1 draw in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland tonight. The result sees Drogheda's lead at the top reduced to seven points but they will be somewhat relieved not to have lost against a Bohs side that probably should have won tonight.

Ryan McCann had fired Bohs in front before an Owen Heary own goal levelled matters up shortly after half-time.

Bohs had the better of the game's chances with Drogheda keeper Connor doing his best to redeem himself after a couple of howlers against Galway on Monday night.

Ryan McCann (right) celebrates after opening the scoring.

Photo by Tom Carey.

The keeper was forced to make a couple of good saves inside the opening ten minutes. After Jason Gavin and Graham Gartland got in a tangle in the air, McCann fired in a shot forcing Connor to save and the former under-21 international goalkeeper was across to smother from the onrushing Kelly.

Referee Alan Kelly didn't offer a whole lot of protection to namesake John-Paul and it was something of an achievement that the Bohs man survived a number of crude challenges to play the entire game.

James Keddy picked up the first booking of the game midway through the first half after a hack at Kelly and Gartland had been lucky to escape a similar punishment for a similar crime seconds earlier.

Shane Robinson drilled in a low cross but it eluded all of Drogheda's front men in what became a very disappointing half from the league leaders.

The lead goal came on 31 minutes after Kelly scythed through the visiting defence before picking out McCann with a cross-field ball. The recently signed midfielder made no mistake as he drilled across Connor's goal to the back of the net for hs first Bohs goal.

Drogheda responded quickly and Stuart Byrne drove a low volley not far away from Brian Murphy's Bohs goal just five minutes after McCann's strike.

Dan Connor saves from Stephen O'Donnell's penalty.

Photo by Tom Carey.

A low shot from Kelly caused Connor more problems than it ought to have but the keeper managed to tip around his post.

Connor made a superb save to push away in the closing ten minutes of the first period, reacting after the ball bounced at goal having come through a crowd of players at a corner.

Drogheda were level six minutes after half-time when Owen Heary got the last touch under pressure from Tony Grant to turn into his own net from Gavin Whelan's low driven cross from the right. Brian Shelley though had created the opening with a surging run from inside his own half before the through ball to set Whelan on his way.

Kevin Hunt chases back against Tony Grant.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Kelly was still causing Drogheda problems and another inch-perfect through ball set Glen Crowe on his way, only for Connor to save bravely at the striker's feet. A Darren Mansaram header went behind off Gartland with the Drogs defender knowing little about his interception.

More Kelly magic appeared to have unlocked Drogheda again as the under-21 international evaded the visiting defence and looked set to score before Connor crudely brought him down in the box. The keeper escaped with a booking while Kelly recovered from a knock picked up from the challenge.

However, Connor redeemed his night by saving Stephen O'Donnell's tamely hit penalty - his holding of the ball highlighting how weak the kick really was.

Drogheda threatened straight from Connor's long punt forward although Murphy held on to the ball despite the attentions of Grant. Former Bohs man Grant again threatened but his flicked header from Whelan's cross just didn't have enough pace to beat Murphy.

Owen Heary challenges Simon Webb

Photo by Tom Carey.

Bohs substitute Chris Turner thought he had marked his league debut for the club with a goal but Connor got across expertly to save down low on his line.

Crowe and Kelly both had efforts blocked as Bohs continued to look like the side more likely to score a winner.

Drogheda had a chance in the closing twenty minutes and although Keddy's free-kick was on target for the top corner, a lack of pace limited its chances of getting past Murphy.

Drogheda substitute Guy Bates did plenty of running up front but poor control saw him squander a good chance in the box.

Gartland and Whelan would also go into Alan Kelly's long list of bookings before the end for fouls on John-Paul Kelly and Gavin blocked a late effort from Neale Fenn.

Although they drew with the league leaders, Bohs were again frustrated in their bid to climb the table and lost ground to Shamrock Rovers while Cork City moved to within one point of them in the table tonight.

Drogheda now switch their attentions to Sweden and their UEFA Cup campaign but two points from a possible six this week has seen the chasing pack receive a boost to keep the title race alive.

Bohemians : Murphy, O Heary, Powell, T Heary, McGuinness, Hunt, McCann, O'Donnell (Turner 65), Kelly, Crowe, Mansaram (Fenn 68).
Drogheda United : Connor, Shelley, Webb (Cahill 46), Gavin, Gartland, Byrne, Whelan, Robinson, Keddy, Grant (Bates 70), Zayed (O'Keefe 81).