Galway Utd 0 Bohemians 1:Can Bohemians make a sustained challenge for Premier League honours? Last night's evidence at Terryland Park was favourable as the Dublin side dictated the pace of a drab game against a toothless Galway United side.
The opening 11 matches have been laced with stingy defence performances, but Bohemians haven't been rattling the net frequently enough.
Sean Connor started this contest with an innovative 4-3-3 system and the Bohemians manager was rewarded for his boldness in the 16th minute.
Owen Heary hurled a throw into the Galway area, Darren Mansaram's deft flick located Glen Crowe, who bundled the ball home at the second attempt.
It was a tad harsh on the home side who threatened in the opening stages as Derek Glynn had a shot gathered by Bohemians goalkeeper Brian Murphy, while referee Anthony Buttimer also waved away a Galway penalty claim when Stephen O'Flynn appeared to be fouled in the Bohemians' box.
Galway's hopes were not helped in the 73rd minute when John Lester was dismissed for a second yellow card following a challenge on Conor Powell.
Bohemians bossed the remaining minutes and while the defending of Regillio Nootimer thwarted the Dubliners, they still left the west with all three points.
GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; McKenna, Nootimer, Charles, Reilly (James, 69 mins); Moran (Cooke, 58 mins), Lester, Murphy (Tracy, 83 mins), O'Brien; O'Flynn, Glynn.
BOHEMIANS: Murphy; O Heary, Burns, McGuinness, Powell; Rice, T Heary, Byrne; Mansaram (Kingsberry, 46 mins), Fenn, Crowe.
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)