Sport

Brave Malahide give full-timers hard time

Malahide United 0 Bohemians 1: "We made them look very ordinary at times and that was very pleasing," said the Malahide manager…

Mon Aug 20 2007 - 01:00

Malahide United 0 Bohemians 1:"We made them look very ordinary at times and that was very pleasing," said the Malahide manager, Bobby Browne, yesterday after his Leinster Senior League side frustrated Bohemians for 79 minutes at a windy Gannon Park.

Ultimately, Glen Crowe struck to break Malahide's resolve and put a relieved Bohemians into the quarter-finals.

Substitute Darren Mansaram collected a pass down the left touchline from the man of the match, Conor Powell, to cross low, and Crowe stabbed the ball past Stephen Cashin in the Malahide goal.

Cashin was brave and agile minutes later to prevent Bohemians extending the winning margin.First he blocked Mansaram's shot with his feet; seconds later he stretched one-handed to touch away Ryan McCann's volley.

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"It was hard work and it was always going to be like that," admitted the Bohemians manager, Sean Connor. "The wind was always going to be a leveller.

"I think we over passed it at times in the first half, tried to play too many little flicks that you might get away with on a Friday night in a league match.

"But credit to Malahide. They sat deep, they kept their shape well and worked very hard . . . We kept plugging away and we got the result in the end.

"It was a difficult cup match, but we're in the next round now and that's what matters. I want to park that now and concentrate on our league form."

Bohemians enjoyed much of the early possession, winning three fruitless corners, but it was Malahide who created the first real chance, on 19 minutes.

Michael Wright started and finished the move. Winning the ball in midfield, be worked a one-two with Wayne Griffin before bursting into the box and having his shot blocked out for a corner by the recovering Owen Heary.

Wright also showed his defensive qualities at the other, preventing what looked a certain goal on 33 minutes with a terrific tackle on John Paul Kelly.

"I was delighted," added Browne. "Our performance was quality considering we're only back three-and-a-half weeks.

"That was the difference in the end - a couple of tired legs giving the ball away in midfield. We emphasised all week about possession and keeping it, especially against full-time teams."

MALAHIDE UNITED: Cashin; McCormack, Lawler, Murtagh, Trainor; Wright, Shahabbadin (Murphy, 85 mins), Doyle, Logan; Scully, Griffin (Ivory, 78 mins)

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, McGuinness, Pooley, Powell; McCann, Hunt, Rossiter (Turner, half-time), Kelly (Harkin, 73 mins); Crowe, Fenn (Mansaram, 61 mins).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).