Kenny returns to make points

NATIONAL LEAGUE Premier Division/Bohemians 0; Derry City 1: Bohemians are in grave danger of missing out on second place in the league after former manager Stephen Kenny's Derry City claimed an unlikely 1-0 victory at Dalymount Park last night.

With Kenny admitting before the game that he is using the final weeks of the season as a trial for next season, and then selecting a midfield quartet with an average age of 20, it seemed like a game that Bohemians would win comfortably.

In fact, it was a game that they simply had to win to remain in contention for second place with Cork City seemingly unstoppable at the moment.

But Kenny's reputation as a manager was not built on sending out players to lose games and his team caught Bohemians cold with a brilliant display. While their side was tender in years, their mobility continually gave Bohemians problems .

Striker Mark Farren, in particular, was dangerous and he scored the only goal of the game after 16 minutes though he had plenty of other opportunities in a performance that merited the three points.

Bohemians, however, were first to threaten after 12 minutes when recalled captain Kevin Hunt's through ball reached James Keddy only for David Forde to pull off a fine save.

But Derry looked the more dangerous with Farren's pace constantly seeing him get in behind the Bohemians back line with Matt Gregg having to race from his line to clear on several occasions.

But Gregg could do nothing in the 16th minute when Gary Beckett's perfectly weighted pass put Farren through on goal once more and he coolly rounded the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net.

It was the 22-year-old's second goal of the season and he almost added another in the 26th minute when a Clive Delaney long ball released him once more only for his attempted chip to come back off the post with Gregg beaten.

Killian Brennan then went close when he cut in from the left only for his shot to cannon off Damian Lynch and back into play.

Bohemians fought back with Bobby Ryan curling in a free kick which was well saved by Forde before the goalkeeper dropped a cross from Ryan with Glen Crowe unable to get on the rebound.

However, despite dominating the possession,they struggled to make any in roads against a solid Derry back line, even when Dominic Foley was introduced as the home side switched to three in attack.

Paul McNally went close with a header before a last second header by goalkeeper Gregg forced a save out of Forde as Derry hung on for an impressive win.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice (Foley, 57 mins), Hawkins, McNally, Webb; Ryan, Lynch, Hunt (Caffrey, 67 mins), Keddy; Grant, Crowe.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, D Brennan; McGlynn, Deery, Higgins (Doherty, 67 mins), K Brennan (McChrystal, 72 mins); Farren (Murphy, 78 mins), Beckett.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).