Kilkenny defy formbook

Strugglers Kilkenny claimed their eighth point of the season at Buckley Park yesterday and in doing so may have ended Bohemians' league aspirations. "We are all fighting for second spot and Europe now," admitted Roddy Collins, manager of Bohemians, afterwards.

"We have got to be realistic; it is a long way back although we have a lot more to offer than we showed today."

During the opening half Bohemians were easily the better side and they carved out five chances, the best of which fell to Mark Rutherford and Glen Crowe in the 16th and 42nd minutes respectively.

After the turn Kilkenny dominated and they could have stolen it when Carlos Rocha missed a terrific chance from six yards in the 57th minute.

"We were prepared to battle and it was our fighting spirit which gained us the point," admitted Kilkenny assistant manager, Billy Walsh, who was filling in for manager Joe McGrath, who is away in New Zealand.

After only six minutes Trevor Molloy sent a close-range shot screaming across the home goal but the ball went wide. And on 16 minutes the visitors should have gone in front. Crowe teed up the ball for Rutherford but he blazed over from six yards.

Kilkenny, who were virtually confined to their own half, did break out in the 31st minute and a cross from the left by Rocha was unlucky not to be finished off by Barry O'Neill.

Three minutes before half time Bohemians missed another golden opportunity. A free on the right by Simon Webb was turned onto the crossbar from close range by Crowe, with the rebound ending up in the grateful arms of goalkeeper Matthew Nelson.

The second half was dominated by Kilkenny and they should have taken the lead on 57 minutes when Rocha hit the crossbar after some fine work by Stephen Murphy.

At this stage Bohemians were struggling and they only managed to break out of defence in the 61st minute when Rutherford shot tamely. But it was Kilkenny who finished the stronger and the happier.

KILKENNY CITY: M Nelson, R Purdy, R Brunton, G Wilkinson, D Mulcahy, S Murphy, B O'Neill, D McGrath, C Rocha, W Parkes, M Byrne. Subs: G Johnson for O'Neill (37 mins), D Brennan for Purdy (46 mins), G O'Hanlon for McGrath (83 mins).

BOHEMIANS: R Wayne, B Shelley, S Webb, L O'Brien, A O'Connor, S Caffrey, D Morrison, J Fullam, T Molloy, G Crowe, M Rutherford. Subs: A Nesovic for Crowe (59 mins), B Markey for Molloy (67 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).