Bohemians Held by Galway United in Title-Race Stunner

Galway United Share Spoils with Bohemians in Thrilling Encounter

Galway United's gutsy performance earned them a crucial point against Bohemians, denting the Dublin side's title hopes. The visitors, who had overcome Ballkani in the most dramatic of circumstances on Thursday night, showed no signs of fatigue as they took on Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

The hosts, however, were the first to threaten, with Dayle Rooney showing clever movement to collect a long ball over the top. The wingback saw his low shot expertly saved by the onrushing Da Cunha, before Harry Vaughan's long-range effort and Douglas James-Taylor's strike from point-blank range were bravely blocked.

But from the resulting corner, the hosts finally broke the deadlock. Galway skipper Jimmy Keohane hauled down Cian Byrne right in front of the referee. Whelan dutifully accepted the penalty chance, making no mistake from 12 yards in notching his sixth penalty of the campaign.

To their credit, and probably expected from a John Caulfield side, the visitors dug deep and found a stunning equaliser when Bolger smashed home a first-time volley, after Keohane's initial in-swinging free-kick wasn’t dealt with.

Desperately looking to restore their lead, the home side went close on the stroke of half-time through the busy Vaughan, cutting in sharply from the right and forcing Da Cunha into a full stretch finger-tip save to turn it around the post.

A tension-filled second half ensued with the home side doing most of the running in search of an all-elusive winner. Thursday night’s penalty hero Jordan Flores saw his free-kick on the edge of the area whizz past the top corner before fellow sub Ross Tierney saw his first time effort clawed out of the bottom corner by man of the match Da Cunha.

The keeper pulled off a number of top-class saves to ensure his side took a huge point back out west. Bohemians: Girard-Walters: Byrne (Strods, 82), Hickey, Todd; Power, Devoy, Morahan (Tierney, 66), Vaughan; Rooney (Parsons, 82); Whelan, James-Taylor (Flores, 66). Galway United: Pires Da Cunha; Keohane, Williams, Facchineri, Kazeem; Bolger (Thiam, 87), Hurley, McCarthy; Connolly (Lomboto, 62), Devitt, Pierrot (Twardek, 70).

Galway United are currently 7th in the Premier Division, with 29 points from 25 games, and are 22 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. They have scored 33 goals and conceded 40 this season, with a recent form of DDWLL. Their next fixture is against Drogheda United at home on August 7th.