Bohs claim Youth title on historic night at Ben Wadding Park
Bohemians team that won the Ball Corporation Youth A League with victory over Tramore on the new Ben Wadding Park astro-turf surface. Photos: Paul Elliott.
It was a night to remember for everybody contacted with Bohemians Football Club on what was a cold misty night at Ben Wadding Park on Tuesday last as the many supporters of one of Waterford's most famous clubs witnessed the opening of a new state of the art Astroturf all weather pitch.
They also watched the Bohs Youth team capture the Waterford Youth A League with a rip-roaring win over visitors Tramore AFC.
Bohs began the game on the front foot and inside the opening ten minutes they had Tramore on the ropes. The home team created two good chances and went close after 4 minutes. Bernie McDonagh cut in from the right-hand side, but Tramore keeper Ben Collins made a fine save at his near post.
In the 8th minute, striker Ider Boldbaatar raced into the box but Collins advanced to push the striker’s drive past the far upright. However, there was no stopping Bohs at this stage as they pinned Tramore inside their own half and it came as no surprise as Bohs took the lead, in the twentieth minute.
Bobby Keohan overlapped down the left wing for Bohs and he slipped the ball into the run of Boldbaatar, who fired a powerful low drive into the far corner of the net. It took some time for Tramore to get a foothold in the game but slowly they began to put some moves together.
Darby Sheridan began to get his foot on the ball, and he played a clever ball into the feet of Ryan Walsh, his shot on the run forced Bohs keeper Aaron Breen into a diving save. At last, Tramore began to get striker Joshua Roche into the game. Roche is a big skillful and pacey striker, and his pace and power began to give the Bohs defence problems.
However, Bohs centre back Leo Blake and Lee O’Mahony were excellent for Bohs as they held the Tramore striker at bay.
It was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the second--half, as Adam Chapman raced onto a Ben Clune pass but host goalkeeper Aaron Breen was equal to the task, diving low to his left to save.
Back came the home side as Josh Nolan, Thomas Mullally and Harvey Smith drove the home side forward with a good mixture of quality football and aggressive tackling. They doubled their lead with a deserved second goal in the 57th minute.
It was a thing of beauty, as Josh Nolan picked up the ball wide on the left, he cut inside and picked his way past two defenders before rifling a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net past the diving Collins.
Harry Kavanagh, a second-half replacement for Jake Croke, then made his mark on the game as he hit a quick-fire brace to put the league title firmly in the hands of the Ben Wadding Park outfit.
With just under 25 minutes remaining, Bernie McDonagh weaved his way to the endline, and his low cross was met by the inrushing Kavanagh, who powered the ball into the net from six yards. The big powerful striker scored his second and his side’s fourth goal with 78 minutes on the clock when Jeff Fanning played the ball up the line for Josh Nolan and his pull back fell to Harry Kavanagh. Kavanagh showed calmness and composure to lift the ball past Ben Collins and into the empty net.
The night finished on a sour note for Tramore as they lost Joe Brennan to a late red card. Luke Brennan, who had a fine game with the whistle called time and this sparked wild celebrations in the Bohs camp, on a night to remember for players, mentors, committee and supporters alike.
Aaron Breen, Paul Kiely, Bradley Keoghan (Jeff Fanning 42), Lee O'Mahony, Leo Blake, Harvey Smith, Jake Croke (Harry Kavanagh 45), Tommy Mullally, Ider Boldbaatar (Czerak Hawula 88), Josh Nolan (Paul Akintomide 88), Bernie McDonagh (Eoin McDonagh 76).
Ben Collins, Michael Barry (Connor Cleary 82), Joe Brennan, Ryan Walsh, Ronan O'Toole, Shay Corcoran, Dylan Farrell (Sean Fitzgerald 82), Ben Clune (Patrick Barrett 65), Joshua Roche, Adam Chapman, Darby Sheridan ( Sam Niblock-Duffy 60)..
Referee: Luke Brennan.
