Bohemians 2 Portadown 1:A GOAL from Dinny Corcoran on his 23rd birthday and a truly wonderful strike from Karl Moore got Aaron Callaghan's Bohemians reign off to a promising start at Dalymount Park and they will a deserved lead on their journey up North for the second leg of this Setanta Sports Cup tie next week.
Given their financial constraints, it’s very much about youth under new manager Callaghan this season as he gave seven players their competitive debuts for the club, including four teenagers outfield in front of 20-year-old Craig Sexton in goal.
Bohemians’ opener stemmed from a route one approach on 44 minutes. Sexton’s long clearance bounced through for the alert Corcoran whose run caught the Portadown defence flat-footed. The finish was precise as the lone striker’s right-footed lob looped over goalkeeper David Miskelly to enter the net.
There was precious little Miskelly could do except watch in admiration as Bohemians doubled their lead on 58 minutes with a truly sublime goal from Moore, whose left-footed drive arrowed to the top corner of the net from some 30 yards.
Portadown pushed captain Kevin Braniff into a more orthodox attacking role and it soon brought a response as slack marking was punished within two minutes when Jamie Tomelty’s corner got a flick on and Braniff headed past Sexton.
Sexton then showed great reactions when pushing away Braniff’s free-kick on 78 minutes.
BOHEMIANS: Sexton; Heary, McMillan, Feely, Byrne; Moore (Wilson, 71 mins), Lopes, Joyce (Davidson, 71 mins), Ward (Traynor, 78 mins.), McMahon; Corcoran.
PORTADOWN: Miskelly; Burns, Gartland, Breen, Redman; Mackle, McCafferty, Clarke, Tomelty; Braniff; Tipton (McCloskey, 57 mins).
Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).
