Colm Whelan of Bohemians, second from left, celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Premier Division win over Waterford FC at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Despite it only being match day five, tonight’s match at the Regional Sports Centre held a great deal of weight for both clubs.
For the home side, it provided the chance to maintain their status as league leaders. For Bohs, manager Alan Reynolds returned to his former haunt in the hope of kickstarting the North Dubliners’ season.
With Republic of Ireland Under 21s boss, Jim Crawford, in attendance, it was a big night for anyone eligible for the upcoming 2027 European Championships Qualification campaign with an international window of friendlies in Spain just around the corner.
It was a quick start from the home side, after Waterford kept the ball nicely in the left channel, the ball was worked out to Rowan McDonald who clipped a crisp ball towards the back post to the onrushing Navajo Bakboord. The right back met the cross and flashed it across goal first time. But the Bohemians defence cut out the danger and what looked to be a certain opening goal.
On the opposite side, Bohs right back James Smith had sent in two dangerous crosses inside the opening ten minutes that left the Scotsman frustrated with no one gambling inside the box.
And the breakthrough came for the Northsiders after a quarter of an hour, as former Boys in Green Under-21 striker Colm Whelan unleashed a rasper past Stephen McMullan after Navajo Bakboord was pinched of possession in the final third.
Waterford had now lost the opening goal in each of their opening three home matches. And Bohs’ resilience shone through again with Waterford creating a scramble in the box that somehow didn’t result in a goal.
And Bohs had the chance to make it 2-0 with just over 30 minutes played. Dawson Devoy fouled on the right-hand side of the box by Kyle White. Whelan stepped up. And yet again scored against his former side.
Not long after, right back Smith sent in another dangerous cross which Blues defender Kacper Radkowski swung a leg at, taking out Dayle Rooney in the process for a second penalty to the away side.
Whelan now with a chance to fire a first half hat trick in front of his former international underage manager at the club he learned his trade. And to no one’s surprise, he finished yet again. Colm Whelan and former Blues manager Alan Reynolds with a perfect first half at their former club.
Waterford needed a goal before half time and in added time, opportunity knocked, Conan Noonan sliding Pádraig Amond through and after the Carlow native shifted the ball onto his left foot, he bent his shot just the wrong side of Talbot’s post.
A lack of action occurred in the second half as Waterford’s first shot on target came in the 70th minute from a Dean McMenamy free kick.
Another free kick with 10 minutes to go was clipped into the box by Waterford with Bohs clearing to the edge of the box. James Olayinka stepped onto the loose ball and struck on target with Talbot parrying the strike into the path of Amond who backheeled into a dangerous area. However, no player in a blue jersey was there to finish into the empty net.
James Olayinka who was a bright spark for the home side on a lacklustre night excellently dribbled down the right-hand side before bearing down on goal. However, Talbot stood big and saved well for a corner kick. Bohs, who were resolute all night, were well worth all three points and the deserved clean sheet.
Waterford – 0
Bohemians – 3 (Whelan 15’, 34’, 42’)
Referee – Rob Harvey
Attendance – 3,218
Waterford: McMullan (GK); Bakboord, Boyle, Radkowski (Yellow), Leahy, White (H/T Burke); McDonald (H/T Glenfield), McMenamy (McCormack 72’), Noonan (Olayinka 59’); Amond, Lonergan (Pouwels 59’)
Subs: Wade (GK), Horton, McCormack, Dempsey, Roberts
Bohemians: Talbot (GK), Smith, Morahan, Grehan, Flores (Kavanagh 85’), McDonnell (McManus 85’), Buckley (Mountney 65’) , Devoy, Clarke (Tierney 65’), Rooney, Whelan (Parsons 73’)
Subs: Chorazka (GK), Best, Mousset, McManus, Kavanagh, Meekison