Derry City forced to settle for home draw with Bohemians in clash marred by off-pitch disorder

Belfast Telegraph

25-07-2025

While the Candystripes and Bohemians played out a 1-1 draw on the pitch, there were ugly scenes outside the ground with clashes between numerous masked youths and damage done to property and cars in the vicinity.
Shamrock Rovers were the real winners on the night with the draw suiting neither team; the League leaders benefiting without kicking a ball.
New Derry striker Dipo Akinyemi was certainly making his presence felt on his first appearance at the Brandywell as he was involved in everything positive for the home side, testing Kacper Chorazka twice before skilfully flicking the ball into the path of Michael Duffy, who drilled a shot just wide from 20 yards.
The game was held up for five minutes at the half-hour mark when a flare was thrown onto the pitch, causing a hold-up in play.
The home side had the best chance of the game in added-time at the end of the first-half when Liam Boyce's ball over the top sent Akinyemi in on goal, but the striker was denied his first goal for the club by Chorazka, who stuck out his left leg to keep the ball out.
But Akinyemi didn't have to wait long as, four minutes into the five added-on, he was on hand to give Derry the lead, getting on the end of a brilliant cross from debutant Brandon Fleming to head the home side into the lead from close range.
Bohs were lucky to get into the break just a goal down as City very nearly struck again just 60 seconds later; this time Liam Boyce got in behind, and while he was denied a shot, he turned back to find Diallo, who drilled an effort left-footed just wide of the target.
The half-time break came at the perfect time for Bohs, who needed some respite, and they made the most of it, coming out for the second-half on steadier feet and levelling just seven minutes into the half.
James Clarke ran in behind and held firm under pressure until he played the ball across the face of goal for Ross Tierney to volley the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.
The home side struggled to respond from that setback until 10 minutes from time when Duffy crossed for substitute Robbie Benson, who floated a header agonisingly past the upright with Chorazka beaten at full stretch.
That was the start of a late push from Derry, and Chorazka had to be alert and strong to push away a volley from Danny Mullen after the ball had broken into the path of the substitute.
But it was too little, too late for the home side who paid the price for a lacklustre second-half, unable to win either of their two games in hand over the leaders in what has been a frustrating few weeks for Tiernan Lynch and his players.
Derry City: Maher, R Boyce (Benson 69), Bannon, Connolly, Todd, Fleming, Diallo (Frizzell 90), Winchester, Duffy, L Boyce (Mullen 69), Akinyemi (O'Reilly 57).
Bohemians: Chorazka, Mountney (Smith 67), Byrne, Kavanagh, Flores, Devoy, Morahan; McDonell (Parsons 74), Rooney, Clarke (Whelan 74), Tierney.
Man of the Match: Brandon Fleming (Derry City)
Match rating: 6/10