Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

Galway Bohs were promoted to Division 1 at the end of last season, but life in the higher grade has not always gone to plan as they currently lie in the relegation zone.

However, recent results against the top four sides have seen them go through that run impressively as they remained undefeated and with three games remaining matters are in their own hands regards surviving or going down.

On Sunday morning at Millar’s Lane they faced a Cois Fharraige team with a different agenda, as the Connemara side required a win to maintain their promotion challenge. That did not go to plan for them as a 2-2 draw ended those ambitions, but for the city side the point gained was another one towards safety.

Indeed it might have been even better as it took a late equaliser from Leon Mac Lochlainn to secure parity for the visitors and in the process denied Bohs all three points which would have moved them out of the bottom two.

It was the home side who enjoyed an interval advantage as a Dylan McConville corner was headed in by Aidan Naughton. With the teams having so much to play for both sides went chasing the game and it was Cois Fharraige who secured an equaliser when Chris Ó Biadha applied the finish to tie up matters at 1-1.

McConville was rewarded for his efforts with a close range finish to put the home side ahead once more, but while it looked like they would hold on, a late Mac Lochlainn header levelled matters at 2-2.

With Merlin Woods bottom and well adrift of those above them, their path to escape the drop looks a long way off. Now the same cannot be said of Bohemians as they trail third from bottom Cregmore-Claregalway by a point and they meet tonight (Friday) in Millar’s Lane at 6.30pm with a huge amount at stake. The side shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw when they last met in early December.

The Salthill Devon B promotion challenge ended a week earlier when they suffered back-to-back losses, but on Saturday in New Village they came from three down to share the spoils in a 3-3 draw with Oughterard.

Goals by Ryan Greally, Oisin Fleming and Diarmuid Wickenden had eased the home side into a comfortable advantage, before goals by Jamie Greaney (2) and Odhran Taylor gave Devon B a slender reward in their last league game of the season.

Craughwell United were confirmed as Division 1 champions last week, but they still have a few games to play and on Sunday were comfortable 7-0 winners over St Patrick’s as Adon McFarlane got the scoring going from the penalty spot, before Sean Connaughton (2), Alan Flannelly, Cian Garman, Ruairi McArdle and Ryan Gallagher also all added to their tally.

Pictured: Aidan Naughton turns away in celebration after scoring for Galway Bohemians in their Division 1 clash with Cois Fharraige in Millar’s Lane last weekend. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.