Bohemians 0

Galway United 2

By Keith Kelly at Dalymount Park

IF ever a player’s reaction summed up a stunning piece of skill, it was Vince Borden’s reaction to Moses Dyer’s second goal on Friday night.

If you haven’t seen the goal yet, you are missing out: it has been viewed more than one million times already across various social media platforms.

The best footage of the goal happened to be recorded by United’s marketing and media officer, Paul Mladjenovic: standing on the sideline in front of the United fans, he had a perfect view from behind Dyer to catch the flight of the ball, and the subsequent celebrations.

But also check out the LOI TV footage: from a wide angle, watch the left of the screen as Borden enters the picture when the ball hits the net, hands on his head in utter disbelief at what he, and the rest of us, had just witnessed.

It was a strike of sheer beauty and brilliance, a ‘hit’ of such pure perfection from an angle that recalled Van Basten against the USSR in Euro 88, Bergkamp against Newcastle United in 2002, Van Persie against Villa in 2013.

Evan Watts began the move, launching a long clearance from just outside his penalty area on the right. Jordan Flores leaned in to Pat Hickey to stop the United man getting to the ball, and it sailed over their heads.

Rob Cornwall should have had it covered, but let it bounce, a decision for which he paid a heavy price. Dyer nipped in and nodded the ball on, cushioned the ball with a second header, and then smashed it with the sweetest of volleys after one bounce, thrashing the ball over Talbot and into the net.

Cue delirium and head-holding disbelief. The New Zealand international admitted after the game that it was the best goal he ever scored, and truth be told, it will take something special to deny him the goal of the season accolade later this year.

He had earlier given United a 19th minute lead, and his week continued to radiate joy on Tuesday when he was named on the shortlist for the league’s Player of the Month award for March.

He is joined on the five-man shortlist by another United star, Killian Brouder, and truth be told, he is a nomination that represents the entire United backline, which was once again brilliant on the night.

Watts kept a second consecutive clean sheet; Rob Slevin was rock-solid in front of him; Bobby Burns and Greg Cunningham and Jeannot Esua were defensive rocks as well. And then there was Brouder.

The only player still at the club from when John Caulfield took over in August 2020, the Limerick man put in block after block, and tackle after tackle on Friday night in a brilliant personal display. Bohs had more than 70% possession, in the region of 20 efforts on goal, but if they were there until mid-July when the sides meet again in Phibsboro, they still wouldn’t score. It is the old adage: defenders win games, strikers decide by how much.

Pictured: Galway United’s Moses Dyer celebrates with teammates, Stephen Walsh and Patrick Hickey, after scoring the first of his two goals against Bohemians during Friday night’s Premier Division tie at Dalymount Park.