The only route to a trophy and possible European qualification for Bohs was closed off in that loss, Michael Duffy with a goal in each half for a far superior Derry side, and Alan Reynolds’ side really are in a relegation battle – just four points ahead of an in-form Drogheda United for the playoff spot, although Bohs have a game in hand on Drogheda and have a superior goal difference.
Manager Reynolds did not face the media for standard interviews before or after the game, with assistant O’Donnell standing in, and the Galway native offered no excuses for a tame effort where Bohs struggled to get a shot on target but also coughed up soft goals for Duffy.
“We need to finish with more and we can’t give up those goals, the goals we gave away were cheap, it was a bit of both and we don’t want to become that team where the middle part is ok but both ends is not great. We have work to do,” said O’Donnell.
“Derry set out their game plan, sitting off us, playing to percentages and feeding off bits and they got the goals off that but the overriding feeling is disappointment at going out, ultimately we feel regrets and went out with a bit of a whimper as the second half wore on, post the second goal.
“I thought we built up a head of steam the first 15 minutes in the second half, constant pressure but the second goal was a poor goal on our behalf to concede. Everything about it, we had bodies around the ball when he picked it up, it can’t happen that five yards later there’s no one near him and he can get a strike away. There’s a lot of disappointment, it’s too early to say we will dust ourselves down, it’s very disappointing for everyone.
“We had a bit of a foothold on the game in the first 15 minutes of the second half, we were gaining a bit of momentum but then the stoppage with the linesman, and when the second goal went in our body language slumped a little bit. Here, especially, we should always feel that we are a goal away from flipping any game on it’s head, even if we are two down, but we just didn’t give off that impression and that’s the most disappointing thing.
“The overriding emotion is disappointment, being out of a Cup semi, being one game away from the biggest day out in domestic football, that’s the overriding one. We will approach the league matches over the weekend and on Monday, full focus on the league next week but tonight it’s very disappointing.”
With just two wins in the last 15 league games, Bohs now need to gather points from the five remaining league fixtures to stave off that relegation threat with the next games away to Derry and at home to St Pat’s.
Asked if he was worried, O’Donnell said “Worried would be the wrong word, we have a massive five games left, a busy week ahead with Friday/Monday/Friday, Friday night was a Cup semi, in isolation that’s a big enough game to be talking about. Our heads are just full of disappointment, we look forward over the weekend and the start of next week to a massive league week.”
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