Colm Whelan came off the bench to score twice in the final 16 minutes as Bohemians overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Galway United 3-2 and maintain their unbeaten run. The dramatic comeback victory on Friday night keeps the Gypsies firmly in the title hunt, sitting third in the Premier Division with 50 points from 29 games.
Galway's early advantage
Galway United took a surprise lead against the run of play in the 31st minute. Al Amin Kazeem found space on the right and his cross was met by Stephen Walsh, who headed past Peter Walters. The hosts doubled their advantage eight minutes after the restart. Kristopher Twardek finished a swift counter-attack to make it 2-0, capitalising on Bohemians' frustration after dominating possession but failing to convert.
Bohemians had controlled the game from the start, ending the match with 73 percent of the ball and 35 attempts on goal. Their pressure finally told when manager Alan Reynolds introduced Whelan and Zak Myers. The changes sparked an immediate response. Jordan Flores delivered a precise cross in the 74th minute and Whelan powered home a header to halve the deficit.
The fightback
The momentum shifted completely. Seven minutes later, Connor Parsons drove into the box and squared the ball for Ross Tierney, who slotted home from close range to level the scores. The winner arrived with just a minute of normal time remaining. Myers, involved again, provided the assist for Whelan to fire in his second and complete a stunning turnaround. "The character the lads showed was incredible," Reynolds told reporters after the match. "To be two down away from home and find a way back shows the belief in this group."
What the result means
The win extends Bohemians' unbeaten league run to five matches, a sequence that includes four wins and a draw. It also keeps them within six points of leaders Shamrock Rovers with games in hand. The result was a stark contrast to the previous meeting, a 1-1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic, and demonstrated a renewed cutting edge.
Galway United, who saw Gianfranco Facchineri and David Hurley booked, defended resolutely for long periods but were ultimately overwhelmed. Their goalkeeper made five saves but could not hold back the late surge. Bohemians' next challenge is a home fixture against Drogheda United on September 18. Drogheda currently sit ninth in the table, offering a chance for Bohemians to build further momentum. Check the upcoming schedule on our fixtures page.
