Bohemians bow out of UEFA Youth League after gallant display in Greece

Bohemians have been knocked out of the UEFA Youth League after falling to a one-nil defeat away to PAOK Thessalonica in the second leg.

With the game locked at one goal apiece from the first-leg at Dalymount Park, Craig Sexton's side knew they had to score to have any chance of progressing.

Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy both went close in the early stages of the game, but the hosts grew in confidence as the half wore on on with Sean Bohan busy.

Bohs came unstuck five minutes into the second half as when Dimitrios Panidis fired past Bohan having been set up by Dimitrios Tsopouroglou.

The Gypsies were however unable to hit back, with the Greeks setting up a date with Ukrainians Dynamo Kyiv in the next round.

Speaking after the game to his club’s media team, Bohs under-19 boss Sexton revealed his pride in his side’s showing on the Mediterranean coast.
 
"We're disappointed we didn't do enough to win it over the two legs, more disappointed from the first leg as obviously looking back on that performance, the way we played and the chances that we created, we could have come over here with a 2-1 or 3-1 lead.

"But I am extremely proud of the boys. They played extremely well over the two legs, we just needed to be that little bit more clinical.

"It's a learning curve for them that when chances come around, they don't come around that often and you need to be clinical when they do.

"The first 15 to 20 minutes tonight we were excellent, Ross Tierney was unlucky not to score after three or four minutes. 

"PAOK were the better side after that but we gave it a right go in the last 20. We didn't go down with a whimper, the players showed great courage and desire.

"They're all disappointed but they're not down on the floor. It's a disappointing result but it's been a positive experience for them all. Myself and all the backroom staff take great pride in their performances over the two legs.

"They've shown again they can put it up to the best young players in Europe. We should have won the first leg but perhaps PAOK underestimated us.

"We could see from how much PAOK celebrated after the game that they knew they'd been in a battle.

“On another day, had we taken some of those chances in the first leg, we might have gone through. But they will learn from this and it will stand to them."

Bohemians: Sean Bohan, Denis Smith (Gavin Liam O'Brien 67), Mitchell Byrne, Alex Kelly (capt), Gavin Molloy (Robbie Mahon 82), Ross Tierney, Brandon Bermingham, Dawson Devoy, Jack Moylan (Evan Ferguson 55), Thomas Considine (Katlego Mashigo 55), Andy Lyons. 

Subs not used: Jamie Cleary, Jack Casey, Jack Funge.