Derry City and Bohemians played out a scoreless draw at the Ryan McBride Brandywell last night, with the pair losing ground on Shamrock Rovers as a result of the shared spoils.
It was a game of relatively few chances, although Bohs goalkeeper James Talbot did make a couple of key saves to keep his side on level terms over the course of the contest. In the end, it finished as a 0-0 draw.
With the game being broadcast on RTÉ, the broadcasters gave out their customary man-of-the-match award at the end of the game. However, their selection caused quite a bit of confusion for those watching the match.
RTÉ viewers baffled by Derry vs Bohs MOTM award
RTÉ commentator and former League of Ireland midfielder Stuart Byrne opted to give the award to Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher. In a 0-0 draw, the two goalkeepers are always in with a decent shout of being named man-of-the-match after keeping the opposition team at bay.
However, viewers of the game were baffled by this particular selection. That was due to the fact that Bohemians did not register a shot on target over the course of the 90 minutes.
In other words, Maher was named man-of-the-match despite not making a single save in the game. Byrne justified his selection by praising the former Ireland U21's distribution, but it's fair to say that it confused quite a few people.
The League of Ireland really is something else.
A keeper who made 0 (zero) saves in a game just got Player of the Match.
Astonishing. https://t.co/YRzPszAwjR— Evin H (@evinh111) June 9, 2023
Obviously didn’t see Derry v Bohs game, but seeing highlights and I see Stuey Byrne gave Brian Maher MOTM for his “distribution”. Surely this is the first time in the history of football a goalkeeper been given that award for his distribution? Were the outfield players that bad?
— Phelim Warren (@Freewheeler12) June 9, 2023
Nothing against the guy, in fact he’s one of my favourite keepers in the league.
But the title “Man of the Match” Brian Maher just doesn’t seem right… https://t.co/JMeVhN5zmz pic.twitter.com/gJITnCG5ux— Irish Football Blog (@BlogIrish) June 10, 2023
Just seeing this now, surely they meant to award this to James Talbot. Maher literally didn’t have to make a save, Bohemians failed to have a shot on target. Pundits surely made a mistake and meant to award it to the other keeper who actually had shots to make saves from. https://t.co/dbInXJN8ae
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) June 10, 2023
This has got to be a joke!!
Bohs had no shots on target yet Maher gets player of the match 👀
Nowhere else would you see it but the League of Ireland!! https://t.co/7KyM2YzVCN— Dwayne Doyle (@doyler799) June 10, 2023
Hold on…… he made ZERO saves 🤣 how was he named man of the match 🧐 🤣 https://t.co/azMc7gRerF pic.twitter.com/6aY8YrNurj
— Gar⚽️Breen (@GarBreeninhoLfc) June 9, 2023
This is shocking didn’t even make one save 🤣 https://t.co/VyuyoLQqRA
— onlyflynns (@EireSpark) June 10, 2023
Brian Maher is an excellent goalkeeper, with the confusion around this award certainly no knock on him as a player. In saying that, it is rare to see a goalkeeper be named man-of-the-match in such circumstances.
This result, coupled with Shamrock Rovers' win over UCD, saw both sides lose a bit of ground in the title race. Derry sit in second place six points behind Rovers, while Bohemians are two points further back in fourth.
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