Bohemians 1-0 Sligo Rovers
Bohemians recovered from their opening week defeat to Cork City to beat Sligo Rovers 1-0 at Dalymount Park in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
A first-half wonder-goal from the boot of Kurtis Byrne was enough to condemn Rovers to their second defeat in as many weeks.
Sligo started well and as with last week's 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers, Dave Robertson's side were the first to threaten.
Gavin Peers did well to touch Chris Lyons' free to the back post on two minutes, although the incoming Tim Clancy was unable to find the necessary burst of pace to meet the ball as it dropped past Dean Delany's goal.
Rovers' Jaanai Gordon headed straight at Delany moments later before Sligo fell behind on 11 minutes to what will surely be one of the goals of the season.
Mark Quigley, instrumental in Sligo's last title success, played a sumptuous ball from deep over the head of Sligo full-back Regan Donelon and into the path of Byrne.
Catching the ball perfectly with the outside of his right boot from 25 yards out, Byrne lashed the ball into the top corner of Micheál Schlingermann's net for his first league goal for the Gypsies.
Sligo had a penalty claim waved away by referee Graham Kelly on the quarter hour. Clancy claimed he was pushed by a Bohs defender as he attempted to get on the end of a Liam Martin cross.
Kelly showed little interest however despite protests from a number of Rovers players.
The opening half remained competitive but chances were slow to arrive. It was not until the early stages of the second period that either keeper was tested.
Schlingermann had to be alert to claim Quigley's side-footed free-kick on 46 minutes, which evaded the Rovers wall after Peers had upended Ismahil Akinade in front of the Sligo area.
The Connacht side applied the pressure after this and Delany did well to rush off his line to clear Lyons' through ball on 58 minutes with Martin in close proximity, while Roberts lashed over a speculative effort from distance on the hour mark.
Akinade really should have doubled the home side's lead on 62. The scrambling Schlingermann somehow let Keith Buckley's shot from the edge of the area slip through his arms and on to his post.
And with the goalkeeper off his feet and the majority of the goal gaping, Akinade could only find the grateful grasp of Schlingermann with his poor follow up.
Robertson introduced play-maker John Russell mid-way through the second period in an effort to create more in front of goal.
Both Martin and Roberts headed over from half chances on 68 and 70 minutes respectively as Sligo's search for their first goal of the campaign continued.
Schlingermann was comfortable with Akinade's next chance in the 74th minute as he could only nod straight at the Mayo man.
While at the other end, Derek Prendergast swept Clancy's downward header off the line four minutes later as both sides exchanged opportunities in front of goal.
Keith Long's men had a late penalty call turned down by referee Kelly, when the lively Akinade fell over the outstretched leg of Sligo's Jimmy Keohane inside the Rovers box four minutes from time.
Gordon must have thought he had rescued a late point for the away side but Delany was on hand to push away the West Ham loanee's 20-yard effort at his post, one minute into added time at the end of the game.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Anto Murphy, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Mark Quigley (for Paddy Kavanagh 61), Keith Buckley, Eoin Wearen (for Dave Mulcahy 93), Jake Kelly (for Ayman Ben Mohammed 81); Kurtis Byrne, Ishmahil Akinade.
Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Tim Clancy, Gavin Peers, Regan Donelon; Chris Lyons (for John Russell 68), Jordan Richards, Jimmy Keohane, Liam Martin, Phil Roberts; Jaanai Gordon.
