Bohemians 0-3 Dundalk
Champions Dundalk may not have been at their best in Dalymount Park but they still had enough in the locker to inflict a first defeat of the season on Bohemians and maintain their 100% start to the campaign.
A scrambled David McMillan goal gave Stephen Kenny’s men a half-time lead and when Bohemians centre-back Anto Murphy was sent-off in the 52nd minute it looked like the game was up for the home side.
However, Keith Long’s team dug in and forced Gary Rogers into a trio of fine saves before two rapid counter attacks in the final seven minutes ended with substitutes Jake Kelly and Darren Meenan putting their names on the scoresheet, giving the scoreline a very flattering look at the full-time whistle.
Both sides came into the game sitting with maximum points after three games and it was no surprise that changes were minimal. For Bohs, Robbie Creevy came in for Kealan Dillon, while Dundalk named an unchanged team for the fourth game in succession.
The hosts shaded the opening 20 minutes and will feel they should have been in front before McMillan’s opener.
With Keith Buckley, Roberto Lopes and Creevy holding the upper hand in the middle of the park, they put the champions on the back foot and had valid appeals for a penalty waved away after 14 minutes.
Adam Evans’ cross from the left flicked off the heel of Brian Gartland and skipped up onto his outstretched arm. It looked a straightforward decision for referee Derek Tomney but he left the home supporters irate by letting the game continue.
Long’s side continued to ask questions of the Lilywhites back four, especially from dead ball situations, and it was a Lorcan Fitzgerald corner that almost yielded the first goal after 20 minutes.
Creevy headed the ball back across the six-yard box and Murphy saw his effort crash off the bar. Derek Pendergast’s acrobatic follow up went wide of the post.
The hosts were rocked seven minutes later as Dundalk went in front, totally against the run of play. A bout of head tennis in the Bohs penalty area ended with the ball looping into Dean Delany’s net.
It looked like the ball went in off a Bohemians player but McMillan was credited with making the breakthrough, his fourth of the campaign.
The goal settled the champions down and Pendergast had to make a fine block to deny McMillan a second just minutes later.
The Dundalk centre-forward then had penalty appeals of his own waved away when he went down over a hanging leg from Pendergast.
Looking much more assured, Dundalk saw the remainder of the half out comfortably and Delany had to show good hands to gather a well hit Richie Towell volley on the stroke of half-time.
Dundalk opened the second half in much better fashion and Ronan Finn cut in from the right to see an effort deflected wide before Towell saw a long-range missile well saved by Delany.
Bohs were left with an uphill task when Murphy was shown a red card by Tomney after leaving John Mountney on the deck, the Bohs centre-back paying the price for a booking earlier in the first half.
To their credit, Bohs kept going and helped by Dundalk’s inability to keep possession, they looked a good bet for an equaliser.
The home fans were given encouragement just past the hour mark when Dean Kelly’s overhead kick brought the first save of the game from Rogers. Paddy Kavanagh then did likewise in the 64th minute, Rogers having to get down well to his left to turn the ball around the post.
The former Sligo Rovers goalkeeper then made the save of the match, denying Adam Evans from close range when it looked certain that the Bohs number 18 would score from Derek Pender’s right-wing cross.
Dundalk needed a second to kill the game off and they got it in the 83rd minute when their three substitutes combined to devastating effect. Darren Meenan’s ball over the top set Kurtis Byrne away and he unselfishly pulled the ball back for Kelly to tap home.
The champions added a third soon after when Towell rolled a pass to Meenan on the right and his drive beat Delany at his near post.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Anto Murphy, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Paddy Kavanagh (Kealan Dillon 67), Keith Buckley (Marc Griffin 67), Roberto Lopes, Robbie Creevy; Adam Evans, Dean Kelly (Jason Byrne 75). Subs not used: Karl Moore, Dylan Hayes, Adam Wixted, Lee Steacy (GK).
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell; John Mountney (Darren Meenan 63), Ronan Finn (Kurtis Byrne 77), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Jake Kelly 80). Subs not used: Shane Grimes, Paddy Barrett, Ciaran O’Connor, Gabriel Sava (GK).
Referee: Derek Tomney.
