Goals in either half from Jordan Flores and Declan McDaid helped Bohemians to make it two wins from two as they beat Dundalk 2-1 at Dalymount Park.
Declan Devine's side were dominant throughout as they deservedly opened up a five- point gap over a side whose European position they will be looking to take come the end of the season.
Dundalk came into the game on a run of six matches without defeat against the Gypsies but never got going as they await their first win of the campaign following an opening night draw at home to UCD.
Rumours of a potential takeover had swarmed over Stephen O’Donnell’s side in the build-up and it was ironic that it was ex-Hull City man Flores who opened the scoring with a stunning free kick in first-half stoppage time.
McDaid then punished Dundalk’s sloppy play to double his side’s advantage on 71 minutes and while Johannes Yli-Kokko did pull a goal back for the visitors at the death, in truth they can have few complaints at departing Phibsborough empty handed.
A moment of magic from Flores!#BOHDUN | https://t.co/50vDn9avub pic.twitter.com/lA8ROwlvl0
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 24, 2023
The home side were dominant from the off with Nathan Shepperd having to help Grant Horton's header from a Flores corner over the crossbar on 10 minutes in what was their first attempt of note.
After Jonathan Afolabi and Flores had threatened further for Bohs, Dundalk would register their only shot of the half on 21 minutes when full back Archie Davies blazed over from range.
Afolabi then had another half-chance a minute later when he got on the end of an Ali Coote cross that was just a little too tame to really trouble Shepperd.
Having had penalty appeals dismissed moments earlier after going down in the box under an Andy Boyle challenge, Afolabi then went close again on 29 minutes when Keith Buckley’s cross from the right dropped to him on the penalty spot. The former Celtic star swivelled to get a first-time shot away but saw it flash just over the crossbar.
The 23-year-old then threatened again on 32 minutes when he seized on a heavy touch by Greg Sloggett before trying to catch Shepperd off his line from half way but fortunately for the visitors he couldn’t find his range on this occasion.
The breakthrough would finally arrive in first half stoppage time though with Flores curling a stunning free kick from the edge of the penalty area to the top left hand corner after Dylan Connolly had been hauled back by Louie Annesley.
Connolly threatened himself within five minutes on the restart when he was released on the right by Afolabi only to fire across the face of goal and wide.
Coote then forced a fine low stop from Shepperd after Dundalk were guilty of coughing up possession all too easily once again on 52 minutes.
The Louth men had another let off seven minutes later when Hayden Muller failed to deal with another Flores delivery. It looked like Afolabi would pounce to score from close range but the pre-season signing from Millwall did superbly to deny him while on the ground.
Dundalk did threaten on 67 minutes with Davies finding space on the right to pick out Patrick Hoban with a cross but his header from the edge of the box was just off target.
Sloggett then had an effort deflect wide a minute later before the Lilywhites had penalty appeals of their own dismissed when debutant Yli-Kokko latched onto Connor Malley’s header only for Kacper Radkowski to clear as the Finnish player collided with Talbot.
The game was put to bed on 71 minutes when Malley was caught in possession by Paddy Kirk, allowing the home side to break with McDaid picked out by Afolabi at the edge of the box before firing past Shepperd to the bottom right hand corner.
Kelly registered Dundalk’s first attempt on target on 76 minutes but his effort spun up off Buckley and safely into the arms of Talbot.
Adam McDonnell then had an effort tipped over by Shepperd before debutant Rayhann Tulloch was denied at the other end by Talbot.
Dundalk did threaten to rescue an unlikely point when Yli-Kokko pulled a goal back with a long range strike that bounced past Talbot in the 90th minute but despite six minutes of additional time they couldn’t fashion a second.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Keith Buckley, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, Paddy Kirk; Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell; Dylan Connolly (James Akintunde 85), Ali Coote (Kris Twardek 85), Declan McDaid (Krystian Nowak 77); Jonathan Afolabi (Dean Williams 85).
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies (Rayhann Tulloch 80), Hayden Muller, Andy Boyle, Louie Annesley; Paul Doyle (John Martin 75), Connor Malley (Cameron Elliott 75), Alfie Lewis (Johannes Yli-Kokko 36); Greg Sloggett, Patrick Hoban, Ryan O’Kane (Daniel Kelly 55).
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)
