James Clarke salvaged a point for Bohemians with a stoppage-time equaliser as Declan Devine's side had to battle for a point against Sligo Rovers in the season opener.
With the game into the fourth minute of added time, substitutes Martin Miller and Dylan Connolly combined on the right for the latter to whip over a tantalising cross that midfielder Clarke headed past Ed McGinty.
Though Sligo started brightly, poor defending saw them fall behind after just five minutes.
Clarke interchanged passes with new boy Sten Reinkort as Bohemians cut through the Sligo defence. The big Estonian striker then showed superb composure to clip the ball over Ed McGinty for a fine finish on his debut.
🎥 | The dream start to life at Dalymount Park for Sten Reinkort!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 16, 2024
A wonderful goal by Bohemians 👏
BOH 1-0 SLI#LOITV | #BOHSLI pic.twitter.com/KF7zD6eFGu
Rattled at the back, Rovers survived a couple of let-offs as Rob Cornwall headed over from a corner before Dayle Rooney scuffed a shot off target.
Relieved not to find themselves more than a goal down, Sligo rallied to equalise with their first attack of note on 23 minutes.
Lively left winger Simon Power and skipper Niall Morahan were involved, with Connor Malley’s deft touch playing Reece Hutchinson in behind. The left-back’s shot appeared to come back off defender Cornwall and strike him in the chest to enter the net.
Power’s trickery and pace was causing Bohs problems as the former Shamrock Rovers man worked Bohs’ Polish keeper Kacper Chorazka 10 minutes later.
In the build up to that, the home side suffered a blow when Cornwall went down with a knee injury which saw him helped off the field.
Devine rejigged his backline to little avail as Sligo dominated until half-time. And the visitors got their reward when taking the lead two minutes into added time from a delightful solo goal.
Bohemians failed to clear a corner which was pounced on by winger Fabrice Hartmann, who up until then had been somewhat anonymous. But the former Germany underage international quickly made his mark, slaloming into the area past some four challenges before shooting to the net through the legs of Chorazka.
Devine adjusted his line-up again at the break, bringing new signing Brian McManus into midfield as skipper Flores dropped into central defence. And it was Flores who came close to levelling matters 10 minutes in.
Sligo centre-back Nando Pijnaker received a yellow card to abruptly ending Clarke’s marauding run on the edge of the area.
McGinty prevented further punishment with a fine save, getting down low to his left to bat away a Flores free kick.
The woodwork then came to Sligo's rescue on 79 minutes. Hutchinson, under pressure from Connolly, was happy to see his defensive header come back off a post before Bohemians pressure finally told at the death.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Bartlomiej Kukulowicz (Brian McManus h-t), Rob Cornwall (Michael Lilander 34), Cian Byrne, Paddy Kirk; Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell; Danny Grant (Dylan Connolly 61), James Clarke, Dayle Rooney (Martin Miller 76); Sten Reinkort (Nickson Okosun 61).
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; JR Wilson, Oliver Denham, Nando Pijnaker, Recce Hutchinson; Niall Morahan; Fabrice Hartmann (Will Fitzgerald 63), Connor Malley, Ellis Chapman (Kailin Barlow 81), Simon Power; Max Mata.
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
Attendance: 4,432
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