James Clarke's double and a late brace of strikes secured a fourth-place SSE Airtricity Premier Division finish for Bohemians who now stand on the cusp of a return to European football in 2026.
Only a Cork City victory against Shamrock Rovers in next Sunday’s FAI Cup final will deny Bohemians a UEFA Conference League place next summer.
It is not often Gypsies supporters will cross their fingers for a Hoops victory in any game. They will make an exception this time.
Whatever the outcome at Sullivan & Lambe Park, the fates of Drogheda United and Bohemians depended, too, on how St Patrick’s Athletic fared against Shelbourne in Drumcondra.
Both sides knew victory coupled with Stephen Kenny’s side failing to win would mean fourth place would be secured.
Then, their potential European participation would be decided by next weekend’s FAI Cup final.
In the end, no goals at Tolka Park ensured Bohs' four counted in a very meaningful way.
It was no surprise that both sides displayed a purpose and determination in their early play commensurate with the knowledge that their chances of European football depended on a win. Nothing else would do.
It was fiercely competitive in that first 20 minutes.
A game played on the edge, but not tense in any sense. With less than two minutes played, John Mountney was booked for a late challenge on Conor Kane.
Ryan Brennan sent a free header harmlessly wide when totally unmarked in the area in the game’s first opportunity of note. Seconds later, Ross Tierney's burst into the box for the away side ended when Luke Dennison saved his low shot.
Drogheda supporters would go on to show referee Paul Norton what they thought of his performance but reserved much of their disdain for the returning Douglas James-Taylor. He was booed throughout.
A fan favourite as recently as the summer before his defection to Dalymount Park, the circumstances of the match meant there was no room for sentiment.
It was another ex-Drogheda man who proved their undoing though.
Clarke’s first was well taken. He controlled the ball with his chest on the edge of the penalty area and eased past Brennan and Bolger before finding the far bottom corner with a left-footed shot.
United were level after 33 minutes. Conor Keeley, Drogheda’s Mr Reliable in both boxes, stooped to head in Shane Farrell’s free-kick.
There was controversy though when Mountney, the man who gave away the free, escaped a second booking.
Sensing they were on the end of a major let-off, Reynolds immediately hooked the defender. He was replaced by Niall Morahan.
It took only four minutes for Bohs, with their full complement, to regain their lead. Clarke again provided the finishing touch to a goalmouth scramble after Dennison failed to gather a cross.
The second half was lacking in comparison.
Drogs’ striker Josh Thomas (above) was sent off in the 76th minute for an elbow on Bohs’ Tierney.
He could have few complaints and it made his team’s task all the more difficult. They barely threatened Bohs after that.
Whelan capitalised on an error in defence for his 90th goal, a first league goal in seven months, before the impressive Tierney completed the scoring in injury time.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; James Bolger (Luke Heeney, 69), Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn; Owen Lambe (Jack Stretton, 77), Shane Farrell (Warren Davis, 57), Ryan Brennan, Conor Kane (Kieran Cruise, 69); Darragh Markey; Josh Thomas, Dare Kareem (Thomas Oluwa, 57).
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka, John Mountney (Niall Morahan, 34), Cian Byrne, Leigh Kavanagh, Jordan Flores (Rob Cornwall, 78); Adam McDonnell, Dawson Devoy; Ross Tierney, James Clarke, Dayle Rooney; Douglas James-Taylor (Colm Whelan, 64).
Referee: Paul Norton.
