Dundalk FC come from behind to secure draw against Bohs

Dundalk FC continued their encouraging form on the road with a hard-earned point against league leaders Bohemians, coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Ciaran Kilduff’s side once again demonstrated their resilience after falling behind to Patrick Hickey’s first-half opener, with Gbemi Arubi restoring parity after the interval. On the balance of their second-half display, Dundalk may feel they left with less than they deserved.

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Bohemians threatened early. Inside two minutes, Ross Tierney’s measured ball over the top released Colm Whelan, but Enda Minogue reacted sharply to deny the striker.

Dundalk responded with purpose, and there were strong appeals for a penalty when Eoin Kenny went to ground under a challenge from Jordan Flores, though the referee waved play on.

The visitors began to settle into the contest. Harry Groome saw an effort from distance comfortably gathered by Kacper Chorazka, while at the other end Dawson Devoy failed to trouble Minogue with a free-kick that drifted well over.

The game retained an open quality, with JR Wilson and Zane Myers both off target as chances came and went.

Bohemians broke the deadlock on 20 minutes. Markuss Strods, once of Dundalk’s youth ranks, delivered a precise cross that Hickey met with a close-range header beyond Minogue.

Dundalk sought an immediate reply, Arubi firing narrowly wide, but Bohemians might have doubled their advantage before the break when Hickey steered another Strods delivery off target.

Just before half-time, Arubi showed his quality with a sharp turn away from Sam Todd before sending in a cross that Harvey Warren failed to convert at the back post.

The second half saw a shift in momentum. Although Flores headed wide from a Strods corner, Dundalk increasingly took control. Bobby Burns forced Chorazka into a fine save with a powerful strike from distance, and the Bohemians goalkeeper appeared less assured when dealing with a Tyreke Wilson free-kick shortly after.

The equaliser arrived on 59 minutes and was deserved. Keith Buckley’s ball forward was impressively kept in play by Sean Spaight, whose cross found Arubi. The forward rose to head past Chorazka, who may feel he could have done better.

Chorazka redeemed himself with a series of saves to keep Bohemians level, denying Arubi and Kenny in quick succession before reacting again to a follow-up effort from Tyreke Wilson. Yet the hosts struggled to reassert themselves as an attacking force.

Devoy sent another effort high and wide, while a late free-kick from Flores drifted narrowly off target. After that, Minogue produced a late save to deny Hugh Martin, ensuring Dundalk left the north Dublin venue with a point that, on reflection, might have been three.

Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Darragh Power, Patrick Hickey, Sam Todd, Senan Mullen (Harry Vaughan 72); Dawson Devoy, Jordan Flores; Zane Myers (Connor Parsons 60), Ross Tierney, Markuss Strods (Adam McDonnell 60); Colm Whelan (Hugh Martin 84)

Subs not used: Paul Walters (gk), Niall Morahan, Sadou Diallo, Leigh Kavanagh, Cian Byrne

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; JR Wilson, Mayowa Animasahun (Sean Spaight 51), Harvey Warren, Tyreke Wilson; Keith Buckley, Bobby Burns; Eoin Kenny, Harry Groome (Declan McDaid 66), Daryl Horgan; Gbemi Arubi

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Shane Tracey, Aaron Keogh, Shay Casey, Max Ferguson, TJ Molloy

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick)

Attendance: 4,383