Dundalk FC suffer defeat at home to Bohs
Dundalk 1-3 Bohemians
Dundalk FC suffered a second successive home defeat after a stirring second-half comeback from Bohemians earned the visitors a 3-1 victory at Oriel Park in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday night.
Despite being reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, Dundalk had looked on course to return to winning ways after Aodh Dervin’s superb first-half strike handed the hosts the advantage at the interval.
But Bohemians responded impressively after the restart, with Ross Tierney levelling before Douglas James-Taylor and substitute Zane Myers sealed the points for the Dublin side.
Dundalk began brightly and nearly opened the scoring inside four minutes when Gbemi Arubi, recently nominated for the SWI Player of the Month award for April, turned smartly on the edge of the area only to direct his effort straight at Bohemians goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka.
Dervin then tested Chorazka with a well-struck first-time effort from distance, while Tyreke Wilson fired narrowly over after Patrick Hickey had intercepted his earlier cross following a surging run down the right by Eoin Kenny.
Bohemians gradually settled and fashioned openings of their own. Colm Whelan glanced a header goalwards from a Niall Morahan delivery, comfortably gathered by Enda Minogue, before Dawson Devoy dragged an ambitious effort well wide.
The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute. Arubi did brilliantly to hold the ball up before laying it into the path of Dervin, who rifled an unstoppable strike from the edge of the area for his first goal of the season.
The hosts almost doubled their lead before the interval when Arubi, spotting Chorazka off his line from near halfway, attempted an audacious lob that drifted just over.
Bohemians emerged with renewed purpose after the break and drew level within five minutes. Dundalk failed to clear amid sustained pressure in the penalty area and, after James-Taylor kept the move alive, Tierney converted from close range.
The contest turned decisively on 68 minutes when referee Aaron O’Dowd dismissed former Bohemians defender Rob Cornwall for a push on Tierney inside the area.
Having earlier cautioned Dundalk manager Ciaran Kilduff, O’Dowd pointed to the spot and James-Taylor calmly sent Minogue the wrong way to complete the turnaround.
Bohemians threatened to extend their advantage soon afterwards when Devoy released Dayle Rooney, who dragged his angled effort wide with only Minogue to beat.
Dundalk’s best opportunity to salvage a point came three minutes from time. Leigh Kavanagh’s partial clearance from Declan McDaid’s delivery fell invitingly for Bobby Burns, whose fierce volley forced an excellent save from Chorazka.
Any hopes of a late reprieve were extinguished deep into stoppage time. With Dundalk throwing bodies forward deep into stoppage time, Bohs sealed the win on the counter-attack as Devoy surged clear before setting up Myers to finish coolly and wrap up all three points for the visitors.
Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Tyreke Wilson, JR Wilson (Leo Gaxha 83), Rob Cornwall, Bobby Burns; Aodh Dervin, Keith Buckley (Harvey Warren 69); Eoin Kenny, Ronan Teahan (Declan McDaid 69), Daryl Horgan (Harry Groome HT); Gbemi Arubi
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Luke Mulligan, Shane Tracey, Sean Spaight, Aaron Keogh
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan (Darragh Power HT), Patrick Hickey, Cian Byrne, Sam Todd (Leigh Kavanagh 57); Dawson Devoy, Adam McDonnell (Sadou Diallo HT); Dayle Rooney, Ross Tierney, Harry Vaughan (Douglas James-Taylor HT); Colm Whelan (Zane Myers 78)
Subs not used: Paul Walters (gk), Ryan Burke, Connor Parsons, Josh Harpur
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin)
Attendance: 3,133