Early second-half goals from Killian Brennan and Ger O’Brien saw Bohemians resume normal service for Dundalk at Dalymount Park as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Phibsborough venue on Monday night. The Lilywhites were fortunate not to be a man down after three minutes when Peter Cherrie took down Aidan Downes, but after surviving strong pressure in the first half, the goals came in a four-minute spell after the break. With just Cherrie to beat, Brennan coolly finished from inside the box, before O’Brien scored a superb goal from 25-yards. Johnny Breen got one back for Dundalk past the hour mark, but they couldn’t find a second as Bohs secured the psychological edge ahead of Friday’s FAI Cup quarter-final, substitute Christy Fagan wrapping up victory in injury-time.
Bohs pressure
Ian Foster travelled with a threadbare squad, and made one change to the team that drew with Galway United on Friday night as Greg Bolger returned from suspension and replaced the banned Keith Ward, who sat out after accumulating four yellow cards. The visitors were lucky not to be behind, and a man down, after just three minutes, as Cherrie took down Downes outside the box after he broke through, the Scot escaping with a yellow card and the resulting free-kick blocked by the wall. From the same attack, Downes got into the box and appeared to be pushed in the back, but he stayed on his feet and struck a powerful shot that came back off the crossbar. Anto Flood headed the rebound goalwards but Carl McHugh produced heroics to get back on the line and clear behind, onto the roof of the net.
Cherrie save
After more Bohs pressure, Dundalk forced a couple of corners as they looked to settle into the game. On 18 minutes, the home side had another chance as Downes broke in on the right of the box but he drove his shot into the side-netting. On 25 minutes, the Lilywhites launched a rare attack as Breen held the ball up, Mark Quigley then delivering a cross from the left that Jason Byrne attacked but he couldn’t get his head on it as it went harmlessly wide of the far post. On 29 minutes, Cherrie was called upon as McHugh lost his footing in the box which presented Flood with a chance but his powerful strike was well beaten away by the visiting No1. Downes then chased another ball over the top, but after heading away from goal beyond the ‘keeper, it eventually came back to Brennan who drove over from 25-yards.
Byrne effort
At the other end, Quigley tried his luck from range but saw Sexton easily gather, before Flood looked to be in a dangerous position in the box but a needless back-heel allowed Dundalk to clear. On 36 minutes, Jason Byrne controlled well on the edge of the area but he saw his shot blocked, Simon Madden’s cross then leading to a free-out following a foul from Breen. Shortly after, Dundalk earned a free-kick in the centre circle, with Quigley attempting to catch Sexton out but the ‘keeper gathered on the line. Two minutes before the break, Stephen Hurley headed narrowly wide following a cross from the left, and then Quigley hit a free-kick wide. On the stroke of half-time, Bohs had another chance to break the deadlock as Flood headed back across goal with Downes seeing his shot half-blocked by Cian Byrne, and Madden tidying up.
Quick double
After the restart, on 49 minutes, a mistake in the home defence gifted possession to Griffin, but with Bolger inside him a poor pass allowed Bohs to clear. Within 60 seconds, the Gypsies were in front. Cherrie looked to be coming for a through-ball but he then backtracked, allowing Brennan to pick up possession and slot under the ‘keeper. Four minutes later, it was 2-0, as O’Brien cut in from the right and raided forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25-yards that went in off the underside of the crossbar. Before the hour, Dundalk looked to get one back, Griffin hitting a dipping shot that went inches over the crossbar. On 62 minutes, after Bohs had looked the more likely to score next, Dundalk did score. Griffin made a great surging run to the edge of the box, Breen then taking it off his toe and shooting, Sexton blocking the first effort but the 20-year-old remained calm to fire in the rebound. Moments later, the visitors should have levelled when Griffin found himself with just the ‘keeper to beat but he blazed over. But Bohs wrapped it up in injury-time when Fagan finished from close range.
BOHEMIAN FC: Craig Sexton, Ger O’Brien, Owen Heary ©, Liam Burns, Mark Rossiter, Keith Buckley (Robert Bayly 77), Stephen Hurley (Ryan McEvoy 86), Glenn Cronin, Killian Brennan, Anto Flood, Aiden Downes (Christy Fagan 64).
Goals: K Brennan (50), G O’Brien (54), C Fagan (90+2).
Booked: None.
Unused Subs: Barry Murphy (GK), Roberto Lopez, Lee Dixon, Kevin Feely.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie, Simon Madden ©, Cian Byrne, Carl McHugh, Nathan Murphy, Mark Griffin, Greg Bolger, Dean Bennett, Mark Quigley, Jason Byrne, Johnny Breen.
Goal: J Breen (62).
Booked: P Cherrie (3), D Bennett (24), S Madden (65).
Unused Subs: Paul Murphy (GK), Philip Duffy, Chris Reilly, Glen Trainor.
Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
