Late strikes from Ger O’Brien and Anto Flood saw Bohemians snatch a 3-1 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park on Friday evening, as they recovered from Mark Griffin’s goal just past the hour mark to take a precious victory away from the border venue. Bohs had been ahead from the sixth minute when Christy Fagan headed in from close range following a corner. But after a bright start to the second half, the home side deservedly levelled when Griffin glanced in Ross Gaynor’s cross for his seventh goal in nine league starts. However, Bohs came into it after that and sealed maximum points in the final six minutes as O’Brien (84) and Flood (89) both found the net.
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Early opener
With manager Ian Foster required to be in England for a presentation to complete his UEFA Pro-Licence course, Darius Kierans took charge for the evening, and Dundalk started with the same team that hammered both Galway United and Bray Wanderers in the previous seven days. The home side began brightly and after a couple of attacks, they went close to an opener in the fifth minute. After O’Brien took out Gaynor, Keith Ward stood up to curl a 20-yard free-kick just wide of Barry Murphy’s bottom right-hand corner. From that, Fagan broke through at the other end, with Shane Guthrie appearing to have the danger covered, but Bohs gained a corner. Dean Bennett then headed behind Killian Brennan’s delivery, before Brennan’s second corner was flicked by Aidan Price back across the six-yard box where Fagan was on hand to head in.
Penalty shout
Moments later, the ball fell invitingly to Brennan in the box but his powerful volley was well blocked by a brave challenge from captain Simon Madden. The young defender then thwarted Fagan as he got a shot in from the edge of the box, Peter Cherrie getting down to gather. Dundalk had a good tempo when in attack and Ward’s shot from the left almost sneaked into the near bottom corner as the home side looked to level. After Keith Buckley threatened in the box, the Lilywhites should have had a penalty on 23 minutes when Griffin’s flick was handled in the box, but referee Tom Connolly waving away the protests. Dundalk continued to search for a leveller, Gaynor’s cross cleared though Griffin was in an offside position in any case, before Griffin did well to break into the box but he got his end effort all wrong.
Late strikes
On the stroke of half-time, Gaynor’s corner into the six-yard box was dangerous but Robert Bayly headed the danger behind, as Dundalk retired to the dressing room trailing 1-0. In the opening minutes of the second half, Quigley attempted to get his side back in it with a spectacular shot from the right, his effort almost finding the far top corner, with visiting No1 Murphy a relieved man to see it swerve wide. On 49 minutes, Nathan Murphy’s cross from the left was met by a fine header from Griffin 12-yards out but his effort flashed narrowly off target. Moments later, Kearns’ free-kick was met by O’Brien ten-yards out and his header towards his own net forced Murphy into a good save as he tipped over. But Dundalk deservedly levelled eventually on 61 minutes as Gaynor’s cross into the box was headed in by Griffin. On 75 minutes, Bohs, who came into it after the goal, threatened with a Brennan free-kick from 20-yards which went narrowly over Cherrie’s top right-hand corner. And the visitors snatched all three points six minutes from time as O’Brien drove in from distance, Flood making sure with a late strike from the edge of the box.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie; Simon Madden ©, Dean Bennett (Stephen Maher 90+1), Shane Guthrie, Nathan Murphy; Daniel Kearns, Greg Bolger, Keith Ward, Ross Gaynor; Mark Quigley, Mark Griffin.
Goal: M Griffin (61).
Booked: K Ward (58), M Quigley (69).
Unused Subs: Paul Murphy (GK), Johnny Breen, Chris Kerr, Philip Duffy.
BOHEMIAN FC: Barry Murphy; Ger O’Brien, Liam Burns, Aidan Price, Ollie Cahill; Keith Buckley (Anto Flood 58), Glenn Cronin © (Stephen Hurley 90), Robert Bayly, Killian Brennan, Stephen Traynor; Christy Fagan (Aidan Downes 78).
Goals: C Fagan (6), G O’Brien (84), A Flood (89).
Booked: G O’Brien (72).
Unused Subs: Craig Sexton (GK), Christopher Forrester, Roberto Lopez, Kevin Feely.
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
Attendance: 1,300.
