Dundalk FC 3 - 0 Bohemians FC

Dundalk brushed aside ten-man Bohemians on a scoreline of 3-0 on a wonderful evening for football on Friday. A hat-trick from Patrick Hoban was the difference between the sides as the Lilywhites kept maintained their place among the league’s elite.

The home side made three changes from the side which claimed victory at the Brandywell last Friday evening with captain Stephen O’Donnell, Mark Rossiter and new signing Francis McCaffrey making coming in for the injured Chris Shields, John Dillon and Eoghan Osborne who has left the club.

For the Gypsies’, there were also three changes from the side which lost to Limerick last weekend with Owen Heary, Dave Mulcahy and Dave Scully all returning to the starting XI as Roberto Lopez, Darragh Reynor and Zein Albehadlie all missing out.

It was a quiet opening to the game but Dundalk had the better of it and forayed forward on every opportunity with little end product. Kurtis Byrne had a brilliant drive saved by Dean Delany in the Bohemians goal as he palmed it away.

Byrne again was denied by Delany once again as the goalkeeper denied him once again from the edge of the box with a flying save as he tipped over the bar.

Dundalk’s pressure told in the 27^th minute and they took a deserved lead when Dane Massey’s cross found the head of Patrick Hoban who got in front of Delany to find the net for his sixth league goal of the season. Moments later, the Lilywhites almost made it two. A decisive break away from Darren Meenan found Hoban who slipped the ball past Keith Buckley.

He fouled Hoban however play continued and the ball fell to Byrne who worked an opening for himself but this time dragged his shot from the edge of the box wide.

Bohemians registered their first shot of the game just after the half hour mark when Karl Moore shot over the bar from distance. 10 minutes before half-time, the visitors almost equalised. A throw-in from Michael Barker found Conor Murphy and he turned Mark Rossiter brilliantly inside the box but he shot just wide of the post while under pressure from Rossiter.

Byrne had yet another effort this time from a free-kick and once again he missed the target as the ball sailed over the bar. That proved to be the final action of the opening half and the Lilywhites went in deservedly in front.

The second half began in the same way as the first half with Byrne once again but Delany was equal to him once again. The home side were the dominant team in the early stages of the second period and duly doubled their advantage 55 minutes.

Stephen O’Donnell fed the fantastic Byrne and his hopeful lobbed ball forward deceived Derek Pender and found Hoban who had headed over the advancing Delany for his second of the match.

New signing and substitute Brian Gartland almost grabbed himself a debut goal when Darren Meenan’s perfect corner found the unmarked head of the centre-half but he just missed the target.

The home support didn’t have to wait long for that third goal and just after the hour mark when the outstanding Hoban completed his hat-trick. The former Mervue United striker picked up the ball on the right wing. His attempted cross deceived Delany as he could only palm it into the net.

The night went from bad to worse for the visitors as captain Owen Heary received his marching orders for a high tackle on man of the moment Hoban.

The Dubliners almost pulled a goal back in the final ten minutes when Karl Moore nodded just wide of Peter Cherrie’s post following a good cross from former Lilywhite Lorcan Shannon.

John Dillon pulled a shot wide in injury-time before Byrne once again had an effort go just wide of the post. That was the final action and Dundalk claimed a crucial three points as they kept their title bid on track!

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan (Stephen McDonnell 71), Andy Boyle, Mark Rossiter, Dane Massey (Brian Gartland 53); Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell ©; Darren Meenan, Francis McCaffrey (John Dillon78); Patrick Hoban, Kurtis Byrne.
Subs not used: Vinny Faherty, Jordan Keegan, Brian Gartland, Aaron Shanahan (GK).

Booked: None.

Bohemians: Dean Delany; Owen Heary ©, Dave Mulcahy, Derek Pender, Luke Byrne; Michael Barker, Keith Buckley, Shane Murray (Lorcan Shannon 58), Karl Moore; Conor Murphy (Chris Lyons 76), Dave Scully (Daniel Corcoran 71).
Subs not used: Roberto Lopez, Kevin Devanney, Santiago Folbo, Greg Murray (GK).

Booked: Buckley (30), Pender (34), Moore (50), Byrne (84).
Sent off: Heary (71).

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 1,848

Extratime.ie man of the match: Pat Hoban (Dundalk) - Excellent all evening and scored a wonderful hat-trick.