League Report: Bohemians 0 - 3 Dundalk

Dundalk took all three points from their trip to Dalymount Park on Tuesday night in the Airtricity Premier Division as they defeated Bohemians by three goals to nil. The win marks a perfect start to their season with four wins and four clean sheets from the same number of games.

Bohemians gave a good account of themselves and despite going down to ten men they looked likely to come back into the game but two late goals from Jake Kelly and Darren Meenan sealed victory for Dundalk.

The visitors had the best of the early play but had trouble breaking down the Bohemians defence until Ronan Finn got on the ball on the right wing. He managed to get a cross into the box but Daryl Horgan, at 5'7”, was never likely to beat the Bohemians defenders to the ball.

Bohs got into their groove and played the high pressing game that worked so well for them against Galway United the last time they played at home. A Patrick Kavanagh corner was met by the boot of Anto Murphy who hit the crossbar. Murphy scored two such set pieces against Galway just over a week ago.

Dundalk got the opening goal when David McMillan bundled the ball over the line which deflected off at least one defender leaving Dean Delany no chance. The Bohemians keeper dived to his left and the ball ended up on his right hand side. McMillan has now scored three goals in four games so far this season.

A Horgan cross to the feet of McMillan saw the striker go down in the box but despite shouts from the away fans for a penalty referee Derek Tomney signalled for a goal-kick.

Bohemians kept pushing for an equaliser. Derek Prendergast failed to make the required contact on the ball from a Lorcan Fitzgerald free and moments later Derek Pender fed the ball to Dean Kelly but his shot ricocheted off a defender for a corner kick.

Dundalk started the second half the better. A Ronan Finn shot towards the left post hit Prendergast in the back and out for a corner which was shortly followed by a Richie Towell shot from distance requiring a fully stretched Delany to keep Bohs in the game.

Bohemians were reduced to ten when Anto Murphy was sent off for a second bookable offence but despite losing a man Bohemians grew into the game and created a few chances.

Buckley got away from the defender on the right hand side and spotted Rogers off his line but he mishit his attempted lob and Rogers gathered easily. An attempted overhead kick from Dean Kelly lacked the required power to beat Rogers in the Dundalk goal. Moments later Patrick Kavanagh’s shot forced Rogers into a save.  

Despite Bohemians best efforts, Dundalk extended the lead on 82 minutes. Darren Meehan played Kurtis Byrne in behind the Bohs defence on the right wing. Having beaten two players, Byrne passed to fellow sub Jake Kelly who slotted the ball into an empty net.

Four minutes later and Dundalk put the result beyond any doubt. Richie Towell, flanked by two Dundalk players, broke forward with only one defender between them and goal. Towell fed Darren Meenan and his shot beat Delany making the trip back up the M1 a happy one for the travelling support.

Bohemian FC: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Anto Murphy, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Roberto Lopes; Patrick Kavanagh, Keith Buckley (Marc Griffin 66), Adam Evans, Robbie Creevy (Kealan Dillon 66); Dean Kelly (Jason Byrne 75).
Subs not used: Lee Steacy (gk), Jake Hyland, Karl Moore, Dylan Hayes.

Bookings: Anto Murphy (30, 52), Robbie Creevy (35).

Dundalk FC: Gary Rodgers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields; John Mountney (Darren Meenan 63), Richard Towell, Ronan Finn (Kurtis Byrne 76), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Jake Kelly 80).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Ciaran O'Connor, Shane Grimes, Paddy Barrett.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Derek Tomney

Attendance: 1,893.

Extratime Man of the Match: Richie Towell (Dundalk).