League Report: Bohemians 5 - 0 Drogheda

Georgie Kelly celebrating his side's fourth goal

Georgie Kelly celebrating his side's fourth goal Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Patrick O Connor reports from Dalymount Park

Bohemians completed a 5-0 demolition job on Drogheda United in Dalymount Park on Friday night and in so doing continued their recent excellent form and their march up the table towards a top four position.

This was the second time in a month where Bohs put five goals past their opposition, they also hit Dundalk for five on May 24th, and apart from their 1-1 draw away to Derry City, they have been in scintillating form scoring 14 goals in their last four matches while only conceding two.

The win still leaves them stuck in fifth position in the league table but on this form it is only a matter of time before they are back in a top four position.

Georgie Kelly was the hero of Dalymount with a four goal haul. However he had a very strong supporting cast around him, with fast energetic young players such as Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney, Ali Coote and Liam Burt all causing huge problems for the Drogs defence and assisting Kelly at every opportunity.

It was Burt who caused the damage for the first goal in the ninth minute, running across the Drogheda backline from the left wing before sliding the ball through to Kelly who had time to take a touch before powering the ball past goalkeeper Daniel Odomuso.

There was a good response to this early setback by Tim Clancy’s side and they mounted a few attacks with Conor Kane on the left and Darragh Markey on the right causing their markers a lot of trouble. But chief goal scorers Chris Lyons and Mark Doyle were very well marshalled by Rob Cornwall and Ciaran Kelly and never looked like scoring.

The Drogheda heads began to drop after the second goal in the 33rd minute. Again Kelly was the hitman as he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box after Burt’s corner kick was only partially cleared by the Drogheda defence.

Whatever hopes the Co. Louth side had of using the half time team talk to revitalise them were completed quashed a minute after the break. In their very first attack of the second half, Devoy burst through from the half-way line before crossing the ball which Kelly dummied to allow Burt score with a smart strike past Odomuso.

Kelly went on to score his third goal in the 53rd minute, this time Tierney providing the assist before completing his man of the match performance with a header for his fourth goal in the 72nd minute.



Kelly was then substituted by manager Keith Long and he got a standing ovation from the 100 Bohs supporters who were allowed into the match as part of the slight loosening of COVID-19 restrictions.

This was a really bad day at the office for Drogheda. They looked shaky in defence anytime Bohemians ran at them while they never really threatened up front and overall can have no complaints about the score line.

The win now sets up Bohs for what should be a cracking Dublin derby this coming Monday night, when they take on table toppers Shamrock Rovers in Dalymount, a game that in normal circumstances would be a full house but once again will be restricted to 100 of the Bohs supporters inside the ground.

Bohemians: James Talbot (gk); Rory Feely, Tyreke Wilson, Rob Cornwall, Ciaran Kelly, Conor Levingston, Dawson Devoy, Ali Coote (Stephen Mallon 63), Liam Burt (Keith Ward 63), Ross Tierney (Jamie Mullins, 68), Georgie Kelly (Bastian Hery 72)

Subs not used: Enda Minogue (gk); Jack Moylan, Stephen Mallon, Sean Grehan, Keith Buckley, Anto Breslin.

Booked: None



Drogheda: Daniel Odomuso (gk); Daniel O'Reilly, Dane Massey, Conor Kane, James Brown, Darragh Markey, Jake Hyland © (Killian Phillips 46) Gary Deegan (James Clarke 58), Ronan Murray (Jordan Adeyomo 58), Chris Lyons ( Dinny Corcoran 46), Mark Doyle (Luke Heeney 58)

Subs not used: Colin McCabe (gk), Ryan O'Shea, Charles Mutawe, Brandon Bermingham.

Booked: Conor Kane (17), Jake Hyland (29)

Referee: Ben Connolly

Attendance: 100

Extratime .com Player of the Match: Georgie Kelly