- Seamus Egan
- Fri, May 30 2014
Dundalk retained their place at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division table following a 2-0 win against Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night. Daryl Horgan and Richie Towell scored the goals for Stephen Kenny's side.
The visitors, who were backed by a large and vocal travelling support throughout, stared the better of the two teams and deservedly took the lead in the 8th minute. Darren Meenan held the ball up very well down the right hand side. He then showed excellent composure to set up Daryl Horgan. The former Cork player controlled it before firing into the net past Dean Delany.
Bohemians first real effort of note didn't arrive until the 25th minute. Karl Moore rolled a free kick to Craig Walsh. However Walsh's shot from about 25 yards out was too high. Just a couple of minutes later Paddy Kavanagh came much closer. His free from the edge of the area was just wide.
Jason Byrne missed a golden opportunity to equalize 10 minutes from half time. Anto Murphy's long throw beat everybody and reached Byrne at the back post. The Bohs number ten let the ball bounce before somehow shooting over from six yards out.
Dundalk doubled their lead six minutes into the second half. The ball arrived to Darren Meenan on the edge of the area. Meenan laid it off to the onrushing Richie Towell and the former Celtic player curled an excellent right foot shot into the corner of the net to give Delany no chance.
It could have been three on the hour mark. Bohemians lost the ball in midfield and Meenan was involved again. This time he set up Patrick Hoban who advanced towards goal. The Dundalk striker eventually struck from the edge of the area but it was too high.
Steven Beattie created a chance for himself on the left edge of the Dundalk penalty area in the 69th minute. He eventually found the space to curl a right footed shot towards goal but Peter Cherrie dived low to his right to make the save.
The Louth side came close to adding a third again in the 75th minute. Meenan crossed from the right and found Horgan. Dundalk's number 7 hit the post with his shot. The rebound fell to the other goalscorer Towell. However this time he put the ball wide.
In the final ten minutes Owen Heay's side pressed more as they tried to get back into the game. Derek Pender's cross was headed straight at Cherrie by Dan Byrne. Shortly afterwards Anto Murphy volleyed Paddy Kavanagh's corner over the bar.
Dundalk saw the game out to gain a relatively comfortable win and another three points to maintain their title challenge and their two point lead at the top of the table.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Anto Murphy, Dan Byrne, Aidan Price, Derek Pender; Dave Mulcahy Craig Walsh (Kevin Devaney 79); Paddy Kavanagh, Steven Beattie, Karl Moore (Dinny Corcoran 59); Jason Byrne.
Subs not used; Roberto Lopes, Stephen Traynor, Ryan McEvoy, Keith Buckley, Gavin Moore.
Booked: Beattie (90+2)
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell; Daryl Horgan, Kurtis Byrne (John Mountney 80) Darren Meenan; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan 83).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Ruaidhri Higgins, Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly.
Referee; Derek Tomney.
Attendance; 1,427
Extratime.ie man of the match; Darren Meenan (Dundalk).
