- Dave Donnelly
- Mon, May 24 2021
Dave Donnelly reports from Dalymount Park
Georgie Kelly scored a hat-trick against his former club as Bohemians dismantled Dundalk with a dominant performance at Dalymount Park.
The Dundalk native showed Jim Magilton’s side what they were missing following his release in the winter with a trio of brilliantly-taken finishes.
The Gypsies played almost half the game with ten men as Tyreke Wilson was harshly dismissed for a second bookable offence, having earlier got his name on the scoresheet with a spectacular free kick.
Substitute Greg Sloggett pulled one back late on with an equally emphatic finish after Cameron Dummigan had seen red to ensure both sides finished short of the full compliment.
Kelly’s replacement, Promise Omochere, had the final words, however, with another emphatic finish in injury time as Bohs completed the rout in style.
Bohs were 2-0 up inside the opening ten minutes against a Dundalk side who would have been high on confidence after ending Shamrock Rovers’ 33-game unbeaten run on Friday.
They were left shell-shocked early doors, however, as nice build-up play saw Liam Burt find the run of Ross Tierney and he picked out Kelly to stab home from six yards.
Within five minutes, the home side were two goals to the good as Chris Shields hauled down Tierney 20 yards, and set-piece specialist Wilson planted the dead ball in the top corner.
By now the glut of cards had begin as Bohs’ Ali Coote was joined in the book by Lilywhites pair Michael Duffy and Dummigan, and the latter was spared a second shortly after as he fouled Burt.
The relentless pace of the opening minutes couldn’t continue but Bohs maintained full control of the game, and Burt saw his shot from 20 yards fly just wide of the bottom corner.
David McMillan had struggled to get into the game but he had two chances in quick succession, seeing a close-range flick turned behind by James Talbot before heading the resulting corner wide.
Dawson Devoy’s ambitious free kick flashed wide as Bohs continued to threaten while McMillan again failed to find the target with his head.
Devoy and Andy Lyons – in at right back as Rory Feely moved inside in place of the injured Rob Cornwall, saw subsequent effort miss the target as Bohs went in two goals ahead.
Within five minutes of the resumption, it was three as Bohs ruthlessly exploited the break down of a Dundalk attack, Feely winning the ball in his own box and finding Georgie Kelly.
The striker turned and picked out Liam Burt with a raking pass, and wandered free on the right-hand side of the box to take the return pass and beat Alessio Abibi at his near post.
Dundalk were handed a scarcely-deserved lifeline, however, as Wilson was shown a second yellow following a tangle of legs, having been booked before the break for what appeared a clean tackle.
The visitors were then denied a penalty as Lyons appeared to drag back Darragh Leahy in the box. Referee Ben Connolly instead awarded a free kick, which came to nothing.
Being a man down didn’t affect the home side, however, and Kelly sealed his first treble since netting for UCD against Finn Harps in 2018 as he headed home Burt’s free kick.
Dummigan curled a shot over shortly afterwards but he was dismissed with 15 minutes remaining as he hauled down Burt to stop a counter-attack and was off the pitch before a red was even produced.
Bohs were determined to keep the clean sheet and Ciaran Kelly cleared sub Junior’s shot off the line before Talbot snaffled the follow-up from Duffy.
Dundalk did net a consolation as Sloggett smashed into the top corner from 20 yards but the final word went to Bohs sub Omochere, who rounded off an impressive cameo with a fine finish.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Rory Feely, Ciaran Kelly, Andy Lyons, Tyreke Wilson (c); Liam Burt, Ali Coote, Dawson Devoy, Conor Levingston (Keith Ward 76), Ross Tierney (Anto Breslin 53); Georgie Kelly (Promise Omochere 72).
Subs not used: Sean Grehan, Bastien Hery, Robert Mahon, Stephen McGuinness, Jack Moylan, Thomas Oluwa.
Booked: Ali Coote (11), Tyreke Wilson (40), Tyreke Wilson (51).
Sent off: Tyreke Wilson (51).
Dundalk: Alessio Abibi; Raivis Jurkovskis (Darragh Leahy 55), Cameron Dummigan, Andy Boyle; Wilfried Zahibo (Greg Sloggett 55), Sam Stanton (Sean Murray 66), Chris Shields (c), Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy; David McMillan (Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe 55), Daniel Kelly (Ryan O'Kane 75).
Subs not used: Jesus Perez, Han Jeongwoo, Peter Cherrie, Val Adedokun.
Booked: Michael Duffy (12) ,Cameron Dummigan (12) Cameron Dummigan (74), Chris Shields (88).
Sent off: Cameron Dummigan (74).
Referee: Ben Connolly
Extratime.com Player of the Match: Georgie Kelly (Bohemians).
