- Rónán MacNamara
- Fri, Oct 07 2022
Rónán MacNamara reports from Dalymount Park
A 93rd minute low bullet from substitute Dayle Rooney gave Drogheda United their first win in five games as they arrested a run of four successive defeats against a blunt Bohemians side.
Bohs were reduced to ten men midway through the second half after Jordan Flores received two yellow cards and after a helter skelter second period Rooney latched onto a loose ball and fired home to win it for the visitors.
Boos rang around the Jodi Stand as Bohemians slumped to their second defeat under interim boss Derek Pender.
Bohs were unchanged from the side who earned a scrappy 1-0 win over UCD last Friday night while Kevin Doherty freshened up things for Drogheda who were smarting from a derby day defeat to rivals Dundalk.
Marksman Chris Lyons, Dylan Grimes and Luke Heeney came in for Dean Williams, Darragh Noone and Evan Weir.
It was the hosts who started brightly, peppering the Drogheda goal but Colin McCabe proved a worthy match for some wind assisted crosses from Declan McDaid and Flores, tipping them away from goal.
McCabe was called upon again to deny former Boynesider James Clarke, beating his 18-yard effort away after Kris Twardek had teed him up.
Twardek and McDaid have been in fine form as of late and they were a constant menace for Drogheda wing backs Dane Massey and Adam Foley but were unable to conjure up the final ball for Ethon Varion who looked a player short of confidence in the opening half.
Drogheda arrived following four successive defeats in all competitions but they grew into the half and probably shaded the last half an hour with Grimes and Darragh Markey proving dangerous with the latter forcing Tadgh Ryan into a smart stop with his feet.
Foley and Grimes had efforts go wide of the target before the former Finn Harps star almost scored just his fourth of the season in sumptuous style.
A brilliant individual run saw the ball sit up on a tee for him and his effort fired across goal and was unlucky to go the wrong side of the post with Ryan praying as the ball flashed by him.
Bohemians began the second half in a similar fashion and should have opened the scoring but McDaid failed to make sufficient contact in the six-yard box after a menacingly deep cross from Jordan Doherty.
McCabe was called into action to deal with a flurry of Bohs corners, Ciaran Kelly recovered from a first half head injury to force the keeper to tip over from a Jamie Mullins corner before he headed into the side netting from Flores corner from the opposite side.
Moments later it was Drogheda’s turn to have an array of set plays and Massey flicked on Grimes’ corner at the third time of asking but Lyons could only head onto the bar as the Jodi Stand breathed a sigh of relief.
Having defended well and caused problems, Drogheda were handed a massive opportunity to earn their first win in four games after Flores was sent for an early shower for two yellow cards following a pull on Darragh Nugent.
Dean Williams has proven the scourge of Bohs this season and he was introduced for Lyons having snatched two late goals against them earlier in the campaign and he was denied by a superb piece of bravery from Kelly who threw his body on the line.
Bohemians: Tadhg Ryan; Jordan Doherty, Rory Feely, Ciaran Kelly, Max Murphy; James Clarke, Jordan Flores (c), Declan McDaid (James McManus 72), Jamie Mullins (Ali Coote 68), Kris Twardek; Ethon Varian (Liam Burt 68).
Subs not used: Rocco Byrne, Cian Byrne, Derin Adewale, Conor Levingston, Nickson Okosun, Chris Lotefa.
Booked: Ciaran Kelly (44), Jordan Flores (69).
Sent off: Jordan Flores (69).
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Keith Cowan, Dane Massey (c), Andrew Quinn; Gary Deegan, Adam Foley (Dayle Rooney 78), Dylan Grimes, Luke Heeney (Darragh Noone 68), Darragh Markey, Darragh Nugent; Chris Lyons (Dean Williams 73).
Subs not used: Fiachra Pagel, Lee Steacy, Callum Ralph, George Poynton, Emre Topcu, Stevan Stanic-Floody.
Booked: None.
Referee: Ben Connolly
extratime.com Player of the Match: Dylan Grimes (Drogheda United)
