- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, Jul 27 2024
Patrick O’Connor reports from Dalymount Park
Bohemians returned to league action on Friday but were unable to reproduce both the performance and result from the previous weekend’s FAI Cup win over Shamrock Rovers and were held to a 1-1 draw by a very dogged Dundalk in Dalymount Park on Friday night.
The inconsistency that has plagued Bohs under both Declan Devine and current manager Alan Reynolds was all too evident again against the Co. Louth side after they took an early lead but were unable to add to that single goal and eventually had to settle for a share of the points.
They will certainly see this as two points dropped while in contrast Dundalk will have been glad of a good point picked up away from home.
The Lilywhites have had a huge turnover of players in the current transfer window with many new names in their starting XI, but they did show a very commendable level of resilience throughout the game and fully deserved their rewards.
The Gypsies did start the game on the front foot, as they had done against Rovers, and they were really purring in the opening 15 minutes, playing some delightful football and looking threatening every time they went forward.
It was no surprise when they took an early lead and some of their key players were involved when they went 1-0 ahead in the 18th minute.
Jordan Flores, who tends to conduct the orchestra for Bohs in midfield, fed impressive right back Martin Miller who in turn slipped the ball to Dayle Rooney and his first time cross was volleyed home by Ross Tierney.
Dundalk were playing second fiddle at this stage but out of nowhere they managed to draw level in the 27th minute.
Paddy Kirk lost the ball in midfield and when Robbie Benson fed Jamie Gullan, the Scottish striker did very well to get to the end line and while his attempted cross was blocked by a Bohs defender, Darly Horgan was on hand to smash home the rebound for the equaliser.
It remained level at the half time break and there was an animated conversation between Reynolds and referee Eoghan O’Shea as they left the field over a number of contentious penalty claims during that opening 45 minutes.
The home side continued to dominate the game in the second period, they had 73 % of the possession overall, but the away side had taken great confidence from that first half equaliser and they defended resolutely with new on loan goalkeeper Felix Goddard in superb form throughout.
Aodh Dervan and John Mountney also showed their experience as Bohs bombarded them with attacks but a couple astute substitutions by Dundalk manager Jon Daly helped to turn the tide in their favour during the last 20 minutes of the game.
Jad Hadiki, Robbie Mahon and Eoin Kenny were all introduced and their hard running caused lots of problems for the home defence, with all three being close to getting to scoring an unlikely winning goal.
There was ten minutes of added time and even through Bohs had all the possession during that period they were unable to breach the resolute Dundalk defence and had to settle for a share of the points.
The positions of both teams in the league table remain unchanged following the result, Bohs are eighth while Dundalk are ninth, but following bottom placed Drogheda’s win over Waterford, both will still be anxiously looking over their shoulder as we head to the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Cian Byrne, Leigh Kavanagh, Patrick Kirk, Martin Miller (Liam Smith 80); Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell (James Clarke 65), Ross Tierney; Daniel Grant (Declan McDaid 80), Alex Grieve (Oluwaseun Akintunde 65), Dayle Rooney.
Subs not used: James Talbot, Jevon Mills, Brian McManus, Filip Piszczek, Archie Meekison.
Booked: Jordan Flores (24), Daniel Grant (44), Leigh Kavanagh (90+6)
Dundalk: Felix Goddard; Mayowa Animasahun, Scott McGill (Jad Hakiki 56), John Mountney; Robert Benson, Aodh Dervin, Bobby Faulkner, Daryl Horgan, Daniel Pike; Jamie Gullan (Eoin Kenny 83), Ryan O'Kane (Robert Mahon 75).
Subs not used: Ross Munro, Hayden Cann, Luke Mulligan, Koen Oostenbrink, Josh O'Connor, Sean Keogh.
Booked: Mayowa Animasahun (2), Jad Hakiki (70), John Mountney (82), Robbie Benson (90+6).
Referee: Eoghan O’ Shea
Attendance: 4,239
extratime.com Player of the Match: Felix Goddard (Dundalk)
