League Report: Bohemians 0 - 2 Dundalk FC
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Apr 29 2016
Two moments of individual brilliance from Daryl Horgan helped a poor Dundalk side to a 2-0 victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Talk during the off-season centred around who for the champions could step up to replace the goals and influence of Richie Towell following his move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
In Horgan they appear to have found their answer, and Stephen Kenny's side have certainly needed him in a season where they've only sparingly resembled the side that dazzled on their way to back-to-back championships in the past two seasons.
Horgan struck just before the break and again with 20 minutes to play in a game where the champions were notably second-best and lacked craft and poise against a hungrier and more skilful Bohemians side.
The champions began the game on the front foot and it was little surprise the first half-chance of the match fell to Horgan, but he could only stab the ball at Dean Delany in the Bohemians goal.
The home side's indecisiveness in the early stages was summed up when Paddy Kavanagh was caught in possession high up the field by Robbie Benson, but again Delany was on hand to cut out the midfielder’s cross.
The Gypsies registered their first attempt on goal when skipper Derek Prendergast rose to meet Lorcan Fitzgerald's corner, but the centre-back was visibly frustrated not to steer his header on target from a good position.
Keith Long had taken the risk of playing ageless Dave Mulcahy alongside Prendergast in defence and it almost backfired as Mulcahy's back-header just about escaped Dave McMillan's outstretched boot.
Long opted to play Dan Byrne alongside Roberto Lopes and Keith Buckley in midfield, and the youthful trio outplayed their much-vaunted opposite numbers, with Chris Shields in particular enduring a troublesome evening.
Prendergast, meanwhile, was dominant and typified Bohs' spirit by beating to the ball a reluctant McMillan and surging up field to create a crossing opportunity for Ayman Ben Mohamed, but Dundalk just about cleared their lines.
The captain had another opportunity to break the deadlock from Fitzgerald's right-wing corner, but he seemed to miss the ball when any significant contact would have seen the ball sneak in at the near post.
Dan Byrne forced a decent low stop from Rogers with a shot from distance, while Kavanagh and Kurtis Byrne had shots blocked inside the box as the Dublin side turned the screw around the half-hour mark, but Dundalk held out.
And they got the slice of luck champions need when a defensive mix-up in seemingly benign circumstances saw Ronan Finn break beyond Mulcahy, and the defender tripped Dundalk's top scorer in his effort to shield the ball.
Referee Robert Harvey charitably decided the foul was worthy only of a booking, despite the fact Finn had only the keeper to beat, but Daryl Horgan punished Bohs regardless as he swept the resulting free kick past Delany.
The home side continued to control the game as the second half resumed, but had only a harsh booking for Paddy Kavanagh's challenge on Darren Meenan to show for it.
Inevitably, it was to fall to Horgan to create where his team-mates lacked and, after dropping a shoulder to evade Derek Pender, he crossed for Mountney, whose header was saved before Horgan himself bundled the ball in.
Still, the Gypsies roared back and should have halved the deficit when Dan Byrne met Fitzgerald's corner, but the ball was somehow smuggled off the line by substitute John Mountney.
Horgan had an opportunity to complete his hat-trick with ten minutes to spare but he couldn't beat Delany for what would have made the scoreline an even harsher reflection on an improved Bohemians side.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Roberto Lopes (Mark Quigley 73), Keith Buckley, Daniel Byrne (Anto Murphy 84), Ayman Ben Mohamed, Paddy Kavanagh (Jake Kelly 73); Kurtis Byrne.
Subs not used: Lee Steacy (gk), Stephen Best, Dylan Hayes, James Kavanagh.
Booked: Dave Mulcahy (36), Paddy Kavanagh (51).
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson (Paddy Barrett 86), Ronan Finn, Daryl Horgan, Darren Meenan (John Mountney 61); David McMillan (Michael O’Connor 89).
Subs not used: Gabriele Sava (gk), Paddy Barrett, Shane Grimes, Anton Reilly, Georgie Poynton.
Booked: Daryl Horgan (45), Paddy Barrett (86).
Referee: Robert Harvey.
Attendance: 2,014.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Daryl Horgan (Dundalk).
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dundalk | 33 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 77 |
2 | Cork | 33 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 70 |
3 | Derry | 33 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 62 |
4 | Shamrock R | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 55 |
5 | Sligo | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 49 |
6 | Bray | 33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 46 |
7 | St Patrick's Athl. | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 45 |
8 | Bohs | 33 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 41 |
9 | Galway | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 38 |
10 | Harps | 33 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
11 | Wexford | 33 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 23 |
12 | Longford | 33 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 14 |
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