Bohemians 3-2 Dundalk FC

Match Report

Dundalk’s five-game unbeaten run came to an end at Dalymount Park as two goals in the space of three minutes saw Bohemians come from behind to claim a late win.

After a bright start to the game, Bohs deservedly took the lead with 15 minutes played when Jonathan Afolabi broke down the left and his cutback went all the way across the face of the goal for James McManus, who had time to take a touch and drill the ball home.

Dundalk took time to get going but they fashioned an equaliser in the 23rd minute when a good interchange between Paul Doyle and Johannes Yli-Kokko ended with the Finnish midfielder creating space with a lovely first touch and he made no mistake with a classy finish past James Talbot.

Stephen O’Donnell’s men got their noses in front with 37 minutes played when Archie Davies whipped in a stunning cross from the right and Connor Malley arrived on cue to bury his header and give the Lilywhites the lead at the interval.

The natives huffed and puffed in the second half and the groans of frustration were very audible as the game wore on but their perseverance paid off in the 81st minute when substitute John O’Sullivan fired home at the back post after Dundalk found themselves penned in.

That gave Bohs belief and two minutes later they struck the winner. Alfie Lewis’s clipped ball on the edge of the home side’s penalty area was cut out and two passes later, Afolabi was through on goal and he broke the offside trap to slide the ball past Nathan Shepperd.

The Lilywhites pushed for an equaliser and they were denied a penalty in stoppage time when Talbot looked to have taken John Martin out of it to save a Patrick Hoban effort but Declan Devine’s men saw it out to move one point behind fourth-placed Dundalk, with two games in hand.

BOHEMIANS: James Talbot; Keith Buckley, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski, Paddy Kirk; James McManus, Jordan Flores; Dylan Connolly (James Clarke 62), Adam McDonnell (John O’Sullivan 70), Declan McDaid (Kris Twardek 70); Jonathan Afolabi (Nickson Okosun 89). Subs not used: Joseph Collins (GK), Bartlomiej Kukulowicz, James Akintunde, Cian Byrne, Chris Lotefa, Nickson Okosun.

DUNDALK FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Louie Annesley, Darragh Leahy, Paul Doyle (Ryan O’Kane 82); Johannes Yli-Kokko (John Martin 71), Connor Malley, Greg Sloggett (Keith Ward 86), Daniel Kelly (Alfie Lewis 82); Patrick Hoban. Subs not used: Anthony Moyo, Dualta Honney, Peter Cherrie (GK), Mark Byrne (GK).

REFEREE: Rob Hennessy.