Bohemians 1-0 Dundalk FC

Match Report

James Akintunde struck with ten minutes remaining to give Bohemians a 1-0 victory over Dundalk – who are now winless in their opening ten games – in this rearranged SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture at Dalymount Park.

With a strong wind behind them, Dundalk were on top for most of the first half but still did not have a shot on target, their best chance coming from Robbie Benson whose strike was deflected over when he looked well placed to score.

Benson and Daryl Horgan both fired wide before the break while, in first-half injury-time, Jamie Gullan just failed to get a touch to Robbie Mahon’s delivery.

Bohs, as expected, were better in the second half but it was not until the introductions of Akintunde and Declan McDaid that they really began to threaten.

McDaid was denied twice by fine saves from George Shelvey, but the ‘keeper was beaten in the 80th minute when Dayle Rooney’s free-kick was met at the back post by Akintunde who headed in to inflict a defeat which sees Dundalk make their worst-ever start to a league season.

Dundalk made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Saint Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park on Friday night, as Mayowa Animasahun and Paul Doyle came in for Zak Johnson and John Mountney. For Bohs, Jordan Flores was in the stand as he sat out through suspension.

In cold conditions at Dalymount, Dundalk had the wind in their favour in the opening period and set about making it count with a confident start.

The breakthrough looked like it may come in the 25th minute after a Horgan corner wasn’t cleared, the ball eventually breaking nicely for Benson in space but, as Dundalk eyes lit up, his effort deflected off left-back Paddy Kirk and over the bar.

After the half-hour, Mahon put in a dangerous delivery against his former club but Aboubacar Keita’s wild swing cleared the danger. Benson then dragged a shot wide and Horgan curled past the post before Mahon – this time from the left – flashed across the face of goal but Gullan couldn’t get a touch.

Animasahun had picked up a yellow card early in the game and had come to the referee’s attention a couple of times after that, with the interim management duo of Liam Burns and Brian Gartland deciding at half-time to withdraw the centre-half and bring in Louie Annesley.

Dundalk’s plans were further disrupted before the hour-mark when Mahon went down awkwardly under a challenge from Bohs captain for the night Dylan Connolly, with the winger stretchered off after a lengthy delay with an injury that will be assessed fully over the next couple of days.

After that, Andy Boyle bravely blocked down Kirk’s attempt from distance, before Akintunde and McDaid came off the bench, with the latter almost making an immediate impact in the 65th minute.

Shelvey was called into action twice in 15 seconds, firstly punching away McDaid’s shot from outside the box, before Michael Lilander delivered a left-foot cross back in which the Bohs sub connected well with but the Dundalk ‘keeper got down smartly to push it behind.

McDaid then hit the side-netting with a free-kick, and it would eventually prove to be a set-piece that undid Dundalk. Annesley was booked for the foul and Rooney stood up to deliver onto the head of Akintunde who nodded over Shelvey.

Dundalk responded well to that setback and put plenty of pressure on the hosts. In the first of nine added minutes of injury-time, Eoin Kenny – in front of his watching dad Stephen and brother Fionn – entered for his league debut for the club.

However, despite pushing Bohs back and getting into good positions, the Louth men could not seriously test Kacper Chorazka, and could well have conceded a second on the break in the 99th minute but Shelvey produced a fine save to tip over Rooney’s shot.

BOHEMIANS: Kacper Chorazka, Michael Lilander, Cian Byrne, Aboubacar Keita, Paddy Kirk, James McManus, Adam McDonnell (Brian McManus 86), Dylan Connolly (Declan McDaid 64), James Clarke (James Akintunde 64), Martin Miller (Dayle Rooney HT), Filip Piszczek (Sten Reinkort 81). Subs not used: James Talbot (GK), Danny Grant, Jevon Mills, Luke Matheson.

DUNDALK FC: George Shelvey, Archie Davies, Andy Boyle, Mayowa Animasahun (Louie Annesley HT), Zak Bradshaw, Scott High, Paul Doyle (Dara Keane 73), Daryl Horgan, Robbie Benson (Eoin Kenny 90+1), Robbie Mahon (Ryan O’Kane 60), Jamie Gullan. Subs not used: Ross Munro (GK), Koen Oostenbrink, Hayden Muller, Sam Durrant, John Mountney.

REFEREE: Eoghan O’Shea.