Mark Hughes has a household name but maybe not the face to match but the young striker will be long remembered at Dalymount Park if his goal in the fifth minute of injury time prevented Bohemians from slipping to their third game without a win.

Hughes rose highest to meet Paul Keegan's cross at the death to deny Drogheda a point they would have deserved.

They had Paul Crowley dismissed on 88 minutes for an unwarranted lunge on Jason Byrne before Killian Brennan appeared to be going down a blind alley as the game drew to a close only for Gavin Whelan to tackle him from behind and set up the winner as Alan Matthews' men pressed the self destruct button.

Their goal had led a charmed life early on as Alan McNally pulled off a superb block to deny Byrne in the third minute before Anto Murphy stung Steve Williams' hands witrh a drive a minute later.

Neale Fenn then played an inch perfect ball over the top to Byrne who showed great control to kill the ball before directing his low shot just wide.

Drogheda came back into it with Shane Barrett forcing Brian Murphy into a sharp save before Conor Kenna went close when a Barrett shot was deflected into his path.

Bohs did come back into it as the half came to a close, Mark Rossiter's left footed drive flew over from a counter attack before Keegan's goalbound effort was bravely blocked by Robbie Clarke.

Injured Carey was replaced by Drogheda native Brennan at the break but you couldn't fault his home town team's bravery as a series of blocks and saves kept the home side at bay.

There was more than a hint of hand ball when Byrne was denied by Kenna while Ian Ryan did well to get in the way of a Brennan effort.

And when the Gypsies finally got past the white wall in front of goal, Williams was there to save the day as Byrne found after a determined run from Murphy who found the striker in the six yard box only for his former team mate to deny him.

Byrne again drew the best from Williams after Brian Shelley had flicked a Keegan corner on but despite their pressure the away side looked safe until Hughes announced his arrival.

Bohemians: B Murphy; Rossiter (McEvoy 82), Shelley, Oman, Powell; A Murphy, Cronin, Keegan, Carey (Brennan 45); Fenn (Hughes 78), Byrne.

Drogheda United: Williams; Ryan, Kenna, McNally, Clarke; Shields (King 73), Chambers; WhelanCrowley, Barrett; Martin (O'Connor 92).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).