Dundalk 1-2 Bohemians

BOHEMIANS moved three points ahead of Dundalk thanks to two late goals at Oriel Park last night.

 

An own goal by Aiden Price looked to have earned the home side a well earned point but the Lilywhites were left stunned when Ger O'Brien beat Peter Cherrie from 25-yards in the 83rd minute before Anto Flood sealed the win for the Gypsies two minutes later.

 

With Ian Foster completing his UEFA Pro License course in the UK, the Lilywhites were under the watchful eye of assistant Darius Kierans. Bohemians named Aiden Downes on their bench after the 23-year-old received the green light to sign on amateur forms.

 

Dundalk came into the game on the back of scoring 13 goals in their previous three outings and they almost got off to a dream start when Keith Ward whistled a free kick just wide of the post.

 

Their good offensive play was undone in the 6th minute. A long ball forward by Liam Burns caught the Lilywhites back four napping. A needless corner was conceded and from Killian Brennan's centre, Aiden Price knocked the ball across the face of goal for Christy Fagan to glance home.

 

Fagan tested Cherrie again in the 14th minute but it was the home side who enjoyed the territorial advantage for the remainder of the half.

 

Bohs stood firm however and Barry Murphy had a relatively quiet first-half although Dundalk had a good claim for a penalty waved away in the 34th minute when Aiden Price looked to have handled in the penalty area.

 

The home side opened the second-half with intent and Mark Quigley and Marc Griffin both went close with efforts inside the opening five minutes of the half. Bohs goalkeeper Barry Murphy was then called into action to make a great save when Ross Gaynor's vicious free-kick skidded off the head of Bohs full-back Ger O'Brien.

 

Dundalk's equaliser arrived on the hour mark. Gaynor was again the architect, sending in a vicious cross which flew past Murphy. Griffin wheeled away in celebration but the final touch looked to have come from the head of Price.

 

Bohs, though, had the final say with O'Brien and Flood beating Cherrie with shots from distance.

 

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Bennett (Maher 89), Guthrie, N Murphy; Kearns, Ward, Bolger, Gaynor; Griffin, Quigley.

 

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; O'Brien, Burns, Price, Cahill; Buckley (Flood 58), Cronin (Hurley 89), Bayly, Brennan; Traynor, Fagan (Downes 77).

 

REFEREE: Tom Connolly (Dublin).

 

ATTENDANCE: 1300.