The so far faultless Bohemians saw themselves up against a Dundalk side well up for this encounter at Dalymount Park tonight.
Bohemians 1
Dundalk 1
Dundalk arrived to Dalymount Park to face league leaders Bohemians with a noticeable list of absentees, including in-form Ronan Tehan, Rob Cornwall and Conor Kearns, but they showed little interest in easing themselves into the game.
It was Bohs who threatened first. Colm Whelan found himself clean through on goal early on, but stand-in goalkeeper Minogue stood tall to deny the Bohs number nine in a big early moment. Dundalk’s response was immediate. Harry Groome met a chance from close range only to see it parried over by the Bohs shot stopper.
It made for a breathless opening fifteen minutes. Dundalk looked intent on disrupting Bohs’ rhythm, pressing aggressively and finding space down the sides, while Zane Myers offered a constant outlet for the hosts. His quick feet took him past Tyrieke Wilson out wide, but his curling effort drifted just wide of Minogue’s far post.
The breakthrough arrived soon after, and it had a familiar feel to it. A short free kick caught Dundalk completely asleep, and when Strods delivered from out wide, Patrick Hickey was left unmarked at the back post to finish. It was simple, but effective.
Dundalk tried to respond immediately, with Daryl Horgan dragging an effort wide from distance, but Bohs had found their rhythm. There was a sharpness to them now, a team suddenly full of belief. Whelan led the line with his usual industry, doing the unseen work that kept Bohs on the front foot.
The chances kept coming. Arubi saw a volley blocked inside the area, while another Strods delivery from a corner almost produced a carbon copy of the opener, Hickey this time guiding his header narrowly wide.
Dundalk, though, were very much still in it. Eoin Kenny flashed a ball across the face of goal that somehow evaded everyone, before Arubi picked out Warren with a dangerous delivery, only for his header to bounce over.
How Dundalk were not level by the break was anyone’s guess.
Bohemians came out for the second half looking to protect their slender lead, but very much on the front foot. They almost doubled it early on when an inviting Strods corner was flicked on at the near post by Jordan Flores, only for his header to drift wide at the back stick.
Dundalk were then forced into a change as Animasahun rolled his ankle in a tackle while stopping Colm Whelan breaking through on goal, with Ireland underage international Sean Spaight introduced. There were signs of sloppiness creeping into the visitors’ play, but Bobby Burns briefly steadied things, driving forward from halfway before testing Chorazka from range.
Whelan then saw a tame effort on the turn gathered comfortably by Minogue, but the momentum was beginning to shift. Dundalk found their breakthrough when a looping Spaight delivery back into the area caused chaos, allowing Arubi to rise highest and nod past Chorazka to level the game.
That goal sparked Dundalk into life. A flurry of chances followed, with both Eoin Kenny and Arubi denied from close range as the noise from the Mono Stand grew louder with every attack.
The game began to simmer after a series of crunching challenges, and the introduction of former Bohs man Declan McDaid only added to the edge, his arrival greeted with a chorus from the home support.
With twenty minutes remaining, it felt like it could swing either way. News filtering through that St Patrick’s Athletic were getting the job done against Waterford only added to the tension, with Bohs’ lead at the top suddenly looking less secure.
Dawson Devoy tried to take matters into his own hands, dancing along the edge of the area before firing over under the watchful eye of the Ireland manager, just days after his omission from the latest squad.
A late injury break allowed both sides to regroup, but Bohs never quite regained their earlier control. Flores went close from a free kick that narrowly missed the target, before a lapse in concentration from Horgan almost proved costly in stoppage time, forcing Minogue into one final intervention.
In the end, the points were shared. Dundalk showed more than enough to suggest they belong back at this level, and on this evidence, they will not be making up the numbers.
Man Of The Match
Gbemi Arubi
Goal aside, the Dundalk number 9 made an imperious Bohs defence look somewhat ordinary through his hold up play and hard work. A complete performance for a complete striker.
Lineups
Bohemians: Chorazka (GK), Mullen, Todd, Hickey, Power, Flores, Devoy, Tierney, Strods, Myers, Whelan Subs: Strods for Parsons and Myers for McDonnell (60 min), Vaughan for Mullen (72 min), Martin for Whelan (83 min)
Dundalk: Minogue (GK), Animasahun, Warren, J.R Wilson, Burns, T. Wilson, Groome, Buckley, Horgan, Arubi, Kenny Subs: Animasahun for Spaight (49 min), Groome for McDaid (65 min)
Referee
Rob Hennessy
Attendance
4,383