Georgie Kelly came back to haunt his former club Dundalk. Bohemians picked up their first 3 points of the 2021 Premier Division season with a win at Oriel Park this evening.
Keith Long made just one change in his starting-eleven from the side that lost 1-0 to Saint Patrick’s Athletic in Dalymount Park last Saturday. Keith Ward coming in for Dawson Devoy. New signings Ole Erik Midtskogen and Han Jeongwoo both made their first competitive starts for the home side tonight.
The game was only four minutes old when an Andy Boyle header cannoned back of the Bohs crossbar from a Michael Duffy corner. One of the few Dundalk’s chances they created.
Penalty
The crucial moment in the game took place in the 12th minute. Raivis Jurkovskis lost control of the ball just outside of the Dundalk box.
Dawson Devoy ran towards the Dundalk defence before being taken out by a clumsy tackle by Dan Cleary. Referee Rob Harvey had no choice but to award the visitor’s an early spot-kick.
Up stepped former Lilywhite striker Georgie Kelly. e calmly struck his penalty into the bottom right-hand corner – sending Peter Cherrie the wrong way – to give Bohs the lead.
There was very little action to report on between Kelly’s penalty and the half-time whistle. Both sides exchanging corners that little came from.
Substitutions
Dundalk introduced Patrick McEleney for Han Jeongwoo at half-time in hope of turning around the scoreline. Bohs lost Andy Lyons in the 50th minute to a groin injury and was replaced by Rory Feely at right full-back.
Dundalk’s best chance of the second half came in the 58th minute. A McEleney cross found it’s way to central midfielder Sam Stanton. His headed effort saved down low by James Talbot in the Bohemians net from 12 yards out.
With just 15 minutes left on the clock, Bohs came close to doubling their advantage. Rob Cornwall headed off the Dundalk post from a Tyreke Wilson corner.
Dundalk Pressure
Dundalk continued to look for an equaliser. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and David McMillan were introduced as the game entered the closing minutes.
In the 88th minute, a Darragh Leahy cross looked to have come off Rob Cornwall’s arm. The Bohs captain tried to maintain his side’s clean-sheet. Rob Harvey wasn’t interested and waved play on.
Bohs comfortably saw out the remianing minutes to pick up their first win of the season. Moving themselves into 7th spot in the table after 4 games with 4 points, whilst Dundalk remain in 9th place. Only picking up a single point from their opening 4 games of the 2021 campaign.
Dundalk: Cherrie; Dummigan (78′ O’Kane), Cleary, Boyle, Jurkovskis (64′ McMillan); Jeongwoo (46′ McEleney), Stanton (64′ Junior), Shields; Midtskogen (64′ Leahy), Hoban, Duffy.
Bohemians: Talbot; Lyons (50′ Feely), Cornwall, Finnerty, Wilson; Ward (83′ Devoy), Buckley, Coote (83′ C.Kelly), Burt; Tierney, G.Kelly.