DUNDALK FC 2-0 BOHEMIANS

Scott High and Robbie Benson scored first-half crackers as Dundalk finally claimed their first win of the season at the 12th attempt as they downed in-form Bohemians 2-0 at Oriel Park on Friday night.

With new manager Noel King in the dugout, the Lilywhites started at lightning pace and took the lead in stunning fashion through High’s 13th-minute strike which flew in off the post. It was the team’s first home league goal in six months.

Dundalk did survive a scare on the half-hour mark when Dayle Rooney’s free-kick bounced back off the bottom of the upright. And shortly after that, it was 2-0 when Benson steadied himself before shooting to the top corner.

There was a quiet start to the second period but that changed on the hour when Bohs – chasing a fourth straight win – were awarded a penalty.

However, James Akintunde – who scored the winner when the sides met in Dublin 11 days earlier – saw his spot-kick saved by George Shelvey, as Dundalk belatedly got their league campaign up and running, in the process bagging a fourth consecutive home clean-sheet.

For the game, King made three changes to the team that drew in Sligo. Captain John Mountney, Zak Johnson and Dara Keane – making his first start for the club – came in to replace Mayowa Animasahun, Paul Doyle and Sam Durrant. Bohs, meanwhile, made six changes to the XI that lined out in that 1-0 win at Dalymount Park.

Dundalk and Mountney, playing on the right wing, made a bright start with the Mayo man hitting two efforts, one on target and one off, in the opening five minutes.

In the seventh minute, the hosts’ first clear opening came when Daryl Horgan picked up a loose ball and played in Benson but he was unable to control in the box when he would have just had the ‘keeper to beat.

Dundalk took the lead in the 13th minute. A corner was initially cleared by Bohs but only as far as Horgan who rolled the ball to High in space and, from 30 yards, he unleashed a precision rocket that bounced off the bottom of the post and into the net.

Approaching the midway point of the first half, Horgan’s teasing cross was inviting for Mountney at the back post but he could not connect, and then Horgan saw a shot held by Kacper Chorazka. In between those chances, Keane was forced to withdraw through injury and was replaced by Koen Oostenbrink.

On 29 minutes, the hard-working Jamie Gullan’s cross from the left was met by Mountney close to goal but Paddy Kirk did enough to put him off as the ball went over.

Bohs were struggling to create anything but they were almost level on the half-hour. Dundalk conceded a free-kick just outside the box and Rooney stood up to curl a low shot off the inside of the upright, with the ball bouncing away to safety.

Almost immediately, at the other end, Benson’s shot from distance was touched behind. Then, on 34 minutes, Dundalk had a number of attempts to knock the door down but Davies, Oostenbrink and Horgan were all denied as Bohs somehow survived.

But soon, it would be 2-0 as another flowing move from Dundalk ended with Benson setting himself on the edge of the area and he planted the ball in the top corner to give the home side a deserved cushion.

Five minutes before the break, Mountney’s shot was deflected which almost wrong-footed Chorazka but the ‘keeper did well to stick out a leg and block it. Before the half-time blow, Kirk whistled a strike into the side-netting for the visitors before Horgan headed wide.

Bohs made a triple change at the break, with former Dundalk midfielder Jordan Flores among those to exit.

Akintunde threatened early in the second half. Then on 54 minutes, Dundalk created another opportunity from a corner, which ended with High skipping by his man on the far side of the box and lifting a cross up for Johnson to attack but he headed over.

Bohs were awarded a penalty right on the hour when Benson fouled Declan McDaid, but Akintunde could not convert as Shelvey saved and gathered.

That gave Dundalk and the home support even more belief that they could see the game through, and they could have added another on 68 minutes but Gullan – who later received a standing ovation for his display – was denied by Chorazka.

Dundalk then should have had a penalty when Davies was tripped in the box by substitute Filip Piszczek but the referee pointed for a free-kick. That would be the end of the drama, with Dundalk battling tenaciously to hold onto their clean-sheet and finally kick-start 2024.

DUNDALK FC: George Shelvey, Archie Davies, Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Zak Bradshaw, Scott High, Dara Keane (Koen Oostenbrink 23), John Mountney, Robbie Benson, Daryl Horgan, Jamie Gullan (Eoin Kenny 89). Subs not used: Ross Munro (GK), Jamie Walker, Louie Annesley, Ryan O’Kane, Hayden Muller, Paul Doyle, Sam Durrant.

BOHEMIANS: Kacper Chorazka, Luke Matheson (Filip Piszczek HT), Jevon Mills, Aboubacar Keita, Paddy Kirk, James McManus (Brian McManus HT), Jordan Flores (Adam McDonnell HT), Dayle Rooney (Dylan Connolly 71), James Clarke, Declan McDaid (Danny Grant 79), James Akintunde. Subs not used: James Talbot (GK), Martin Miller, Cian Byrne, Michael Lilander.

REFEREE: Rob Hennessy.

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