BOHEMIANS 0 DUNDALK 2
Dundalk kept up their title charge after two goals of real quality gave them an easy victory over a dispirited Bohemians side at Dalymount Park.
Stephen Kenny’s side have recovered with considerable poise after defeat to Sligo Rovers in the Setanta Sports Cup final three weeks ago and must now be considered title favourites.
For Owen Heary’s side this was an eight home league game without a win and after ending last season with just one victory in five, there is serious concern among Bohs fans at the continuing slump.
Fierce pace
There was little surprise when Dundalk started at a fierce pace and, though there were only eight minutes on the clock, a goal had been coming even before they actually went in front.
The move was instigated by the dangerous Darren Meenan on the right when he twisted and turned Derek Pender before passing inside to Daryl Horgan.
The winger’s first touch was with his right foot before he silkily switched to his left, leaving Aidan Price flatfooted and fired home a rasping low shot that gave goalkeeper Dean Delany no chance.
Bohemians’ best chance of an equaliser in the first half fell to Jason Byrne but the former Ireland striker knocked the ball over the bar from five metres after Anto Murphy’s massive throw-in had caused confusion in the Dundalk defence.
Bohs started the second half again pressing deep in their opponents’ half but Dundalk were content to wait for an opportunity and when it came it produced a real gem of a goal.
Six minutes into the half, Patrick Hoban set up Richie Towell and from outside the box the midfielder curled a perfectly-placed strike past Delany.
Bohs's only response was a Steven Beattie shot that was easily taken in to his chest by Peter Cherrie and Dundalk rarely looked threatened to the final whistle. BOHEMIANS: D Delany; A Murphy, A Price, D Byrne, D Pender; P Kavanagh, D Mulcahy, C Walsh (Devaney, 78), K Moore (D Corcoran 58); S Beattie, J Byrne DUNDALK: P Cherrie; S Gannon, A Boyle, B Gartland, D Massey; D Meenan, C Shields, R Towell, D Horgan; K Byrne (J Mountney, 79), P Hoban (D McMillan, 82) Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
