Bohemians 0
Dundalk 1
Aaron Gallagher reports from Dalymount Park
ALL EYES WERE on Dylan Connolly on Wednesday evening as Stephen Kenny handed his new €35,000 recruit his Dundalk debut, as the Lilywhites’ impressive winning streak continued with a 1-0 win thanks to a dramatic Ciaran Kilduff winner at the death.
The game looked certain for a stalemate which would have extended Keith Long’s own unbeaten streak to five games in the Premier Division, however second half substitutes Jamie McGrath and Kilduff combined for a late, great winner two minutes from time.
Keith Long’s side have been on an upward trend over the last month, unbeaten in the Premier Division since the end of May with three wins in their last four outings.
A win would have seen the Gypsies rise above both Limerick and European hopefuls Derry City into fifth place, however their form against the champions of late, three defeats in as many meetings, stood to the contrary.
Despite Dundalk’s recent run of form since the mid-season break which has seen them score 15 goals in four wins, conceding none along the way, it was Bohemians who maintained the upper hand inside the opening half an hour.
While it took the game 34 minutes to register its first shot — a poor effort from Dane Massey which flew over Shane Supple’s crossbar and into the Shed End — Keith Ward’s vision and trickery caused all sorts of problems for the visitors.
Ward dropped deep to receive possession repeatedly, started moves and ending them with swift movement and killer vision, however the 26-year-old’s final product was always second best to the moves which preceded it.
Bohs’ best chance of the opening half came when Ward exchanged a delightful set of one-twos with his captain Derek Pender before the playmaker’s cut-back across goal missed its intended target of striker Dinny Corcoran, before petering out sorrowfully for a Dundalk throw-in.
Patrick McEleney looked promising in patches for the visitors but could not find the time or ample space to register one of his trademarked goal of the season contenders in Phibsborough.
The man of the moment Connolly broke into life following a quiet opening half which saw Pender gain the upper hand throughout their various exchanges to dribble inside the Bohemians penalty area with quick feet before blasting a low effort just wide of Supple’s near post.
Pender was brought off earlier in the game following a battle with Connolly along the right touchline. The defender clutched his hamstring as he was replaced by defender Dylan Hayes back from a three game suspension.
Ward showed his class again when he found Corcoran lingering dangerous and unmarked at the back post. His cross was met with a thunderous header which, despite goalkeeper Gary Rogers appearing ever so slightly off his line, still flew just over the top of the crossbar.
Connolly was reduced with 25 minutes remaining to applause from the travelling contingent.
Picking up where the 23-year-old left off, his replacement Michael Duffy tested goalkeeper Supple again at his near post, cutting inside before releasing a decent effort, however it was gathered easily by the former Ipswich shot-stopper.
Centre back Niclas Vemmelund looked to have stolen all three points when he rose highest to meet a Duffy corner. His fine effort bound for the top corner was clawed away miraculously by goalkeeper Supple in an outstanding moment of athleticism which looked certain to earn both sides a point.
However manager Kenny’s substitutes proved masterful as both Jamie McGrath and Ciaran Kilduff combined to produce a stunning late winner after 88 minutes. McGrath took command of the ball along the left wing before curling a dangerous cross into the danger zone.
Kilduff plucked the ball from the air with a powerful header as the ball planted into the top corner to take all three points and extend Dundalk’s winning streak in the Premier Division to five.
BOHEMIANS: Shane Supple, Derek Pender (Dylan Hayes 38), Rob Cornwall, Warren O’Hora , Lorcan Fitzgerald, Ian Morris, Paddy Kavanagh, Keith Ward (Eoghan Morgan 81), Philip Gannon, Fuad Sule (Ismahil Akinade 65), Dinny Corcoran
DUNDALK: Gary Rodgers, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey. Chris Shields, Robbie Benson, John Mountney (Jamie McGrath 79), Patrick McEleney, Dylan Connolly (Michael Duffy 64), David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 81)
Referee: Neil Doyle
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