Bohemians 1
Limerick 2
Ben Blake reports from Dalymount Park
NEIL MCDONALD EARNED his first three points as Limerick manager at Dalymount Park tonight.
Rodrigo Tosi had put the Blues in front early on before George Poynton levelled terms in the first half.
With eight minutes on the clock, however, a Dan Byrne own goal handed victory to the former Carlisle United and Blackpool boss, who took over last week.
There was a late change in the Bohs line-up as Dylan Hayes slotted in at right full-back to replace captain Derek Pender after the warm-up, meaning goalkeeper Shane Supple took the armband.
The home side came into the game full of confidence after their morale-boosting victory over Bray Wanderers on Friday night, but it was Limerick — beaten 3-0 by Dundalk last time out — who started strongly.
They mustered up the first real chance of the evening on nine minutes. Neat play from Lee-J Lynch created enough space for him to cross to the back post, where Chiedozie Ogbene headed into the path of Tosi.
The Brazilian striker made good contact but shot wide of the mark. Moments later, the same two players combined and Tosi’s low strike was collected by Supple.
And the visitors took a deserved lead on 16 minutes. Bastien Hery sent in a free-kick from the halfway line, Williams got a flick-on and Tosi looped a header over the Bohs keeper for his seventh goal of the season.
Bohs were giving away possession far too cheaply with a string of loose passes, and Oscar Brennan’s lack of awareness could have proved costly on the 30-minute mark. Lynch picked his pocket 20 yards out and fired an effort straight at Supple.
Lucky not to be two behind, the Gypsies drew level from their very next attack. Great persistence from Ward saw his second attempt at a cross finished clinically by Poynton.
And, buoyed by the goal, Keith Long’s side looked the more likely to score a second for the remainder of the first half.
That said, Tosi was inches away from connecting with a super cross from Tommy Robson on 44 minutes.
The final chance of the half went the way of Bohs. Ward, who was lively throughout, drove narrowly wide before the sides headed into the changing rooms with all to play for.
Limerick should really have added a second shortly after the restart. Skipper Shane Duggan threaded Ogbene through with a delightful pass and the former Cork City man clipped the post with his curling effort.
Tosi was next to go close for the visitors — heading marginally wide after a move involving Williams, Mulhall and Lynch.
Blues stand-in goalkeeper Freddy Hall, filling in for the suspended Brendan Clarke, was called into action on 60 minutes as Brennan rifled a shot towards the top corner.
The Bermuda international then got a fingertip to Poynton’s cross to keep out the loitering Kavanagh. Barry Cotter also put his body on the line to snuff out that attack and the Limerick defender forced off with an injury.
On 82 minutes, the away team bagged a winner — Byrne bundling the ball over his own line as he attempted to clear Ogbene’s header.
And things got worse for Bohs in injury-time as Hayes was sent off for a challenge Ogbene.
The Dalymount faithful were up in arms seconds later, when Shaun Kelly only received a yellow card after pulling down Corcoran, who looked through on goal.
BOHEMIANS: Shane Supple (c); Dylan Hayes, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Paddy Kavanagh (Jamie Doyle 85), Oscar Brennan (Ian Morris 79), Fuad Sule, George Poynton, Keith Ward (Philly Gannon 85); Dinny Corcoran.
LIMERICK: Freddy Hall; Shaun Kelly, Barry Cotter (Tony Whitehead 71), Robbie Williams, Tommy Robson; Bastien Hery, Lee-J Lynch, Shane Duggan (c); Chris Mulhall (Dean Clarke 77), Chiedozie Ogbene, Rodrigo Tosi.
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