Bohemian FC 0
Drogheda United 1
Darryl Geraghty reports from Dalymount Park
DROGHEDA UNITED ENDED their near year-long wait for an away win in the league with a backs-to-the-wall victory at Dalymount Park.
It had been a long 360-day wait for three points on the road and thanks to a first half Frantz Pierrot strike, The Drogs not only put the unwanted record to bed but earned a massive three points in their battle to avoid automatic relegation. Simultaneously, they forced their hosts to look over their shoulder in the dreaded relegation play-off battle.
It was the visitors who started the game much livelier, with their direct style of play to the powerful front two causing all sorts of problems from the off.
Frantz Pierrot could have put his side ahead within the first quarter-of-an-hour only to be denied by a brave last-ditch Leigh Kavanagh tackle.
James Clarke responded with a chance of his own to lift the home fans as the game began to finally open up.
Midway through the first half, on-loan Walsall hitman James Taylor spurned a glorious chance to put his side in front following a mix-up at the back but saw his lob from distance sail just wide over the recovering Kacper Chorazka.
Minutes later, the breakthrough finally came as the visitors got the goal their impressive start deserved. Following another bout of pressure, Elicha Ahui’s long ball was cleverly headed down by Andrew Quinn and the Haitian Pierrot was on-hand to volley home from close range.
Pierrot was desperately unlucky not to double his tally when he showed great strength to roll Kavanagh and race clear, but saw his low strike across goal come back off the foot of the post and across goal away to safety.
With one defeat in their last nine, and an upturn in recent performances, the home side and their fans looked stunned, but created two gilt-edged chances to level just before the break. Ex-Drogheda man James Clarke found himself free in the area but from six-yards out, somehow got his angles all wrong and headed the ball off target. And on the half-time whistle, another former Drog, Dayle Rooney, did almost the same thing as he latched onto Jordan Flores’ inviting cross from the left but again, couldn’t find the net from close range.
As expected, the home side came out flying out for the second half. Archie Meekison was brilliantly denied by a sea of bodies following a chaotic goalmouth scramble as wave after wave of Bohs’ attacks were met by a resolute Boynesider backline.
But with 20-minutes remaining, the 4,275 in attendance were stunned into silence when substitute Alex Greive somehow fluffed his lines with one of the misses of the season.
Dawson Devoy was initially played clean through by Ross Tierney but was denied sharply by ex-Bohs man Luke Dennison. The rebound fell kindly to Grieve and, with the goal at his mercy, the New Zealand native somehow screwed his shot over the bar from just a few yards out.
Although the home side threw the kitchen sink at the visitors, there was no equaliser incoming throughout one-way traffic for the remainder of proceedings.
Kevin Doherty et al will be looking for further home comforts now as they quickly turn their attention to their massive game in hand over relegation rivals Dundalk. They welcome Galway United to Weaver’s Park on Monday night, looking to gain further ground on Bohs while extending the gap over their Louth neighbours.
Bohemian FC: Kacper Chorazka; Liam Smith, Leigh Kavanagh (Jevon Mills, 35’), Cian Byrne, Jordan Flores (Paddy Kirk, 71’); Dayle Rooney, Archie Meekison (James Akintunde, 71’), Dawson Devoy, Danny Grant (Declan McDaid, 71’); Ross Tierney, James Clark (Alex Greive, 61’)
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Elicha Ahui, Andrew Quinn, David Webster, Conor Kane; Shane Farrell (Gary Deegan, 90+1’), Ryan Brennan, James Bolger, Darragh Markey; Frantz Pierrot, Douglas James-Taylor (Adam Foley, 65’)
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
Entertaining game, hope they win it
Hopefully Ralston gets a run of games and makes the Ireland Summer Tour. One of the better wing prospects around.
Enoyed the live as it happened, articles for the Ulster and Connacht games. Connacht maybe excusable as they are in Challange cup, but Ulster are in Champions Cup and are in Belfast with no other HCup games on, would have been easy to cover. Guess the precedent has been set and they’ll be no Leinster and Munster as it happened articles this weekend either?
@Kingshu: true but at least we dont get to see comments lol
@Kingshu: I suppose, like any business, the 42 have finite resources and they have to pick and choose their games each week. I certainly understand your frustration and I would be hopping mad if I was in your shoes. Example was trying to watch Bristol v Leinster when I had no power at home. My hotel in Mullingar and most of the pubs were more interested in showing Tottenham on the TV and at the time I could not understand why an English sports team was prioritised over an Irish one. But they know their audience and I am not their typical / regular punter. Point is, Munster and Leinster articles will attract 60+ comments tomorrow, Ulster attract 15 before midnight, Connacht 6 which is an indication that The42′s customer base is primarily from Munster and Leinster.
@Seanie: Great point… Last week comments section for La Rochelle v Leinster was toxic
@Paul Ennis: yes to toxic putting me off viewing comments
Great win. I would have given Ralston MOTM.,,
Great,win Connacht.
Well done Peter,and the rest of the team
Great stuff 2 irish wins allready some people do will be negitive and unhappy we are a funny bunch
Great try from Devine. I think always that he is the 1st choice SH in Connacht.
And I wonder why Wilkins used Oliver. It was not the first time that to see his stupid cards or penalties. This player cannot understand the situations of game.
@ciaran oconnor: What was the reason for the yellow, back chat to referee?
@Con Cussed: I think it was deliberate knock on
Poor enough performance but a very good result in the end.