Bohemians 2 - 0 Drogheda United
Credit:
Bohemians got their title bid back on track on Monday night as they
brushed aside Drogheda United 2-0 at Dalymount Park thanks to goals
from Killian Brennan and Jason Byrne.
With Shamrock Rovers shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of Dundalk being monitored every second in Dalymount, it made for an excellent evening for Bohs, but not so good for Drogheda as the defeat sees them sink to the bottom of the table.
The current champions showed their intent early on with Brennan going close with a free-kick. Then, minutes later, Jason McGuinness' header was deflected onto the post by Spanish full-back Yael Haro.
Jason Byrne went close again from the home side in the 18th minute. Good work in the middle by Gareth McGlynn, he spread the ball wide to Raffaele Cretaro who picked out Byrne but he shot straight at Robert Duggan when he really should have done better.
However it wasn't long before Pat Fenlon's men took the lead – and in some style. A wonder goal from Brennan on 23 minutes, got the Gypises off the mark, just as the news of Dundalk's lead was coming through from Oriel Park.
It wasn't long before Bohs doubled their lead either. Byrne got on the end of Glen Cronin's in-swinging cross leaving Duggan with no chance as he headed the ball into the corner of the net.
The Drogs, who started the game very slowly had their first chance after 37 minutes. Ryan Brennan, young brother of Killian, blazed a shot harmlessly over Chris O'Connor's crossbar. That was about as close as the Louth team came in the first-half.
Bohs started the second-half the same way they ended the first, with intent, as Cretaro should have scored two in as many minutes. The first, a terrific solo run but a poor shot and the second, a long punt up-field which he latched on to with great pace but was denied by Duggan.
Drogheda weren't completely out of the game though and came close on 63 minutes following a fantastic move down the right-hand side but substitute Peter McMahon's shot was well saved by O'Connor, who had very little to do all night.
They also had a good shout for a goal in the 83rd minute when McNamara's cross-come-shot was spilled by O'Connor, both the Drogheda players and supporters felt it crossed the line but referee Rob Rogers didn't give it thanks to the advice from his linesman.
Paddy Madden came on in replace of Jason Byrne late in the second-half and he could have made it 3-0 in stoppage time but he was denied by the legs of Duggan as he managed to deflect the ball away for a corner.
Pat Fenlon will be delighted with his players after tonight's performance but he will know there is still a lot of work to be done if they are to catch Rovers. The Gypsies will get a break from league action however as they welcome in-form Bray Wanderers to Dalymount for Friday's FAI Ford Cup quarter-final clash.
For Drogheda on the other hand it is starting to look increasingly bleak for Darius Kierans' side. Next up for The Boynesiders is a tough game against high-flying Sporting Fingal at Hunky Dorys Park.
Bohemians: O'Connor; Heary, Powell, McGuinness, Shelley; Brennan Quigley, McGlynn [Higgins 79], Cronin; Cretaro, Byrne [Madden 65]
Unused Substitutes: B.Murphy; Rossiter, Greene
Drogheda United: Duggan; Haro [McNamara 45], McNally, Treacy; E.McGill, Daly, McEnteggart, Sinnott, Meenan [McMahon 63], Brennan; Flood
Unused Substitutes: Skinner; Montondo, Smyth
Referee: R.Rogers.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Killian Brennan
With Shamrock Rovers shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of Dundalk being monitored every second in Dalymount, it made for an excellent evening for Bohs, but not so good for Drogheda as the defeat sees them sink to the bottom of the table.
The current champions showed their intent early on with Brennan going close with a free-kick. Then, minutes later, Jason McGuinness' header was deflected onto the post by Spanish full-back Yael Haro.
Jason Byrne went close again from the home side in the 18th minute. Good work in the middle by Gareth McGlynn, he spread the ball wide to Raffaele Cretaro who picked out Byrne but he shot straight at Robert Duggan when he really should have done better.
However it wasn't long before Pat Fenlon's men took the lead – and in some style. A wonder goal from Brennan on 23 minutes, got the Gypises off the mark, just as the news of Dundalk's lead was coming through from Oriel Park.
It wasn't long before Bohs doubled their lead either. Byrne got on the end of Glen Cronin's in-swinging cross leaving Duggan with no chance as he headed the ball into the corner of the net.
The Drogs, who started the game very slowly had their first chance after 37 minutes. Ryan Brennan, young brother of Killian, blazed a shot harmlessly over Chris O'Connor's crossbar. That was about as close as the Louth team came in the first-half.
Bohs started the second-half the same way they ended the first, with intent, as Cretaro should have scored two in as many minutes. The first, a terrific solo run but a poor shot and the second, a long punt up-field which he latched on to with great pace but was denied by Duggan.
Drogheda weren't completely out of the game though and came close on 63 minutes following a fantastic move down the right-hand side but substitute Peter McMahon's shot was well saved by O'Connor, who had very little to do all night.
They also had a good shout for a goal in the 83rd minute when McNamara's cross-come-shot was spilled by O'Connor, both the Drogheda players and supporters felt it crossed the line but referee Rob Rogers didn't give it thanks to the advice from his linesman.
Paddy Madden came on in replace of Jason Byrne late in the second-half and he could have made it 3-0 in stoppage time but he was denied by the legs of Duggan as he managed to deflect the ball away for a corner.
Pat Fenlon will be delighted with his players after tonight's performance but he will know there is still a lot of work to be done if they are to catch Rovers. The Gypsies will get a break from league action however as they welcome in-form Bray Wanderers to Dalymount for Friday's FAI Ford Cup quarter-final clash.
For Drogheda on the other hand it is starting to look increasingly bleak for Darius Kierans' side. Next up for The Boynesiders is a tough game against high-flying Sporting Fingal at Hunky Dorys Park.
Bohemians: O'Connor; Heary, Powell, McGuinness, Shelley; Brennan Quigley, McGlynn [Higgins 79], Cronin; Cretaro, Byrne [Madden 65]
Unused Substitutes: B.Murphy; Rossiter, Greene
Drogheda United: Duggan; Haro [McNamara 45], McNally, Treacy; E.McGill, Daly, McEnteggart, Sinnott, Meenan [McMahon 63], Brennan; Flood
Unused Substitutes: Skinner; Montondo, Smyth
Referee: R.Rogers.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Killian Brennan
About Frankie Lally
Frankie Lally writes for a number of publications. You can contact Frankie on Twitter at @FrankieLally
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