The pre-game showers made for some slick conditions, well-suited to two footballing sides and they didn’t disappoint in a hugely entertaining end-to-end clash. Both sides started brightly but the reigning Champions began to flex their muscle, Micha
Some excellent football was on show in fabulous conditions and didn’t take long to stamp their authority on the game scoring after just four minutes.
April’s player of the month Michael Duffy did well to out jump Buckley from Sean Hoare’s deep cross to the back post, and the wingers knockdown header was laid on a plate for Hoban to smash home his 12th of the season.
In a hugely entertaining first half both sides, right back Hoare was in the thick of all the action, not just creating the goal but having two brilliant left foot efforts that were inches past Shane Supple’s post.
Right before half time, the home fans were up in arms as it looked like the home side got themselves level. Keith Buckley’s low cross missed by Dan Byrne who had a swipe and the ball fell to the feet of Dinny Corcoran.
The big man used his feet well to back heel the ball through two players and as it seemed to trickle over the line, a couple Bohs players ran away in celebration, only for the referee to wave play on.
The hosts started the second half well and just seven minutes in should have equalized. From a Dundalk corner, Bohs raced into a swift counter attack. Corcoran floated the ball brilliantly into Dylan Watts path, the midfielders first touch was good and with his second tried to lift the ball over the on coming Gary Rogers who read his intentions superbly to keep his side ahead in the tie.
As Bohs forced the issue, Dundalk looked threatening on the break. The marauding Hoare at right back got around Kirk to the end line and drilled across goal. Amazingly, from just a yard out managed to turn the ball onto the cross bar and over! That man again Hoare sealed all three points in the 83rd minute rising highest from a goal mouth scramble to head home.
