Dundalk pulls a fillip for Shamrock Rovers

While Stephen Bradley’s men will not be on duty for the next few weeks due to a string of Covid-19 cases, it now seems certain that the championship title is heading towards Tallaght for the first time since 2011.

This finding was not very useful for either side. Keith Long’s team needed all three points to keep the pressure on the Hoops and Dundalk and were hoping for a win to continue their qualification for Europe next season.

While Filippo Giovagnoli’s side are in third place with a game against fourth-placed Waterford FC, they also have the Europa League distraction to contend with next week.

The match itself was one of the few clear chances, but perhaps one of the biggest that got in Bohs’ way after four minutes when they should have taken the lead.

After Keith Ward’s attempt was blocked, the ricochet fell invitingly 12 meters from the target on Andre Wright, but only hit with Gary Rogers, he shot painfully to the left and far.

Cameron Dummigan then stabbed James Talbot’s palms in Dundalk’s first attempt in nine minutes, before Ward fired a shot over Rogers’ crossbar two minutes later on the other end.

Sean Gannon turned out to be the home team’s best attacker. Dangerous crosses from him offered opportunities for Patrick McEleney in the 13th minute and Patrick Hoban in the 35th minute, which none of the players could divert due to the good pressure from Paddy Kirk on goal.

Bohs then went close twice in quick succession five minutes before the break.

Andy Lyons saw an effort that turned Rogers around the post after being substituted on by Promise Omochere. The resulting corner of Anto Breslin was then hit by Wright’s head, but he could only go on top of the net.

It was the home team who threatened first when restarting. Michael Duffy’s cross in the 48th minute met Daniel Kelly, but the former Bohs man was rejected at close range from Michael Barker’s block.

Duffy would then close seven minutes later after being substituted on by a brilliant skill from Hoban on the left, but his efforts flashed agonizingly across the face of the goal and far.

Duffy almost returned the favor to Hoban 58 minutes into the match when he rolled in an excellent free kick from the right for the striker to hit, but couldn’t find the target.

Bohs went just wide in the 62nd minute when Ochteres cross from Wright was directed into the goal. Ward stepped in, looking to find the net, but somehow Rogers kept it out.

Hoban threw a header at the other end of Nathan Oduwa’s cross a minute later.

Danny Grant and Dummigan had far-reaching efforts on either end, the first of which was right with Rogers and the second just flashed past the post.

Dundalk had a great chance of winning in the 86th minute when Dummigan’s cross hit Gannon, but he struck it and couldn’t find the target.

Hoban tested Talbot again with a good performance in stoppage time but the goalkeeper matched that when Dundalk played goalless home games in the league for the first time in 15 years.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary und Cameron Dummigan; Chris Shields, Greg Sloggett; Daniel Kelly (Nathan Oduwa 51) (Stefan Colovic 75), Patrick McEleney (Sean Murray 65), Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban. Nicht verwendete Subs: Aaron McCarey, Jordan Flores, David McMillan, Andy Boyle.

Bohemia: James Talbot; Andy Lyons, Michael Barker, Paddy Kirk, and Anto Breslin; Keith Buckley, Conor Levingstone; Promise Omochere, Keith Ward (Danny Mandroiu 74), Danny Grant; Andre Wright. Unused Subs: Stephen McGuinness, Dinny Corcoran, Ross Tierney, JJ Lunney, Evan Ferguson, Jack Moylan.

Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).