Dundalk slumped to their third defeat in succession, as a 12^th minute Georgie Kelly penalty goal ensured Bohemians took full points at Oriel Park tonight.

The 2019 champions poor start to the season continued, on home soil, having collected just one point from the 12 on offer so far this season. The last time they bagged such an amount was when they lost seven times in-a-row between August and October 2012.

“It wasn’t good enough” explained Dundalk boss Shane Keegan after the game. “It was a game of nothing really and you were thankful there was no fans as anyone who turned up for entertainment would haven’t have got anything really. It was so so scrappy”

Dundalk started the brighter of the two as Han Jeong Woo was set away from a clever pass from Stanton, he was taken down on his route to goal by Keith Buckley who was given a yellow for his troubles.  The resulting free-kick sent in by Michael Duffy was met by Andy Boyle’s whose header cannoned off the crossbar.

Duffy then had an opportunity with a low effort flash wide. Dundalk’s early pressing and form evaporated in an instant when a heavy touch by Jurkovskis was punished when Daniel Cleary brought down Tierney in the area and the referee despite the protests pointed to the spot. Kelly came back to haunt his former club by dispatching the penalty with ease sending Cherrie the wrong way.

“They got a penalty that we would argue the toss whether or not it is a penalty” reflected Keegan after the game. “We don’t get a penalty which we would certainly argue the toss as to whether it was a penalty”

“It was a huge win” beamed Kelly after the game. “We had a slow start similar to Dundalk, it was a big game for us and we needed a reaction.”

“We dug into tonight and we were as solid as a unit. These games are strange and you sit off. I think even to 1-0 we were right at it and we were pushing and had chances.”

In search of an equaliser Dundalk continued to press with a free kick sent in by Duffy was spilt by Talbot but the keeper was quick to gather at the second attempt. They continued to push and a cross from Erik Midtskogen saw Hoban’s header at the near post that was deflected for a corner. Bohemians continued to pose a threat, especially from counter-attacks finding space in the wide areas.

Peter Cherrie almost gifted the away side a second goal when his clearance was charged down by Kelly who picked up the loose ball and sent it into Liam Burt but his effort was cleared at the last second by Daniel Cleary for a corner.

Burt would call Cherrie into action twice more as the half wore on with his first attempt an excellent low effort that forced Cherrie into making a smart save. Burt would have another great chance in a similar position to that of the former and this time Cherrie was flat-footed as it just went wide.

Dundalk made a change at half time and deployed Patrick McEleney from the bench and he replaced Han as the Derry native looked determined in his task to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

“Patrick McEleney is there and you know there isn’t ninety minutes in him yet” explained Keegan. “But he has forty-five in him.”

As his influence in the game began to grow a chance came for the home side as a cross from McEleney was met by Sam Stanton at the back post but somehow his goalbound header didn’t cross the line. Bohemians continued to push for a second goal to put the game to bed and some clever build-up link-up between Kelly and Keith Ward saw the former dispatch an effort to test Cherrie however Dundalk’s defence held firm.

Bohs continued to carve out chances with Ross Tierney turning a speculative effort over the bar before Georgie Kelly blazed over with a good effort on the edge of the area.

As the clock edged towards the ninety the games major talking point was to fire into life. A cross into the area and the noise of ball to the skin of a player could be heard around the vacuum that was Oriel Park. The bellowing screams of desperation from the Dundalk players could probably have been heard in Blackrock such was their disdain at the decision not to award the penalty.

“We have quality in that dressing room to make more about us to make games based on such fine margins” stated Keegan

“We are going to be looking at other teams to drop points tomorrow because you just can’t have the gap opening up too wide. But I do think it’s going to be the kind of season where there is going to be so many teams beating each other there will be a lot more points dropped across the board.”

Both sides had chances late on with Rory Feeley and Michael Duffy having half chances to either secure the three points or grab one but in the end Bohemians who had a great day all round with the news of further funding for the development of Dalymount Park had three points to add to their celebrations.

“If we don’t get our act together quickly we are not going to be in that picture and we just need to solve it ASAP”

“The quality is in the squad” affirmed Keegan “There is just a couple of things we need to get nailed to get fixed and we need to do better. There is enough quality to go on a proper run and that run starts with one win.”