Bohemians went to the top of the Airtricity League table after a narrow win over Drogheda, while Bray Wanderers staged a dramatic comeback to defeat St. Pat’s at Richmond Park.
Bohemians 1-0 Drogheda United
Bohemians made it two wins from their first two games with a narrow victory over struggling Drogheda United at Dalymount Park.
Anto Flood was on the scoresheet for the second week in succession; the Gypsies striker struck just before the hour mark with a superb finish from Mark Rossiter’s right-wing cross.
The goal was no more than the hosts deserved and the only surprise was that they managed to score only one goal as they were the dominant side throughout.
Christy Fagan and Aidan Price both went close for Bohs, while Lee Dixon should have doubled the lead with only eight minutes left on the clock, but blazed over the bar with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Flood’s goal proved enough to secure victory for the Gypsies, who top the table on six points, while Drogheda have yet to pick up a point after two consecutive defeats.
St. Patrick’s Athletic 2-3 Bray Wanderers
Trailing by two goals with 20 minutes remaining, Bray Wanderers staged a dramatic late comeback to claim all three points against St. Pat’s at Richmond Park.
Pat’s looked set to cruise to victory after an own goal from Bray’s Derek Prendergast after 23 minutes and a header from Evan McMillan three minutes after the break put them firmly in the driving seat.
With 20 minutes remaining, however, Conor Murphy, who had only come off the bench four minutes previously, pulled one back for the Seasiders with a close range finish and doubled his tally five minutes later with a header from a Shane O’Neill cross to draw the visitors level.
Pat’s were reeling from Murphy’s double blow and their misery was compounded eight minutes from time when Joe Kendrick’s free-kick deflected off the wall and into the net to hand Pat Devlin’s side the most unlikely of victories.
Dundalk 3-2 Galway United
Former Galway United defender Shane Guthrie struck a late winner to give Dundalk victory over a battling Galway United outfit at Oriel Park.
Guthrie headed in a Ross Gaynor corner four minutes time to hand Dundalk their first victory of the season and deny the Tribesmen what would have been a thoroughly deserved point.
Mark Quigley opened the scoring for the home side with a rocket of a free-kick from 35 yards after 18 minutes, but Joseph Yoffe equalised from the penalty spot for Galway three minutes later after former Dundalk player Shaun Kelly was brought down by Gaynor in the penalty area.
The sides remained level until the 71st minute, when veteran striker Jason Byrne headed home a cross from Simon Madden, but Galway levelled again when Sean Kelly (not Shaun Kelly) expertly finished from 20 yards after Karl Moore had cut the ball back to the edge of the area.
Sean Connor’s side were deserving of a share of the spoils, but were denied what would have been their first point of the season by Guthrie’s late intervention.
UCD 0-2 Derry City
After their last gasp defeat to Sligo Rovers last weekend, Derry City claimed their first win of the season with a comfortable victory over UCD at the UCD bowl.
The Candystripes looked the more assured outfit from the off and were in front as early as the eighth minute when Gareth McGlynn curled the ball to the net after being put clear by Patrick McEleney.
McEleney and Eamon Zayed both had chances to extend Derry’s lead but the visitors didn’t make sure of the points until the final minute, when Daniel Lafferty produced a composed finish from inside the area to seal all three points for Stephen Kenny’s side.
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