Dundalk continues its descent following a 2-0 defeat to Bohemians in the League of Ireland Premier Division; goals came courtesy of Dawson Devoy and Adam McDonnell. This outcome places Dundalk, recently saved from dissolution, in the uncomfortable position of staring relegation in the face, after being overpowered by Bohs.
Manager Jon Daly’s team now finds themselves stuck at the foot of the Premier Division, trailing eight points behind Drogheda United. With only four matches to go, the future looks bleak for Dundalk. Despite the ongoing crisis, 3,086 spectators rallied in support of their beleaguered team in the antiquated Oriel Park.
However, the threat of liquidation still hangs heavy over Dundalk, even with John Temple, a local lawyer, taking the reins from previous owner, Brian Ainscough. Temple cautions that the club needs to demonstrate viability, with hopes of reaching an understanding with credit lenders. However, a potential relegation could signify the end of Dundalk’s 121-year-old history following reported losses amounting to nearly €5 million since 2018.
Across town, Bohemians are becoming trailblazers. The club consistently fills Dalymount Park to capacity and is revered for its inventive marketing strategies, such as featuring Bob Marley-themed away uniforms – a strategy other League of Ireland clubs could take a leaf from.
In terms of on-pitch performance, Bohemians have been evenly matched with Dundalk throughout the season. Alan Reynolds’ side balanced their three victories from 16 league games with an inspiring journey to the FAI Cup semi-final against Derry City, set to take place next Friday.
In contrast, Dundalk has struggled, losing seven of their previous nine matches and not claiming a victory since defeating Drogheda on the twelfth of July. The recent encounter was reflective of both teams’ form, laden with errors but offering up three opportunities for goalsone for Bohs and two for Dundalk.
Ross Tierney’s smart pass to Alexander Greive nearly quietened the home crowd within two minutes, however, Greive’s weak attempt was skillfully saved by Dundalk’s goalkeeper, Ross Munro. Greive’s role was minimal as he was substituted before half-time due to an injury, with James Akintunde taking his place.
The use of VAR could have been beneficial at the 14th minute as two of Dundalk’s attempts were swiftly cleared off the Bohs goal line. After a long pause, captain John Mountney made good contact with a free kick from Paul Doyle, but was stonewalled by Kacper Chorazka. Unfazed, the Oriel stadium announcer lightened the mood by playing feel-good tracks like Marley’s Three Little Birds and Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop.
During the break, the pitch was bustling with children participating in organised games, and numerous announcements updated spectators of various events in the club and local area. The atmosphere was quite alive.
Unfortunately, the quality of the actual football left a lot to be desired. Dundalk’s Irish international, Daryl Horgan, attempted to inject some excitement but his attempt flew over the net after Devoy was commended for his tactical positioning. In the 58th minute, Devoy fired a shot from 25 metres which boldly sailed past Munro, deserving championship recognition. This allows Bohs to daydream about winning the cup and turning around their disappointing season.
Meanwhile, Dundalk’s torrid run continues as Drogheda increased their lead over their Louth rivals to eight points, following a victory over Derry at Weavers Park. This impressive outcome, owed to Frantz Pierrot’s double goal, also affected the championship standings as Shelbourne drew with Sligo Rovers and extended their lead by four points.
The Bohemians line-up consisted of Chorazka, Smith alongside Mills who was replaced by Carroll in the 79th minute. Byrne and Kirk also featured. The midfield saw Rooney, Devoy and McDonnell in action whilst Tierney, Greive – substituted for Akintunde in the 35th minute – and Grant led the front. The match was officiated by referee Kevin O’Sullivan.