Dramatic win in Dalymount puts Drogheda United at the heart of battle for Europe
Table-toppers Shamrock Rovers look poised for yet another title, but the battle for the other European spots could go right down to the wire, and with momentum building in the Drogheda camp few would bet against them achieving qualification through the league.
Bohemians went into this game having lost once in their previous eight games and were intent on picking up a win to keep the pressure on their bitter rivals Rovers, but they'd lost their last three meetings against the Drogs and yet again they found Kevin Doherty's men too hot to handle.
This was a tactical masterclass from Doherty and his assistant Daire Doyle. Select Dare Kareem and Thomas Oluwa to do the hard graft in attack for an hour and wear down the Bohs defence - and then let loose the lightning quick Warren Davis and Josh Thomas to inflict the damage.
Of course, such a plan would only work if the team defended resiliently as a unit and thankfully they did just that - so much so that Luke Dennison only had one difficult save to make over the 90 minutes.
Douglas James-Taylor was unable to line out against his old club due to a hamstring injury - a big blow for Bohs - and it was Drogheda who threatened first when Kareem dispossessed the flat-footed Cian Byrne and advanced towards goal before shooting straight at Bohs keeper Kacper Chorazka.
Former Drog Dayle Rooney replied with a similarly disappointing long-range effort which Dennison mopped up easily, before Bohs created their best opportunity of the game in the 14th minute. A brilliantly disguised reverse pass by Dawson Devoy caught Conor Keeley unawares and suddenly Ross Tierney was one-on-one with Dennison, but the keeper made himself big and got enough on the shot to deflect it wide of the upright.
At the other end, a Conor Kane throw-in wasn't properly cleared and Keeley turned sharply on the edge of the box and hooked a superb effort just over the crossbar.
Just past the half-hour Drogheda had another opportunity from Luke Heeney's free kick, but when the ball dropped towards Andrew Quinn his effort was partially blocked and Chorazka saved.
Still, it took a great block by skipper Ryan Brennan to keep out another Tierney effort as the clock ticked towards half-time.
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Bohs certainly bossed the second period butthey struggled to break down a stubborn Drogs defence, and a brilliant exchange of passes between Oluwa and Darragh Markey almost led to a chance for Heeney, but when he was challenged he went down too easily for referee Paul Norton who issued a yellow card.
A couple of other counter-attacking opportunities for Drogheda came to nothing, notably when Tierney tracked back brilliantly to dispossess Owen Lambe. Great runs from deep by Kane and Quinn were also not rewarded.
Yet it took until the 68th minute for Bohs to test Dennison and he saved that effort from Jordan Flores very comfortably.
Drogheda did have a scare on 74 minutes when Devoy and Connor Parsons combined and the latter crossed deep towards Tierney whose fierce angled volley crashed into the side netting, with half the spectators in the Jodi Stand believing he'd scored.
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Keeley thundered in to intercept a pass meant for Tierney and burst forward before sending a brilliant slide-rule pass through the heart of the Bohs defence.
Thomas was onto the ball in a flash and he acclerated away from Niall Morahan and held off Rob Cornwall before steering a low shot past Chorazka.
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Cian Byrne (Keith Buckley 70), Rob Cornwall (Markuss Strods 90), Jordan Flores, Niall Morahan; Dawson Devoy, Connor Parsons (Adam McDonnell 80), Ross Tierney; James Clarke, Dayle Rooney, Colm Whelan (Rhys Brennan 80). Subs not used: James Talbot, Leigh Kavanagh, Liam Smith, John Mountney, Archie Meekison.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; James Bolger (George Cooper 87), Conor Keeley, Owen Lambe, Andrew Quinn; Ryan Brennan (George Cooper 87), Luke Heeney (Shane Farrell 76), Conor Kane, Darragh Markey; Dare Kareem (Joshua Thomas 63), Thomas Oluwa (Warren Davis 63). Subs not used: Jack Brady, Aaron Harper Bailey, Kieran Cruise, Michael Cardo.
Attendance: 4,372
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