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The 42
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Drogheda earn smash-and-grab victory at Bohs
Bohemians 0 Drogheda United 1 Paul Buttner reports from Dalymount Park JOSH THOMAS was sprung from the bench to score a late winner as Drogheda United maintained their hoodoo over Bohemians with this smash-and-grab victory — a third in a row at Dalymount Park. With Drogheda defending tenaciously as Bohs all but owned the ball throughout the second half, the Boynesiders struck on the counter-attack on 86 minutes. Conor Keeley, imperious in the heart of Drogheda's defence throughout, broke forward to thread a pass straight down the middle for the run of Thomas. The striker, making his first appearance in the league since scoring in the 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers back in February, used his power and pace to hold off the challenge of both Rob Cornwall and Niall Morahan to skip between them and dink his shot past Kacper Chorazka. It's now just one win over Drogheda from their last seven meetings for Bohemians, who controlled much of the play here but lacked a real cutting edge in the final third against Kevin Doherty's resilient side. Advertisement While Drogheda move level on 41 points with third-placed Derry City, Shamrock Rovers were potentially the other winners here; a victory over Derry at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday evening will put them 10 points clear at the top of the table with 10 games to play. Missing their chief summer signing, ex-Drogheda striker Douglas James-Taylor, due to illness, sloppiness almost saw Bohs punished inside four minutes when Cian Byrne was dispossessed by an alert Dare Kareem. The big Drogheda striker surged forward, his drive just lacking sufficient venom to seriously trouble Chorazka, who saved comfortably. In a helter-skelter opening, Bohs threatened for the first time after 15 minutes. A delightful piece of magic from Dawson Devoy saw the skipper thread a sublime pass through for Ross Tierney. Racing off his line, Luke Dennison made himself big to deflect the volley out for a corner. A Conor Kane long throw soon caused Bohs issues at the other end, the ball was nodded back by James Bolger for Keeley to dip a volley on the turn just over the Gypsies' crossbar. Bohs had further worries minutes later. Kane's free kick into their area wasn't fully cleared, with Andy Quinn's scuffed shot saved by Chorazka. Bohs dominated the ball from the resumption, Keeley rescuing Drogheda eight minutes in with a vital touch to deflect James Clarke's effort out for a corner following a neat one-two with Collie Whelan. The home faithful were then on their feet, thinking Bohs had taken the lead on 72 minutes. Tierney's powerful volley from Connor Parson's cross had merely found the side-netting. But it was Drogheda's raucous following who would almost lift the roof off the Mono stand four minutes from the end of regulation time to salute Thomas's winner. Bohemians: Chorazka; Byrne (Buckley, 71), Cornwall (Stods, 90), Flores; Rooney, Morahan, Devoy, Parsons (Brennan, 80); Tierney, Clarke; Whelan (McDonnell, 80). Drogheda United: Dennison; Lambe, Quinn, Keeley, Bolger (Cooper, 87), Kane; Heeney (Farrell, 77), Brennan (O'Sullivan, 87); Markey; Oluwa (Davis, 63), Kareem (Thomas, 63). Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin). Attendance: 4,372.
Irish Examiner
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Super sub Josh Thomas secured Drogheda United important win away at Bohemians
Bohemians 0 Drogheda United 1 Josh Thomas was sprung for the bench to score a late winner as Drogheda United maintained their hoodoo over Bohemians with this smash-and-grab victory, their third in a row at Dalymount Park. With Drogheda defending tenaciously as Bohs all but owned the ball throughout the second half, the Boynesiders struck on the counterattack on 86 minutes. Conor Keeley, imperious in the heart of Drogheda's defence throughout, broke forward to thread a pass straight down the middle for the run of Thomas. The striker, making his first appearance in the league since scoring in the 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers back in February, used his power and pace to hold off the challenge of both Rob Cornwall and Niall Morahan to skip between them and dink his shot past Kacper Chorazka. It's now just one win over Drogheda from their last seven meetings for Bohemians who controlled much of the play here but lacked a real cutting edge in the final third against Kevin Doherty's resilient side. While Drogheda move level on 41 points with third-placed Derry City, Shamrock Rovers were potentially the other winners here, a victory over Derry at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday evening will put them 10 points clear at the top of the table with 10 games to play. Missing their chief summer signing, ex-Drogheda striker Douglas James-Taylor due to illness, sloppiness almost saw Bohs punished inside four minutes when Cian Byrne was dispossessed by an alert Dare Kareem. The big Drogheda striker surged forward, his drive just lacking sufficient venom to seriously trouble Chorazka who saved comfortably. In a helter-skelter opening, Bohs threatened for the first time on 15 minutes. A delightful piece of magic from Dawson Devoy saw the skipper thread a sublime pass through for Ross Tierney. Racing off his line, Luke Dennison made himself big to deflect the volley out for a corner. A Conor Kane long throw soon caused Bohs issues at the other end, the ball nodded back by James Bolger for Keeley to dip a volley on the turn just over the Gypsies' crossbar. Bohs had further worries minutes later. Kane's free kick into their area wasn't fully cleared with Andy Quinn's scuffed shot saved by Chorazka. Bohs dominated the ball from the resumption, Keeley rescuing Drogheda eight minutes in with a vital touch to deflect James Clarke's effort out for a corner following a neat one-two with Collie Whelan. The home faithful were then on their feet thinking Bohs had taken the lead on 72 minutes. Tierney's powerful volley from Connor Parson's cross had merely found the side-netting. But it was Drogheda's raucous following who would almost lift the roof off the Mono stand four minutes from the end of regulation time to salute Thomas's winner. Bohemians: Chorazka; Byrne (Buckley, 71), Cornwall (Stods, 90), Flores; Rooney, Morahan, Devoy, Parsons (Brennan, 80); Tierney, Clarke; Whelan (McDonnell, 80). Drogheda United: Dennison; Lambe, Quinn, Keeley, Bolger (Cooper, 87), Kane; Heeney (Farrell, 77), Brennan (O'Sullivan, 87); Markey; Oluwa (Davis, 63), Kareem (Thomas, 63). Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin). Attendance: 4,372.
The Irish Sun
01-08-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Late Josh Thomas strike sinks Bohemians as Drogheda United edge fiery clash for third 1-0 win this season
DROGHEDA UNITED claimed all three points at Dalymount Park thanks to bish, bash, Josh. Substitute Josh Thomas scored the only goal in the 86th minute in his first game in more than five months. Advertisement 2 Josh Thomas of Drogheda United scored a late winner as Bohs slumped yet again 2 Alan Reynolds' side have failed to take points from Drogheda in 2025 - that's after three games between the sides The decisive moment summed up the sides' contrasting styles when another intricate Bohs' attack broke down when Conor Keely got to the ball ahead of Ross Tierney. He wasted no time in picking out Thomas who had made a nuisance of himself after being brought on and was lucky to escape a booking for twice catching Rob Cornwall late. But, when it came to a race between the pair, with Niall Morahan also in pursuit, the on-loan Swansea City striker showed a clean pair of heels before slotting home. Advertisement read more on football It was the third successive 1-0 for Drogheda against Bohs this season, with Douglas James-Taylor was the difference between the sides last time out. He had swapped clubs in the meantime but missed out here through illness. That saw Colm Whelan lead the line with another ex-Drogheda player, James Clarke, playing just behind him. But Bohs' main attacking threat came from Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney with the pair, in their second spells here after a stint cross-channel, both operating on the same wavelength. Advertisement Most read in Football Latest Live Blog That was never more in evidence when Tierney made a clever run in behind with Devoy producing the sort of pass that few players in the league can to pick him out. Tiernery looked certain to score but his left-foot shot was kept out by the knee of Drogheda keeper Luke Dennison. Fears Pep Guardiola's 'imminent' divorce could hurt Man City as boss' relationship with wife continues to deteriorate The roles were twice reversed later on in the half when Tierney pulled the ball back to Devoy who was outside the box but his effort was deflected behind for a corner. Then, he found Devoy who did well to keep the ball in before laying it off to Connor Parsons who teed up Niall Morahan but his shot was well off-target. Advertisement Whilst Bohs were well on top, Drogheda had their moments, often in second phases from dead-ball situations. From a Conor Kane throw in, James Bolger headed it back to fellow defender Conor Keeley who connected with the ball brilliantly but his dipping volley was just too high whilst Andrew Quinn gave Kacper Chorazka a moment of concern with a shot from close range. There was a good bit of niggle in the game too with five yellow cards handed out in the first half, four of them in a two-minute period. Within six minutes of the restart, both teams had had a penalty appeal waved away. Advertisement First of all, Whelan appeared to be pushed in the back by Bolger but referee Paul Norton was unmoved. And, when Luke Heeney went down at the other end, all he got for his trouble was a booking. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Bohs having the lion's share of the ball but, whenever it looked as though they might have found a breakthrough, a Drogheda player was there to intervene. That is exactly what happened when Devoy slid the ball through to Clarke who laid it off to Whelan and went to collect the return pass before Keeley cut across him to make a vital interception. Advertisement The manner in which the centre-half celebrated his contribution underlined its importance. When Devoy played in Whelan a moment or two later, this time it was Bolger who got his body in the way to block the shot. Some thought their side had finally made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Devoy played Parsons into space down the left. He checked back and delivered a right-foot cross to beyond the far post where Tierney was unmarked. Advertisement The former Motherwell and Walsall player's volley rippled the net, prompting celebrations in various pockets of the ground but they were short-lived as the realisation spread that his effort had gone the wrong side of the post. Bohemian FC 0 - 1 Drogheda United Eventually, Thomas showed the ruthlessness which Bohs lacked. SUN STAR MAN: Conor Keeley (Drogheda) BOHEMIANS: Chorazka 7; Byrne 6 (Buckley 71, 5), Cornwall 6 (Strods 90, 3), Flores 7; Rooney 7, Morahan 6, Devoy 8, Parsons 5 (Brennan 80, 5); Tierney 7, Clarke 7; Whelan 6 (McDonnell 80, 5). DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 7; Bolger 7 (Cooper 88, 3), Keeley 8, Quinn7; Lambe 6, Brennan 6 (O'Sullivan 88, 3), Markey 7, Heeney 5 (Farrell 77,5 ), Kane 7; Oluwa 5 (Davis 63, 5), Kareem 5 (Thomas 63, 7). REFEREE: P Norton (Dublin) 5 Advertisement
