Battling Bohemians leave Dundalk reeling at Dalymount Park

Two goals in as many minutes from John O'Sullivan and Jonathan Afolabi saw Bohemians stage a big comeback over Dundalk at Dalymount Park to boost their hopes of securing European football next season.

Declan Devine’s side were on top throughout but despite taking a 15th minute lead through James McManus, they somehow found themselves behind as goals from Johannes Yli-Kokko and Connor Malley turned the game on its head for the Louth men.

Stephen O’Donnell’s side were forced to soak up long periods of pressure but it finally told in the 82nd minute when O’Sullivan equalised, with Afolabi following up with what proved to be the winner two minutes later. It was no more than the home side deserved.

This could be a big win for a side who had won just one of their last nine games prior to this. They now sit just a point behind Dundalk in fifth place and nine points off Shamrock Rovers at the summit, with the advantage of having two games in hand on the four sides above them.

For Dundalk, this ended a run of five games unbeaten and as well as having possible implications for their European qualification hopes for next season, it's also a blow ahead of their trip to Gibraltar to face Bruno’s Magpies in the Europa Conference League qualifiers on Thursday.

The home side dominated from the off and had their first big chance as early as the third minute when Paddy Kirk’s quick throw caught out the Dundalk defence, with Afolabi picking it up before being denied by the legs of Nathan Shepperd from a tight angle.

In the aftermath, former Lilywhite Jordan Flores got in behind the visitors defence once again but his cross was headed over by Afolabi.

The Gypsies did manage to hit the front on the quarter-hour mark. Flores released Afolabi down