Bohs come back from dead to rescue point at Dundalk

Second half goals from Declan McDaid and Ali Coote saw Bohemians fight back from two goals down to avoid a third straight defeat against Dundalk at Oriel Park.

Declan Devine's side looked set for another loss as a third minute opener from Patrick Hoban and an own goal from James Talbot had the Lilywhites two goals to the good after half an hour.

However, the Gypsies rallied well in the second half to become the first side since Derry City in 2019 to fight back from two down to claim a point at Oriel.

The result keeps Bohs three points clear of Stephen O’Donnell’s side in third, with Dundalk having played a game more following their 3-0 defeat in Derry on Monday night.

The Louth men got off to a dream start when they hit the front after just 170 seconds. After Krystian Nowak had denied Johannes Yli-Kokko with a fine block, Robbie McCourt’s corner caught Talbot in no man’s land with Hoban punishing the error by heading in his 16th career goal against Bohs.

There was little threat from the visitors after that with Jordan Flores firing a free kick straight into the wall in the ninth minute.

Dundalk then doubled their lead on the half hour mark with Connor Malley’s thunderbolt crashing off the bar before coming off the back of the helpless Talbot for an unfortunate own goal.

Malley might not have been awarded that goal but he did go close to getting his name on the scoresheet two minutes later when he weaved his way through a couple of challenges to get a shot away at the edge of the box that drifted just wide.

Dundalk then had big appeals for a penalty turned down three minutes before the break when Yli-Kokko appeared to be pushed over inside the box by James McManus but referee Neil Doyle was uninterested.

Bohs then had another