League leaders Bohemians maintain title charge against gritty Drogheda

Paddy Kirk and Declan McDaid both hit their second goals of the season as Bohemians maintained their lead and their charge at the top of League of Ireland Premier Division with victory over Drogheda United.

The latter's injury-time goal sealed a win for Declan Devine’s team but they were made to work for it by a Drogheda United side who will come away disappointed not to have given the league leaders a bloody nose in front of another sell out home crowd.

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Without the injured Ali Coote and suspended Jordan Flores, a strong Bohs team can count this result as a very credible one given how often Drogheda can shock the supposed bigger and certainly more resourced sides in the top-flight.

Kirk’s second goal of the season had them in control inside the opening 20 minutes but that arrived only after Drogheda had begun brightly.

The hosts dominated the second half but, in truth, didn’t force James Talbot into enough work, where clear-cut openings for an equaliser were hard to come by.

Talbot’s best save of the evening came inside 15 minutes. Dylan Grimes chest controlled a left wing cross and Freddie Draper’s snapshot was instinctively saved by the 25-year-old. Ryan Brennan’s header was more routine.

James Clarke, who left Boyneside for Drumcondra last summer on a multi-year deal, had a hand in the opener.

His shot was too hot to handle for Colin McCabe. Kirk latched onto the loose ball from his parry and carried the ball infield, easily beating Grimes and letting fly with a left foot shot that the goalkeeper couldn’t get down to.

United began the second as they had the first but this time sustained their pressure. Dayle Rooney’s delivered some brilliant crosses into good areas but Polish centre-half duo Krystian