Both halves of goals from Jordan. Flores and Declan McDeid helped the Bohemians to a 2-2 win as they beat Dundalk 2-1 at Dalymount Park.
Declan Devine’s side have always been superior as they deserve to open a five-point gap over the side they want for a European title at the end of the season.
Dundalk played 6 consecutive matches without losing to Team Gypsies. But never went because they were waiting for the first victory of the season after a draw at home with UCD.
Rumors of a possible takeover swarm Stephen’s team. O’Donnell before the start of the game. And it’s ironic that Flores, a former Hull player City opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick in first-half stoppage time.
McDaid then punished Dundalk’s sloppy play to double the advantage for his side in the 71st minute and as Johannes Yli-Kokko pulled a goal back for the visitors on his deathbed. In fact, they can have a slight blemish in leaving Phibsborough empty-handed.
The hosts dominated the ball, with Nathan Shepperd having to assist Grant Horton’s header from Flores’ corner over the crossbar on 10 minutes in their first attempt of note.
After Jonathan Afolabi and Flores continued to threaten for Bohs, Dundalk would save their only shot at half-time 21 minutes when full-back Archie Davies lunged out of range.
Afolabi then had another half chance a minute later when he finished Ali Coote’s cross which was a little too tame to cause trouble for Shepperd.
After having had a penalty appeal earlier in the day after going down in the box under Andy Boyle’s challenge, Afolabi then went close again in the 29th minute when Keith Buckley crossed from the right for him at the penalty spot. The former Celtic star turned in to score the first goal. But saw it flashing over the beam.
The 23-year-old then threatened again in the 32nd minute when he caught Greg Sloggett on a hard pass before attempting to catch Shepperd off the line midway through. But fortunately for the visitor he couldn’t find his distance this time.
The breakthrough finally arrived in first-half stoppage time, though Flores spun a stunning free-kick from the edge of the penalty area into the top left corner after Dylan. Connolly was waded. Ansley pulled back.
Connolly threatened himself within five minutes of the restart when he was released on the right by Afolabi only for a shot across the goal and wide.
Coote then forced Shepperd into a low stop after Dundalk was again guilty of possession of the ball too easily in the 52nd minute.
Louth’s men stopped again seven minutes later when Hayden Muller again failed to manage a Flores delivery. But the pre-season signing from Millwall did a great job of denying him while on the ground.
Dundalk threatened in the 67th minute with Davies finding space on the right to receive Patrick Hoban with an open ball. But his header from the edge of the box was out of range.
Sloggett then managed to deflect the point a minute later before the Lilywhites appealed their own penalty when Yli-Kokko debuted, clinging to Connor Malley’s header for Kacper Radkowski to clear when the Finnish player crashed. with Talbot
The game went to sleep in the 71st minute when Malley was in possession of Paddy Kirk, allowing the home side to break through, with McDaid picked by Afolabi on the edge of the box before firing past Shepperd into the bottom right-hand corner.
Kelly registered Dundalk’s first effort on target in the 76th minute, but his effort slipped Buckley off and safely into Talbot’s arms.
Then Adam McDonnell tries to beat Shepherd before Rayhann. The debutant Talloch will be rejected by Talbot on the other side.
Dundalk threatened to save an unlikely spot when Yli-Kokko pulled the goal back with a long-range strike that rebounded past Talbot in the 90th minute, but even with six minutes of extra time they couldn’t make it a single second.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Keith Buckley, Grant Horton, Casper Rudkowski, Paddy Kirk ; Jordan Flores, Adam McDonnell ; Dylan Connolly (James Akintunde, 85′), Ali Koute (Chris Tvardeck, 85), Declan McDeid (Christian Novak, 77); Jonathan Afolabi (Dean Williams, 85′)
Dundalk: Nathan Shepard; Archie Davies (Rayhann Tulloch 80), Hayden Muller, Andy Boyle, Louie Ansley ; Paul Doyle (John Martin, 75’s), Connor Malley (Cameron Elliott, 75’s), Alfie Lewis (Johannes Gili-Ke Okko n.36); Greg Sloggett, Patrick Hoban, Ryan O’Kane (Daniel Kelly p.55)