Dundalk vs Bohemians at Oriel Park on Friday night, 2 October, finished 2-1 to the visitors, and the win keeps Bohemians right in the League of Ireland Premier Division title race. Colm Whelan’s first-half penalty and a Ross Tierney goal on 67 minutes put Bohs in control. Daryl Horgan then pulled one back from the spot with two minutes to play. This report covers the goals, line-ups, key numbers and the table. All match data comes from API-Football and is as reported at the time of writing.
How did Dundalk vs Bohemians finish on Friday night?
Bohemians won 2-1 in Round 33 of the Premier Division, and they led 1-0 at the break. The game kicked off at 7:45pm Irish time and Bohs took the lead from the penalty spot after 26 minutes, with Whelan converting. Dundalk had no reply before half-time, so they went in a goal down.
The second half followed a similar pattern for a while. Tierney doubled the lead on 67 minutes after a pass from Patrick Hickey, which left Dundalk chasing the game. Horgan then scored from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to set up a nervy finish. However, Bohs held on, even though Cian Byrne was shown a red card in the 89th minute.
Who scored and who was booked?
Three goals decided the match, and two of them were penalties. Whelan (26 minutes, penalty) and Tierney (67 minutes) scored for Bohemians, while Horgan (88 minutes, penalty) scored for Dundalk. In addition, Hickey was credited with the assist for Tierney’s goal.
Discipline mattered too. Harvey Warren of Dundalk was booked in the 49th minute and replaced five minutes later by Egor Vassenin. Meanwhile, Bohemians had Connor Parsons booked on 28 minutes and Senan Mullen on 54 minutes. Byrne’s red card at the end meant that Bohs finished the game with ten men, although it came too late to change the result.
What were the line-ups?
Both sides started in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Dundalk, with C. Kilduff listed as coach, started E. Minogue, Harvey Warren, M. Animasahun, T. Grivosti, B. Burns, K. Buckley, Aodh Dervin, Trevor Clarke, Ronan Teahan, Daryl Horgan and Leonardo Gaxha. Bohemians, with A. Reynolds listed as coach, started P. Walters, Darragh Power, Patrick Hickey, Cian Byrne, Senan Mullen, D. Devoy, J. Flores, Ross Tierney, Harry Vaughan, Connor Parsons and Colm Whelan.
Changes came thick and fast after the hour. Bohs made three substitutions on 62 minutes, with Zane Myers, Sadou Diallo and James Taylor replacing Vaughan, Mullen and Whelan. Dayle Rooney (for Parsons, 77 minutes) and Niall Morahan (for Power, 81 minutes) followed. Dundalk, on the other hand, brought on Declan McDaid, Norman Garbett and Cian Dillon on 72 minutes and Harry Groome on 83 minutes, in addition to Vassenin’s earlier entry.
What do the match statistics show?
The numbers were closer than the scoreline suggests, but Bohemians were the sharper side in the key moments. Bohs had 12 shots to Dundalk’s 11 and all 12 came from inside the box. Dundalk managed eight shots inside the area and three from outside it, and they put five on target to Bohemians’ three.
Possession was fairly even, with Bohs on 52% and Dundalk on 48%. Bohemians completed 315 of 413 passes (about 76%), while Dundalk completed 256 of 372 (about 69%). Corners were 4 to 2 in favour of Bohs, and Bohemians committed 18 fouls to Dundalk’s 13. Goalkeeper saves tell a useful story as well: Dundalk’s keeper made one, whereas Bohemians’ keeper made four. As a result, Dundalk may feel they created enough to take something from the game.
What does the result mean for the table?
Bohemians are second in the Premier Division on 59 points from 32 games, with a goal difference of +19. St Patrick’s Athletic lead on the same 59 points from 32 games, ahead on goal difference (+27), and Shamrock Rovers are third on 59 points from 31 games. In other words, three clubs are level on points at the top, and Rovers have a game in hand.
Dundalk, by contrast, are fifth on 41 points from 33 games (10 wins, 11 draws, 12 defeats) with a goal difference of minus 5. Derry City are fourth on the same 41 points, ahead on goal difference, and Shelbourne are sixth on 40. Therefore, one more slip could drop Dundalk a place, and the gap to the clubs above is now tight.
How have Dundalk and Bohemians been playing lately?
Bohemians are on a five-match winning run in the league. Since a 3-1 defeat away to Waterford on 9 August, they have beaten Derry City 5-3, Sligo Rovers 3-0, Galway United 3-2, Drogheda United 2-1 and now Dundalk 2-1. Across those five wins they scored 15 goals and conceded 7.
Dundalk’s recent league form is much harder going. In their last six matches they have won once (3-2 at Drogheda), drawn once (1-1 at Waterford) and lost four, including a 4-0 home defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic and a 3-2 loss to Shelbourne. Overall, they scored eight and conceded 14 in those six games. That said, Friday’s late penalty means they have now scored in each of those matches bar the 4-0 loss.
The head-to-head record also leans towards Bohs. In the last six league meetings, Bohemians have won three, Dundalk one and two have been drawn, with Bohs scoring 10 goals to Dundalk’s six. This season Bohemians drew 1-1 at home in March, won 3-1 at Oriel Park in May, lost 2-1 at home in June and have now won 2-1 away.
Where can I follow more League of Ireland action?
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Quick questions about the match
Who won Dundalk vs Bohemians?
Bohemians won 2-1 at Oriel Park on Friday 2 October 2026, after leading 1-0 at half-time.
Who scored in Dundalk vs Bohemians?
Colm Whelan scored a first-half penalty (26 minutes) and Ross Tierney added a second (67 minutes) for Bohemians. Daryl Horgan scored a late penalty (88 minutes) for Dundalk.
Was there a red card in Dundalk vs Bohemians?
Yes. Bohemians defender Cian Byrne was sent off in the 89th minute, a minute after Dundalk’s penalty.
Where does Dundalk vs Bohemians leave the table?
Bohemians are second on 59 points, level with St Patrick’s Athletic on points but behind on goal difference. Dundalk are fifth on 41 points.
Next in the League of Ireland: read our Derry City vs St Patrick’s Athletic prediction for Friday night.
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