It was Stephen Kenny’s side, however, who took the lead after thirteen minutes as Bohs were left to rue their missed chances. An accurate through ball found the feet of Michael O’Connor who struck a well-placed shot past the on-rushing Lee Steacy.

Bohemians didn’t take it lying down, and almost drew level when Evans intercepted a sloppy Dundalk pass to find Keith Buckley on the edge of the area. Unfortunately for the tireless midfielder, his effort was blazed high and over. Keith Long’s men didn’t have to wait to ling for their next chance, as a stray Kelly shot found Kurtis Byrne on the 18-yard line; however his effort was well high of the target.

Bohemians continued to employ a high-pressing tactic which the Dalymount faithful have become so accustomed to since Long’s inception. After a string of wasted chances, the Gypsies’ finally drew level. Dundalk defender Anton Reilly shot himself in the foot as he hesitated on the ball inside hos 18 yard line, eventually losing out to Anto Murphy who fired home a ferocious strike past Gabriel Sava to draw the home side level before half-time.

The second half saw the game become a more open affair as Dundalk began to push on into the final third. However it was Bohemians who took the lead with another Kurtis Byrne wonder strike. The Bohs’ frontman found space 35 yards out and let fly with a perfectly weighted volley over the head of the unsuspecting Sava.

The lead didn’t last long though, as hesitant Bohemians defending allowed Michael O’Connor to gran his and Dundalk’s’ second with a delightful shot past an unmoved Steacy.

It was the last ten minutes though, that the game really caught fire. Kurtis Bryne again, showing the 300 in attendance that he’s not one to score ordinary goals. An 81st minute carbon copy of his previous goal, struck a sublime volley from 35 yards out to catch Sava off his line.

The Dundalk keeper will likely be having nightmares tonight, as his tormentor Byrne struck yet again with devastating free kick into the top-left corner of the goal to complete is hat-trick and surely kill off the game for Bohemians.

There was time, however, for a late Dundalk rally. A whizzing cross not dealt with by captain Dave Mulcahy allowed for substitute Jordan Kelly to fire home a late consolation for the away side.

Akinade started brightly, linking up well with Buckley and Paddy Kavanagh – who looked in particularly good form. However, despite a lot of early possession, Bohs struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Lorcan Fitzgerald came closest with a shot that flashed over following a short corner. It was Longford who should really have taken the lead midway through the first half – but they failed to capitalise on Bohs mistakes. First, Lorcan Fitzgerald gave the ball away on the edge of the box, and Paddy Kavanagh had to make a terrific last-ditch tackle to stop David O’Sullivan. Next, O’Sullivan and Alex O’Hanlon tripped over each other when at least one of them should have scored.

Bohs first real chance fell to Kavanagh, who was popping up all over the field. Akinade broke down the left and his cross found Kavanagh who struck the outside of the post. The Gypsies did take the lead on 42 minutes from an unlikely source. The lively Ayman Ben Mohamed checked back on the edge of the box, and slipped the ball through to Keith Buckley. Never a prolific goalscorer, Bucko showed great composure to chip the ball delightfully over Paul Skinner into the net.

Then, on the stroke of half time, Bohs made Longford’s task even harder with a sucker-punch second. Captain Derek Pender flashed a brilliant cross to the far post where Ben Mohamed was waiting to slide the ball home. The former Longford man is fast becoming a cult hero with the Dalymount faithful, who have repaid his quality play with an excellent song in his honour. Listen out for it.

The two goal cushion seemed to loosen Bohs up, and the home team played with a lot of confidence in the second half. Paddy Kavanagh was at the heart of this. The type of player who always tries something different – and tonight it all came off for him. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he hit the post for a second time with a deflected shot. The woodwork took a hammering all night – Longford’s Peter McGlynn struck Dean Delany’s post with a shot that could’ve re-opened the game as a contest.

Derek Pender and Kavanagh linked very well on the right hand side, but the Bohs skipper’s night was ended by a dangerous challenge by Noel Haverty. The former St. Pats youngster seems to have a serious problem with Bohs, having been sent off in the League Cup meeting between the teams just last week. Haverty could easily have seen red again for pole-axing Pender. Keith Long will be sweating on the fitness of his captain, having lost him for much of the 2015 season with an Achilles injury. Next week, Bohs travel to the seaside to face Bray Wanderers – before the showdown with Shamrock Rovers on April 15th.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender (Dylan Hayes, 78), Derek Prendergast, Dano Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Keith Buckley, Roberto Lopes, Eoin Wearen (Dave Mulcahy, 84), Paddy Kavanagh, Ayman Ben Mohamed, Ismahil Akinade (Kurtis Byrne, 64). Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Anto Murphy, Jake Kelly.

Longford Town: Paul Skinner, Mark Hughes, James Mulhall, Pat Flynn, Noel Haverty, Kealon Dillon (Kaleem Simon, 14), Kevin O’Connor, Philip Gannon, Peter McGlynn (Don Cowan, 74), David O’Sullivan, Josh O’Hanlon. Subs not used: Ian Molloy, Daniel O’Reilly, Josh McKeown, Keith Beirne, Karl Chambers.

BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Paddy Kavanagh

A long hopeful ball straight through the heart of the Gypsies backline ran through for David O’Sullivan who drilled the ball low under Dean Delaney to level things up.

Another blow was to come for the home side when Ismahil Akinade, who seemed to have the beating of the Longford defence, was forced off injured after just 16 minutes on his return from suspension.

Longford then had a glorious chance to go 2-1 up after some great work down the right wing, ever threatening Peter McGlynn, cut back to skipper Kevin O’Connor and his right footed shot rifled off Delaney’s bar, bouncing down but somehow not crossing the line.

With both teams conceding possession a bit too easy for their liking, the game became scrappy and also a little feisty. Adam Evans and Pat Flynn had an off the ball tussle resulting in both going into the book.

Right on the stroke of half time Bohs then had their chance to take the lead. A cut back from the end line fell to Adam Evan who fluffed his lines with the goal at his mercy after the ball took a nasty bobble on its way across.

Bohs started the second half the better side, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck with two quick-fire goals. Another excellent dribble from Ben Mohammed drew a nasty foul from John McKeown, who received a yellow for his efforts. Up stepped left back Fitzgerald, and with his wand of a left foot, crossed from the left wing. The top class delivery was delicately glanced in by Derek Prendergast to make it 2-1 in the 48th minute. Just five minutes later, the home fans were celebrating wildly once again when, that man again, Fitzgerald, whipped in an out swinging corner that caused all sorts of havoc in the visitors defence and the ball was eventually scrambled over the line by Jake Kelly.

From then on the hosts looked in control, keeping the ball much better than in the first half. Gypsies boss, Long, deserves a lot of credit for pushing Ben Mohamed into the number 10 position where he was able to see more of the ball and become a constant thorn in the side of Tony Cousins’ men. Langford’s frustration got the better of them when with just 10 minutes left to play, Pat Flynn hacked down Bohs substitute Patrick Kavanagh after his cross field dribble came to an abrupt end, resulting in the defender receiving his second yellow and marching orders.

The home side saw out the game comfortably enough and will be more than delighted that the defensive errors that plagued them in recent games seem to be coming to an end which will delight boss Keith Long. Next up is a tricky away tie to Galway on Saturday but the Gypsies will go into the game full of confidence now they are back to winning ways.

Bohemian FC: Dean Delany; Lorcan Fitzgerald, Daniel Byrne, Derek Prendergast, Dylan Hayes; Adam Evans, Keith Buckley (James Kavanagh 78), Roberto Lopes, Aymen Ben Mohamed (Jason Caffrey 84); Ismahil Akinade (Patrick Kavanagh 16), Jake Kelly.

Booked: Adam Evans (38).

Longford Town: Ian Molloy; Jamie Mulhall, Daniel O’Reilly, Pat Flynn, Mark Hughes; Kealon Dillon, Peter McGlynn (Kaleem Simon 58), Kevin O’Connor (Philip Gannon 84), John McKeown; David O’Sullivan, Karl Chambers (Josh O’Hanlon 63).

Booked: Pat Flynn (38 & 81), John McKeown (48), Daniel O’Reilly (82).

Referee: Paul Tuite.