As one Super League crumbled, another continued full steam ahead as Bohemians and Sligo Rovers played out an enthralling and high-quality, end-to-end encounter at Dalymount Park.
Stunning efforts exchanged by Jordan Gibson and Liam Burt had the teams level going into the final 15 minutes, but the in-form Bit O’Red grabbed all three points with some clinical finishing by substitutes Mark Byrne and David Cawley.
Bohs bounced into the encounter on the back of two 1-0 wins on the road, and with the Dublin Derby up next, Keith Long shuffled his pack making five changes from the side that beat Waterford on Friday evening.
The home side should have taken the lead after just three minutes. A frantic start saw Georgie Kelly pounce on a slack back-pass, but saw his low shot well saved by Ed McGinty.
Sligo responded immediately and it was their turn to miss a gilt-edged chance. The visitors, who sat joint top going into the clash, won the ball in the Bohs area from some sloppy defending and the ball found its way to new kid on the block, Johnny Kenny, with the goal at his mercy.
Bohs keeper James Talbot showed excellent reactions to get down and deny the 17-year old.
The relentless pace did not let up as McGinty was forced into action again just before the half-hour mark.
Anto Breslin, on a rampaging overlap run, clipped a delicious cross to the back post and winger Jack Moylan, on his full league debut, did well to get his header on target but the Ireland U21 international saved well yet again.
The breathless encounter, now resembling a basketball game, continued as the visitors snatched the lead following some excellent build-up play in the final third.
Kenny, brimming with confidence following his first league goal against Finn Harps, slid in Romeo Parkes from deep, and although he was initially covered, showed incredible awareness to float to the ball to his right, teeing up Gibson to smash home a first time volley.
For the remainder of the half, the hosts dominated possession but just lacked that final ball to get themselves back on terms, as the Bit O’Red defended comfortably enough.
Keith Long’s came flying out of the traps after the break and equalised within minutes of the restart with a stunning effort from Burt.
The winger cut in from the left wing, and curled a magnificent effort to the far post giving McGinty no chance.
A war of attrition developed as both teams refused to give an inch. Heavy, full-blooded challenges followed by a spate of bookings as both sides showed their mettle.
With just a quarter of an hour remaining, the visitors put together yet another excellent move in the Bohs final third.
Ex-Shamrock Rovers man Greg Bolger floated a lovely cross onto the head of Kenny, who found himself in between Rob Cornwall and Ciaran Kelly. The front man clevely flicked the ball onto unmarked Byrne coming in from the left. The substitute showed great composure to flick the ball over the onrushing Talbot to give his side the lead.
The Gypsies responded with a double change, in came Ali Coote and Keith Ward, and it was the latter who really should have made an instant impact.
Breslin’s initial low effort fell back to the feet of Ward, and with two defenders on the line, he somehow managed to miss the target.
Still reeling from the miss, Bohs fell further behind as Sligo made it 3-1 through another substitute Cawley, who smashed home into the roof of the net from just inside the area to seal all three points on a frustrating night for the home.
Bohs will not have much time to dwell on that though as up next on Friday it is the big one as the Gypsies travel across town to visit rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall (c), Ciaran Kelly, Anto Breslin, Ross Tierney (Ali Coote 81), Conor Levingston (Keith Ward 81), Dawson Devoy, Jack Moylan, Liam Burt, Georgie Kelly (Promise Omochere, 72). Unused substitutes: Andy Lyons, Tyreke Wilson, James Finnerty, Robbie Mahon, Thomas Oluwa.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty, Colm Horgan (Lewis Banks 86), John Mahon, Garry Buckley, Robbie McCourt, Greg Bolger (c), Jordan Gibson, Niall Morahan, Walter Figueira (Mark Byrne 58), Johnny Kenny, Romeo Parkes (David Cawley 74). Unused substitutes: Richard Brush, Ryan DeVries, Regan Donelon, Darren Collins, Scott Lynch, Peter Maguire.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
