Four-midable Georgie Kelly put Drogheda to the sword and Bohs ran riot in a five-star performance.
Goals were expected as the league’s two top scoring teams played out an enthralling encounter in the Dublin 7 sunshine. But unfortunately for the high-flying Drogs, they were all for the home side.
For the first time since March 2020 the “Home of Irish Football” welcomed back 100 supporters, 90 members and 10 season ticket holders, as the Gypsies played host to an impressive Drogheda United side who sit one place above them in the table.
And the exuberant crowd didn’t have to wait long for their welcome home gift. With just 10 minutes played it was the home side who broke the deadlock through talismanic front man Georgie Kelly.
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Ross Tierney left his marker for dead in the middle of the park with a clever drop of the shoulder, and had the quality to play a delightful slide-rule pass to split the Drogheda defence to Kelly, who tucked it way past the onrushing David Odumoso.
Tim Clancy’s men, fresh and full of confidence from a fantastic away win at joint table-toppers Sligo Rovers, remained unchanged and showed no signs of dropping their heads, and responded well to the setback.
Chris Lyons, who started the game as the league’s joint top scorer, almost added to his impressive haul when he showed excellent quick feet in the area to fashion half a yard for himself, but his strike was inches away from the top corner.
The visitors again showed moments of real class with an incredible passing move cutting through the Bohs midfield, resulting in Ronan Murray having a go from all of 30 yards with a powerful left-footed drive, which James Talbot was forced to tip over.
There was relentless pressure continued, forcing Bohs to defend doggedly, with cross after cross bombarding Talbot’s area. But just as it looked as if the pressure might tell, the Gypsies hit back with a swift counter-attack through Tierney and Dawson Devoy, with the latter seeing his gilt-edged chance well saved.
Drogheda failed to clear their lines from the resulting set piece and Georgie Kelly added to his haul for the evening.
Rob Cornwall, making his return from injury, floated a deep cross to the back post towards Tierney, who rose incredibly well to win the header, and as the ball
dropped in the area, the unmarked Kelly did the rest, volleying home to make it two.
The visitors opted for a double change to try to drag themselves back into the tie, with ex-Bohs fan favourite Dinny Corcoran and Killian Phillips, replacing Jake Hyland and, more surprisingly, Chris Lyons.
But before the duo had a chance to make an impact, the hosts added a third almost immediately.
Liam Burt was the man who put the finishing touches to yet another swift break, with Tierney fizzing in a ball form the right wing to Kelly’s feet, but must have had eyes in the back of his head, as he stepped over the ball and let it run through to the flying Scotsman to calmly finish.
Drogheda just had no answer to Ireland U21 star Tierney, who was central to everything that was good from Bohs.
The 20-year old was really enjoying himself and again showed why he is so highly rated as he forced the fourth.
Picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area, Tierney went on a dribble, attracting most of the Drogheda defence, with the ball eventually spilling to Kelly, who showed supreme composure to step around Odumoso and slot home for his hat-trick.
There were still more than 15 minutes to play when Georgie incredibly grabbed his fourth of the game. Substitute Stephen Mallon clipped a delightful cross from the left wing right on the money, as Kelly lobbed his header beautifully over the on-rushing Drogheda stopper.
A clinical performance from Keith Long’s men in the end, who will be delighted to drag themselves closer to the top four, and sets the Phibsboro side up nicely for a mouthwatering Dublin Derby against the old enemy Shamrock Rovers on Monday night.
But in direct contrast, Tim Clacy looked on as bewildered as he was frustrated with how his team defended on the night and will have to put it right quickly, as they face Dundalk in just three days’ time.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall, Ciaran Kelly, Ali Coote (Stephen Mallon 62), Liam Burt (Keith Ward 62), Georgie Kelly (Bastien Héry 74), Conor Levingston, Tyreke Wilson, Ross Tierney (Jamie Mullins 69), Dawson Devoy (Keith Buckley 62). Unused substitutes: Enda Minogue, Anto Breslin, Keith Buckley, Jack Moylan, Seán Grehan.
Drogheda United: David Odumoso, James Brown, Conor Kane, Daniel O’Reilly, Darragh Markey, Gary Deegan (Luke Heeney 59), Chris Lyons (Dinny Corcoran 45), Jake Hyland (Killian Phillips 45), Mark Doyle (James Clarke 59), Ronan Murray (Jordan Adeyemo 59), Dane Massey
Unused substitutes: Colin McCabe, Brandon Bermingham, Charles Mutawe, Ryan O’Shea.
Referee: Ben Connolly.