The Noel King era got off to a dream start as Dundalk claimed their first win of the season against a previously in-form Bohemians side at Oriel Park.
The 67-year-old former Republic of Ireland was a shock appointment to replace Stephen O'Donnell as manager of the bottom of the table side last weekend having not managed in the League of Ireland since departing Finn Harps 20 years ago yesterday.
However, first half goals from Scott High and Robbie Benson - Dundalk’s first on home soil this season - saw him become the first permanent Lilywhites boss since Ian Foster in 2010 to win his first league match in charge - and the first to do so at Oriel Park since John Hewitt back in August 1996.
The three points was no more than his side deserved having bossed proceedings against a Bohs side who had come into the match on the back of three wins in-a-row.
Alan Reynolds’ side did have a chance to claw their way back into it when they were awarded a penalty on 62 minutes but James Akintunde’s effort was saved by George Shelvey.
While the Louth men remain bottom of the table, three points adrift of their neighbours Drogheda Utd, this result and performance under their new boss will give them hope of better times ahead under King.
The home side started well on top with club captain John Mountney going close twice inside the opening five minutes before the opening goal arrived in spectacular fashion on 13 minutes.
After a corner was only partially cleared, Daryl Horgan teed High up to let fly from about 30 yards out with an effort that beat Kacper Chorazka before going in off the inside of the post.
It took Bohs until the 24th minute to register their first attempt when James Clarke fired well over after the ball dropped to him in the box but after Horgan and Mountney had gone close at the other end, the visitors were unlucky not to be level on the half hour mark with Dayle Rooney curling a free kick around the wall that came back off the butt of the post.
Benson then let fly with an effort of his own that was turned around the post by Chorazka a minute later and from the resulting corner Mountney was unlucky not to double his side’s lead when the Polish keeper spilled Horgan’s cross.
The loose ball dropped kindly to the Dundalk captain but deflected wide. The Louth men were really turning the screw at this stage and had four shots in a matter of seconds on 34 minutes. The first arrived following a great break by Archie Davies, whose effort was blocked on the line by Luke Matheson after a pull back from Benson.
Koen Oostenbrink, Davies and Horgan all had follow up efforts blocked afterwards as the Bohs goal lived a charmed life. The second did arrive a minute later when Horgan got to the end line on the right before pulling back to Benson at the edge of the area, who had time to steady himself before firing left footed to the top right hand corner.
While Paddy Kirk had an effort crash into the side-netting for the visitors before the break, it was the home side who were unlucky not to add to their advantage either side of that with Mountney’s deflected effort being just about kept out by the legs of Chorazka before Horgan headed just wide from High’s cross in stoppage time.
After a trio of changes at the break, the visitors finally registered their first shot on target on 53 minutes when James Akintunde - scorer of the only goal when these sides met just 11 days ago at Dalymount Park - found space on the right only to fire tamely at Shelvey.
The hosts then went close again a minute later when High stood up a cross for Zak Johnson to attack after Bohs failed to fully clear their lines from a corner but the former England U18 captain couldn't keep his header down.
The Gypsies were then given a potential lifeline on 62 minutes when they were awarded what looked a soft penalty as Declan McDaid went down in the box under Benson’s challenge. Akintunde stepped up to take it but he hit a poor effort that was easily saved by Shelvey.
Clarke then headed over from his side’s first corner three minutes later before Chorazka made a superb point blank stop to deny Jamie Gullan making it three for the home side shortly after.
Akintunde had a couple of half chances after that to bring the visitors back into it before Brian McManus pulled a shot wide in stoppage time but the visitors couldn’t trouble Shelvey as Dundalk claimed their first home win since beating already relegated UCD 5-1 away on the final day of last season.
Dundalk: George Shelvey; Archie Davies, Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Zak Bradshaw; Scott High, Dara Keane (Koen Oostenbrink 23); John Mountney, Robbie Benson, Daryl Horgan; Jamie Gullan (Eoin Kenny 89).
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka, Luke Matheson (Filip Piszczek HT), Jevon Mills, Aboubacar Keita, Paddy Kirk; James McManus (Brian McManus HT), Jordan Flores (Adam McDonnell HT); Declan McDaid (Daniel Grant 79), James Clarke, Dayle Rooney (Dylan Connolly 71); James Akintunde.Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
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