Bohemians back in title hunt following tense win over Waterford

Having seen their season come to an abrupt halt with two deflating defeats in four days last weekend, a Dawson Devoy-less Bohemians bounced back in style to see off Waterford and breathe life into their title hopes.

It was a hard-fought win as they got some slight revenge on their FAI Cup semi-final conquerors thanks to Sam Todd and Ryan Burke goals either side of a Pádraig Amond equaliser — with Tommy Lonergan missing a crucial penalty for the Blues at 1-1.

Alan Reynolds kept faith with his somewhat divisive goalkeeper Paul Walters, while also leaving the league’s second top scorer Colm Whelan on the bench, but saw his side take the lead after just 12 minutes when Jordan Flores’ inswinging corner was powered home by Todd for a deserved lead

The cup finalists remained unchanged from a week previous, and although they had the showpiece lurking on the horizon, focus had to remain firmly on domestic matters as they look to avoid the dreaded relegation/promotion play-off.

But having dealt with the visitors’ aerial threat relatively comfortably, the hosts’ Achilles heel of not being ruthless enough in the final third came back to haunt them.

Both Douglas James-Taylor and Ryan Burke spurned glorious chances to double their lead before an unmarked Amond equalised with a well-taken header from Benny Couto’s corner.

Minutes after the restart the visitors were handed a glorious chance to take the lead when Cian Byrne was adjudged to have brought down Mahon following another Couto long throw. But much to the bafflement of all inside Dalymount, the league’s top scorer Lonergan dragged his spot-kick wide of the bottom corner.

Having been let off the hook, left back Burke burst forward from left-back to put his side ahead against his former employers smashing home a low right-footed effort from the edge of the area to eventually earn a morale-boosting three points.