The proverbial game of halves was played out at Ben Wadding Park on Thursday night last after Bohs netted three times in the opening 35 minutes before the Old Boro rallied brilliantly in what ultimately proved a fine contest.
Bohs opened the scoring after two minutes when Jack Power fired into the roof of the net from the edge of the box after a defence splitting pass from Shane Doheny.
Six minutes later, Cormac Maguire had a chance to level following Nicholas Breathnach’s pass but he shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
Jack O’Flynn tested the Bohs goalkeeper Gavin Buckley after 18 minutes but the visitors drew level three minutes later through an Aaron Ruan penalty after Alex Browne tripped Sam Uniach.
Bohs restored their lead on 31 minutes through Conor Walshe after taking a good delivery from Kyle Shaw before cracking the ball past Dylan Cliffe and they extended their lead just three minutes later.
Kyle Shaw cushioned the ball into the path of Anvy Fardav who rifled the ball into the far corner of the net, off the underside of the crossbar.
After the break, it was a completely different story as Dungarvan took total control of the contest.
In the 39th minute, Jack O’Flynn mis-kicked in front of goal and six minutes later, Gavin Buckley denied O’Flynn with a stunning save after Cormac Mahony played his team mate through on goal.
The visitors were on fire at that stage and their wing play was a joy to behold. Left wing Sam Uniach whipped over a super cross on 51 minutes which was met by Jack Donnelly but his powerful header was brilliantly tipped over by the excellent Gavin Buckley.
But Dungarvan continued to press forward and Cormac Mahony was dreadfully unlucky to see a crisp volley from 20 yards come back off the upright after 68 minutes and moments later Buckley again showed his class, tipping away a powerful header from Jack O’Flynn.
On the stroke of full-time, Dungarvan finally goaled for a second time when Jack O’Flynn’s second half endeavour was finally rewarded following a bullet-like header after Sam Uniach’s cross.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Dungarvan came close to gaining a point when Arthur Tiziach met a cross from Cormac Mahony – but not for the first time, Gavin Buckley produced another sublime save.
One suspects that both these sides will be in the title mix come the end of the season.
Bohemians: Gavin Buckley; Zach Power, Alex Browne, Ronan Power, Eoin O’Brien; Jake Foley, Conor Walshe, Kyle Shaw, Shane Doheny; Jack Power, Ryan Kelly.
Substitutes: Peter Rafter, Brian Leahy, Fernando Carrasco, Anvy Fardav.
Dungarvan United: Dylan Cliffe; Ben Kavanagh, Jack Donnelly, Aaron Ryan, James Carberry; Nicholas Breathnach, Cameron Maguire, Cormac Mahony, Sam Uniach; Arthur Tiziach, Kyle O’Donnell.
Substitute: Jack O’Flynn.
Referee: Stuart Kennedy.