Thomas Oluwa hit a first-half winner to maintain relegation-tipped Drogheda United's unbeaten start to the season as Bohemians slumped to a third successive defeat.
In their first game at Dalymount Park this season, little appears to have changed on home soil for Alan Reynolds' Gypsies, who finished a disappointing eighth last year.
Bohs won just four of their league games in Phibsborough in 2024, and one of their last 12 at the venue since beating Drogheda in mid-April.
Despite a poor league campaign, Drogheda ended last season on a high, winning the FAI Cup and retaining their Premier Division status through the play-off.
And Kevin Doherty's side started with the confidence of a team unbeaten in their opening three games this year.
A series of long throws and a corner soon had Bohs stretched at the back, culminating in Ross Tierney having to hook clear off the line from visiting skipper Ryan Brennan.
And Drogheda's bright start saw them deservedly ahead on 17 minutes.
Shane Farrell initially rattled the Bohemians crossbar after home skipper Dawson Devoy was yellow-carded for a trip on Darragh Markey.
Right-back Owen Lambe then sent a diagonal ball back into the Bohs area which was nodded across goal by Andy Quinn.
Striker Oluwa pounced on the loose ball to spin Leigh Kavanagh to shoot home from six yards for his first league goal on his first league start for the club.
That setback woke Bohemians from their sluggish start as they enjoyed a good deal of pressure on the visitors’ goal.
But it was the 24th minute before Luke Dennison was worked between Drogheda’s posts, adjusting well to tip over Tierney’s deflected shot from distance.
Collie Whelan then got in behind on the right, with Conor Keeley getting back to force the drive out for a corner.
But it was Bohs who would have a let-off five minutes before the break.
Farrell was given far too much time and space to advance from midfield. The frustrated home crowd, who voiced their disapproval on the half-time whistle, were relieved to see his shot deflect out for a corner off Kavanagh.
Despite Owning the ball from the resumption, Bohs laboured to create much in the final third as Drogheda defended tenaciously.
Indeed, Bohs’ James Talbot was the first goalkeeper to see any real action in the second when turning Oluwa’s shot round a post after a surging run by the Drogheda frontrunner.
For all their endeavour, Bohemians failed to muster an effort on target throughout the whole second half, Tierney blazing over deep in added time summing up their night.
There were loud boos from the home crowd on the final whistle as the raucous Drogheda fans duly regaled their team, who sit second in the table ahead of Friday’s trip to champions Shelbourne.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Liam Smith (Archie Meekison 58), Leigh Kavanagh, Sean Grehan, John Mountney (Lys Mousset 58); Niall Morahan, Dawson Devoy; Dayle Rooney, Ross Tierney, Connor Parsons (James Clarke 75); Colm Whelan (Rhys Brennan 75).
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andy Quinn, Conor Keeley, James Bolger; Owen Lambe, Shane Farrell, Ryan Brennan (Luke Heeney 63), Conor Kane; Darragh Markey; Thomas Oluwa (Steve Bawa 69), Warren Davis (Bridel Bosakani 81).
Referee: Mark Houlihan (Dublin).
