A crucial win for Dundalk in their bid to reel in Shamrock Rovers - and it came by way of a controversial winner.
VAR would have been handy at Dalymount Park as Bohs looked bemused more than angry by the award of the only goal of the night on the stroke of half-time.
Former Gypsy Darragh Leahy's punt wasn't goal-bound but when early substitute John Martin went up to challenge Tadhg Ryan, the keeper appeared to knock the ball into his own net.
Ryan walked upfield after ref Adriano Reale in protest at Martin's goal-line challenge but the goal stood.
Still, Dundalk had to survive the 52nd minute loss of Andy Boyle to a red card when he bundled over Ethon Varian who was through on goal.
Bohs laid siege in the closing stages and sub Jonathan Afolabi hit the woodwork in the 88th minute.
But Stephen O'Donnell's side held on through eight minutes of injury time and are now four points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, though Dundalk have played a game more.
It was Bohs who made an encouraging start and, in the fourth minute, Ciarán Kelly blazed over after John O'Sullivan's initial effort was blocked.
Pat Hoban was only returning from injury but the Dundalk striker hobbled off in the 11th minute after a Jordan Doherty challenge and was replaced up front by Martin.
The new man was instantly booked for a foul on Kelly but the visitors actually came more into the contest after that.
The Dundalk bench were on their feet in the 27th minute when they claimed Kelly had fouled Martin, but Reale appeared to make the right call.
But the visitors were putting the pressure on, with Steven Bradley's shot deflected wide before a powerfully hit Leahy cross needed two attempts to be held by Ryan as Greg Sloggett tried to fire home the rebound.
The Lilywhites carved out an even better opportunity with the move of the half, a slide-rule Sam Bone pass into Ryan O'Kane that bobbled loose to be hit by Martin, and Ryan did well to save.
In reply, Bohs defender Kelly made a decent attempt to catch Nathan Shepperd off his line but the keeper was wise to it, and then the half ended with Martin's disputed breakthrough effort.
Long made two changes at the break to change things up Dundalk continued from where they left off - Joe Adams was off-target when he tried to bend a shot into the top corner, then Ryan saved low from O'Kane.
But Dundalk were reduced to 10 soon after, when Varian got ahead of Boyle in a sprint towards goal and the experienced centre-back tripped him just outside the box, prompting Reale to dismiss him.
Although Ali Coote's free was deflected wide, Bohs were back on the front foot and, within moments of coming on, Ireland under-21 striker Afolabi was inches away from a dream debut goal for the club but he couldn't make contact with Ryan Burke's centre.
Another timely Leahy intervention prevented Coote from shooting from point-blank range, before Varian glanced a header just past the far upright from a corner.
Then Afolabi broke clear on the left and drove towards goal before unleashing a shot that struck the post but Bohs just couldn't restore parity.
BOHEMIANS: Tadhg Ryan, Laurenz Dehl (Conor Levingston ht), Josh Kerr, Ciarán Kelly, Ryan Burke (Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe 83), A Coote, J Doherty (Rory Feely ht), James Clarke, Declan McDaid (Liam Burt 73), John O'Sullivan (Jonathan Afolabi 61), Ethon Varian.
DUNDALK: Nathan Shepperd, Lewis Macari, Andy Boyle, Sam Bone, Darragh Leahy, Alfie Lewis, Greg Sloggett, Joe Adams (Robbie McCourt 54), Steven Bradley, Ryan O'Kane (Robbie Benson 79), Pat Hoban (John Martin 11).
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