Cork keep up heat on league leaders as Bohs are beaten again
By Daire Walsh
Bohemians 0-1 Cork City
A goal just after the break from Garry Buckley was the difference at Dalymount Park, as Cork City maintained the heat on Premier Division pace-setters Dundalk with a narrow win over Bohemians.
Kevin O’Connor and Greg Bolger had decent opportunities for the Leesiders in the opening 45 minutes of play, but with Dean Delany matching the efforts of the latter, the teams went in level at the break.
However, City found themselves in the driving seat when Buckley turned in a Sean Maguire delivery, and although Ismahil Akinade went close for the Gypsies late on, the Turner’s Cross outfit emerged victorious.
With heavy rain descending upon the Phisboro venue, both sides were struggling to settle into their usual rhythm, and it wasn’t until 22 minutes that the first significant opportunity of the game arrived.
City left-back O’Connor fired just over from a 25-yard free-kick, and with just seven minutes left in the opening period, Bohs keeper Delany produced an excellent point-blank stop from Bolger.
Garry Buckley and Sean Maguire were also marginally off-target prior to the interval, before City broke the stern resistance of the Gypsies two minutes after the restart.
Maguire was picked out in space on the right-flank, and his precise cross was turned into the empty Bohs net by the alert Buckley.
This placed John Caulfield’s charges in pole position for another success, and despite the best efforts of the hosts, it was the Munster side who continued to display the greater attacking intent.
Delany came to his side’s aid with a smart low save from Gavan Holohan, and Keith Long’s men suffered another hammer blow ten minutes from time.
Mark Quigley was issued with a straight red-card for a late tackle on City’s Karl Sheppard, and with a numerical advantage at their disposal, the visiting team were odds on for all three points.
They did receive a late scare when a powerful drive by substitute Ismail Akinade drifted agonisingly wide of Mark McNulty’s post, but Cork will now be aiming to keeping their winning run going at home to Derry City this Friday evening.
Bohs, on the other hand, will enter their Saturday night encounter against Sligo Rovers without a win in six league outings.
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Robert Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Eoin Wearen, Keith Buckley (Mark Quigley 63), Dave Mulcahy, Paddy Kavanagh (Ismahil Akinade 71), Jake Kelly; Kurtis Byrne (Aymen Ben Mohammed 57).
Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Alan Bennett, Kenny Browne, Kevin O’Connor; Greg Bolger, Gavan Holohan (Michael McSweeney 89); Steven Beattie (Colin Healy 92), Garry Buckley, Karl Sheppard; Sean Maguire (Mark O’Sullivan 81).
Referee: Robert Rogers (Dublin).