Bohemians 0-1 Cork City: Buckley goal gives Leesiders three points

By Daire Walsh at Dalymount Park

Garry Buckley scored the only goal of the game as John Caulfield’s side kept their title hopes alive with a win at Dalymount Park

Cork City recorded a hard-fought win over 10-man Bohemians to hold on to second spot in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Garry Buckley netted the only goal of the game after half-time, before Bohs had Mark Quigley sent off to hinder their chances of a comeback.

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 were on level terms upon the resumption.

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 ultimately emerged victorious.

With heavy rain descending upon the Phibsboro venue, both sides were struggling to settle into their usual rhythm of play, and it was not until the 22nd minute 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 custodian Delany produced an excellent point-blank stop from Cork midfielder Bolger.

Buckley and Maguire were also marginally off-target prior to the interval, before City 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 their north Dublin counterparts suffered another hammer blow 10 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 keep 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.