Bohemians 0 Cork City 1
Conor McCarthy’s 22nd-minute goal was the difference at Dalymount Park on Friday night as Cork City finally returned to winning ways in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
Following a run of eight games without a win in the top-flight, City held off a late surge from Bohemians to give John Cotter a dream start as caretaker manager.
The hosts offered a considerable threat down the right-flank and a Danny Grant cross was almost deflected home by the outstretched foot of City centre-half Sean McLoughlin.
A Tilley free-kick provided them Cork with the perfect opportunity to get bodies forward, however, and McCarthy was on hand to head home in clinical fashion.
While the Gypsies were somewhat unfortunate to be trailing on the first-quarter mark, City’s reliable netminder Mark McNulty remained largely untested during the opening half. Gearoid Morrissey flashed a long-distance effort past the Bohs goal before being withdrawn through injury on 43 minutes.
Despite also going close through an acrobatic Tilley volley, the visitors were more than content with a one-goal advantage at the break.
They were close to doubling their lead on the resumption when Tilley drew a fine save out of James Talbot. Dan Casey headed a Tilley corner just past the the target on the hour mark and Kevin Devaney was narrowly wide of the mark at the opposite end.
Though there was little doubting their endeavour, Bohs’ lack of cutting edge in attack ultimately saw them losing ground in the title race.
BOHEMIANS: Talbot; Pender, Barker, Finnerty, Leahy; Buckley, Levingston; Grant, Mandriou, Devaney; Corcoran.
CORK CITY: McNulty; McCarthy, Casey, McLoughlin, Comerford; McCormack; Tilley, Morrissey (Phillips, 43 mins), O’Connor, Sheppard; Rainsford (Cummins, 57 mins).
Referee: D McGrath (Mayo).