Bohs Cott’ out by the Rebels
Bohemians 0
Cork City 1
CONOR McCarthy’s 22nd-minute goal was the difference at Dalymount Park as Cork City 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.
A 1-1 draw with basement side Finn Harps at Turner’s Cross last Monday led to the departure of John Caulfield as manager less than 48 hours later.
Cotter swiftly assumed the reins on an interim basis, with Alan Bennett taking over his former assistant role.
In an effort to stifle the Bohs attack, he deployed a rigid 4-1-4-1 formation – the experienced Conor McCormack offering protection to the back-four.
The hosts offered an early threat down the right-flank, where veteran skipper Derek Pender joined forces with teenager Danny Grant.
Ideal
A breakthrough almost arrived on 17 minutes when a Grant cross deflected off centre-half Sean McLoughln, but the danger was eventually averted.
The Leesiders started to grow in confidence.
A free-kick just inside the Bohs half was the ideal opportunity to get bodies forward and James Tilley’s delivery was headed home in clinical style by full-back McCarthy.
Gearoid Morrissey flashed a long-distance effort past the Bohs goal before Tilley also went close through an acrobatic volley.
Despite losing Morrissey to a groin injury, City held that all-important one-goal advantage at the interval.
Given a title challenge is still within grasp, there was a notable increase in tempo from Bohs on the resumption.
Nevertheless, they remained somewhat vulnerable in defence and James Talbot was forced to turn away a Tilley strike on 49 minutes.
Target
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 lacked the cutting edge in attack that has served them so well in recent times.
Danny Mandriou unleashed an audacious effort on the left-wing inside the closing quarter, but keeper Mark McNulty saw it out for a goal kick.
BOHEMIANS: Talbot 7; Pender 6, Barker 6, Finnerty 6, Leahy 7; Buckley 7, Levingston 7; Grant 7, Mandriou 6, Devaney 6; Corcoran 6.
CORK CITY: McNulty 7; McCarthy 7, Casey 7, McLoughlin 7, Comerford 7; McCormack 7; Tilley 8, Morrissey 6 (Phillips 43, 6), O’Connor 7, Sheppard 6; Rainsford 6 (Cummins 57, 6).
REFEREE: D McGrath (Mayo).