Cork City 0 - 2 Bohemians

Bohemians are back on top of the table for 24 hours at least thanks to a straight-forward 2-0 win over a woeful Cork City at Turner’s Cross.

A goal in either half meant the Gypsies overtake Shamrock Rovers, until the Hoops take on Drogheda United tomorrow night. The only positive for Cork was that Derry were also defeated by Galway United, so the Leesiders keep their hands on 3rd place for the meantime.

The game started in dour fashion, though Bohs’ Killian Brennan had a low-driven free-kick cleared off of the line by Greg O’Halloran in the 13th minute. The away side had complete control of the ball for large spells of the opening half but Glen Crowe also spurned an excellent opportunity on 24, swiping his shot wide of the target.

Cork were incredibly poor, failing to keep the ball when in possession and inviting the Gypsies onto them. A promising break forward from Greg O’Halloran at left-back after dispossessing Brian Shelley saw the versatile defender in an excellent position, however, Brian Murphy was quick off of the mark to clear the ball.

Bohs looked to be denied a stonewall penalty in the 33rd minute when Kevin Long looked to have pulled Glen Crowe down inside the area but Derek Tomney waved Crowe’s appeal away. Remarkably, Glenn Cronin then threw himself to the ground two minutes later, becoming the laughing stock of Turner’s Cross with a dive that would have won top marks if he had jumped from a platform.

All the action was in the Cork half and Dan Murray halted Anto Murphy after the Bohs man got the better of Billy Dennehy on the right wing. However, the resulting corner ended with Paul Keegan crossing to the back-post as Ken Oman rose to head home from eight yards out.

The second period was scrappy with Cork becoming more and more wasteful as the minutes progressed. Time after time Guntars Silagailis lost the ball and after he was dispossessed by Oman, the defender played to Killian Brennan who then crossed the ball in front of goal only for Kevin Long to tap into his own net at the near-post, making it 2-0 to the Gypsies with a half hour still on the clock.

The desperate Silagailis was immediately taken off after the goal, with a chorus of boos ringing around the ground as the Rebel Army voiced their disapproval at the Lativan’s inept display. Billy Dennehy had a decent chance in the 66th minute for Cork, but his powerful strike flew wide of the mark

Paddy Madden hit the woodwork from an acute angle seven minutes from time but there was never a need for Bohs to extend the lead further as a flat home outfit never looked like scoring.

Cork City: Mark McNulty, Neal Horgan, Greg O’Halloran, Dan Murray, Guntars Silagailis, Fahrudin Kuduzovic, Billy Dennehy, Cillian Lordan, Stephen O’Donnell, Davin O’Neill, Kevin Long. Subs: Gareth Cambridge (Silagailis, 59 mins), Shane Duggan (Davin O’Neill, 61mins), Stephen Mulcahy, Wesley Tong, Paul Deasy unused.

Bohemians: Brian Murphy, Anto Murphy, Conor Powell, Glenn Cronin, Brian Shelley, Ken Oman, Paul Keegan, Joseph Ndo, Glen Crowe, Paddy Madden, Killian Brennan. Subs: Neale Fenn (Glen Crowe, 81mins), Ryan Marc Hughes (Paddy Madden, 84mins), McEvoy, Sean Byrne, Matt Gregg unused.

Referee: Derek Tomney

Attendance: 2,940

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paul Keegan