- Stephen Walsh
- Mon, Mar 19 2018
Two goals in three first half minutes from Graham Cummins and Kieran Sadlier set Cork City back to winning ways, and Karl Sheppard made certain in the second half, as the Rebel Army defeated Bohemians in front of 4,265 spectators in Turner's Cross on Monday afternoon.
Bohemians had beaten City in the Cross last year, but this time around it was to be Cork taking the lead with Cummins deflecting a shot over the line from the edge of the box following a fine passage of play.
Three minutes later, Sadlier scored his fifth league goal of the year finishing a penalty to the net.
The second half was a tighter affair with both teams having chances, before Sheppard curled in a free kick on 88 minutes to guarantee the victory, leaving City four points clear at the top of the table.
John Caulfield made two changes to the side that drew with Limerick away last Friday night, with Jimmy Keohane and Garry Buckley coming into the starting team in place of Gearóid Morrissey and Sheppard, who both dropped to the bench.
Keith Long made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at home to Sligo Rovers with JJ Lunney and Dylan Watts replacing Paddy Kavanagh and Ian Morris.
The opening minutes saw Sadlier fire a shot at goal that got blocked by Cummins as City tried to impose themselves on proceedings, but there was little in the way of goalmouth action.
On 18 minutes, City went ahead. Conor McCarthy played a long ball down the line to Barry McNamee and the former Derry player crossed to Keohane who saw his shot deflect off Cummins before trickling past Shane Supple’s outstretched hand and over the line.
Bohemians had hardly time to settle when they were further behind. Conor McCormack’s high cross into the box was handled by Rob Cornwall, leaving Tomás Connolly with no choice but to award the penalty. Up stepped Sadlier to fire into the top corner – his fourth penalty of the season.
Before the break, McNamee had a free kick from 20 yards go narrowly wide, while Eoghan Stokes hooked a shot over the bar from 16 yards for Bohemians.
Early in the second half, good link up play between Jimmy Keohane and Cummins saw the former St Johnstone man drag a shot narrowly across the goal and wide.
Bohemians had a great chance on 52 minutes with Dylan Watts seeing his shot from inside the box stopped by a diving block from Sean McLoughlin.
The City centre-half had another good performance at the heart of the City defence in the absence of Alan Bennett, who remains out injured.
On the hour mark, Keohane had a shot well blocked by Morris as he looked for City’s third of the afternoon.
Two minutes from time, Sheppard curled a free kick over the wall into the net past Supple to guarantee the three points for City, as they now look to play Bray Wanderers away next Friday week.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Conor McCarthy, Aaron Barry, Sean McLoughlin, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Jimmy Keohane; Barry McNamee, Garry Buckley (Gearóid Morrissey 25), Kieran Sadlier (Karl Sheppard 66); Graham Cummins (Colm Horgan 89).
Subs: Peter Cherrie, Tobi Adebayo Rowling, Michael Howard, Josh O’Hanlon.
Booked: None.
Bohemians: Shane Supple; Derek Pender (Ian Morris 26, inj), Dan Casey, Rob Cornwall, Darragh Leahy; Oscar Brennan, Jonathan Lunney, Keith Buckley, Karl Moore; Eoghan Stokes (Keith Ward 70), Dylan Watts (Dinny Corcoran 64).
Subs not used: Colin McCabe, Dan Byrne, Philip Gannon, Paddy Kavanagh.
Booked: Rob Cornwall (20).
Referee: Tomas Connolly
Attendance: 4,265
Extratime.ie Player of the match: Sean McLoughlin (Cork City).
