- Sam McKeever
- Fri, May 03 2019
Sam McKeever reports from Dalymount Park
Cork City grabbed their fourth win of the season as a Conor McCarthy header in the first half gave the Leesiders a vital three points against Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night in the first game of the post-John Caulfield era.
In a tight game with very little football played, it was Bohs was came the closest to scoring in the opening quarter of an hour.
A Danny Grant cross from the right was misjudged by City goalkeeper Mark McNulty in the City goal before former Bohemians defender Dan Casey scrambled the ball off the line
Just before the 20 minute mark Gearoid Morrissey fired a ball into the feet of Darragh Rainsford who showed great control under pressure from Michael Barker before being flagged up for offside by the linesman.
A few minutes later and City took the lead. A free kick from former Shamrock Rovers man Conor McCormack from the right hand side found the head of Conor McCarthy on the back post. He made no mistake by heading home past Talbot to break the deadlock.
You would of expected to game to open up after the first goal but there was very little in terms of clear cut chances throughout the half.
However a strike from distance by Morrissey which just went past Talbot’s left hand post the only real good strike on goal after the deadlock was broken.
City were almost two up just minutes into the second half. A mistake from the Bohemians defence let James Tilley through who hit a fine effort to the front post with Talbot equal to it getting down well at his near post to divert it for a corner.
Bohs battled back and could have been level on the hour mark. Good work down the right from Grant ended with a fine cross into the middle of the box in to Kevin Devaney. His header just went over the bar from a dozen yards out.
Six minutes later good work between Dinny Corcoran and Kevin Devaney found full back Derek Pender. The Gypsy captain’s effort on goal was charged down well by the City defence before the ball was cleared to safety.
A minute from time and Bohemians almost snatched a leveller. A bursting run from Grant down the right got him into a fantastic position to put in a low cross to the front post and Corcoran.
The striker stretched his foot out but missed it by a vital inch before the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
Keith Long’s side huffed and puffed in the second half as Cork retreated further and further into their own half absorbing the pressure that was being put on them by the home side.
However they managed to grind out a vital win to give them a massive three points in John Cotter’s first game in charge as interim boss and inflict Bohs’ first home defeat of the season.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Derek Pender, Darragh Leahy, Danny Mandroiu, Dinny Corcoran,Kevin Devaney; Danny Grant, Conor Levingston, Keith Buckley, James Finnerty; Michael Barker
Subs not Used: Sean Bohan, Scott Allardice, Robbie McCourt, Andy Lyons, Paddy Kirk, Ryan Swan, Luke-Wade Slater.
Booked: James Talbot (82)
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Sean McLoughlin, Gearoid Morrissey(Pierce Phillips 43), Darragh Rainsford (Graham Cummins 58),, Conor McCormack; Karl Sheppard, Garry Comerford, Conor McCarthy; James Tilley, Kevin O’Connor, Dan Casey.
Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan, Colm Horgan, Daire O’Connor, Matthew Gillan,
Booked: Graham Cummins (82), James Tilley (87).
Referee: Damian McGrath
Attendance: 3,109
Man of the Match: Conor McCarthy
