- Rónán MacNamara
- Mon, May 01 2023
Rónán MacNamara reports from Dalymount Park
This game was taken away from Cork City in a matter of minutes. Jordan Flores returned from suspension to fire home his third free kick of the season for Bohs after Ally Gilchrist was shown a straight red for lashing out at Jonathan Afolabi.
City stopper Daniel Moynihan stood the same side as the free kick but he was still helpess to stop it from rifling the top corner.
Adam McDonnell’s low shot gave Declan Devine’s charges a two goal cushion before three goals in six minutes took the game away from the Rebel army.
A quickfire double from substitute and fit again Ali Coote saw Bohemians pull away before James McManus also came off the bench to add some gloss with a fine effort from distance to make it five.
Bohs entered the game looking for an improved showing after a ponderous display away to UCD on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Bowl by the bottom side.
The hosts took a while to get going and were blessed not to find themselves a goal in arrears inside the first 30 seconds.
Bohs goalkeeper James Talbot proved an early hero after a fine double save. Barry Coffey’s cross met the head of marksman Ruairi Keating but from six yards out he was denied twice by the netminder.
Afolabi cut an isolated figure in the opening quarter as the crowd grew restless at another seemingly ponderous display but once he got bodies around him he began to toy with the City back five.
Kris Twardek’s influence grew down the left wing as he provided an outlet in behind and that’s where the Gypsies got most of their joy as they stepped up the tempo.
Shots came in from Paddy Kirk and Flores with the latter drawing a fine diving save from Moynihan.
The game’s major flashpoint came in the 30th minute as Afolabi was caught by Gilchrist after a neat flick around the corner to Dean Williams. Amazingly, play was allowed to continue before referee Adriano Reale whistled with the Leesiders breaking away.
The ref, perhaps under instruction from his assistants, showed Gilchrist a red card for kicking out at Afolabi on the ground.
Flores added insult to injury for City as he curled the free kick into the top corner.
McDonnell put the game beyond doubt ten minutes into the second half as his low cross cut shot found the bottom corner. He was replaced moments later by James McManus.
The visitors will wonder how they didn’t claw themselves back into the mix in the last 15 minutes. Substitute Cian Murphy had barely a moment to ponder his point blank miss before a rapid fire double from Coote put Bohemians over the hill and far away.
Both goals were a carbon copy. First the Scotsman was on hand to tap home from Twardek’s cross before he was celebrating moments later after he turned home Declan McDaid’s ball.
Fellow sub McManus powered home a sweetly struck fifth goal after picking the ball up in acres of space.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Grant Horton, Patrick Kirk, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski; Jordan Flores (James Clarke 73), Adam McDonnell (James McManus 60), Kris Twardek; Jonathan Afolabi, Dylan Connolly (Declan McDaid 68), Dean Williams (Ali Coote 68).
Subs not used: Luke Dennison, Drew Baker, Keith Buckley, John O'Sullivan, Jay Benn.
Booked: James McManus (75).
Cork City: Daniel Moynihan; Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist, Josh Honohan; Aaron Bolger (John O'Donovan 74), Barry Coffey (Daniel Krezic 60), Darragh Crowley, Matt Healy, Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh (Gordon Walker 69), Albin Winbo (Cian Murphy 60); Ruairi Keating (Tunde Owolabi 60).
Subs not used: Jimmy Corcoran, Kevin Custovic.
Booked: Aaron Bolger (68).
Sent off: Ally Gilchrist (30).
Referee: Adriano Reale
Attendance: 4,145
extratime.com Player of the Match: Kris Twardek (Bohemians)
