- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, Nov 04 2023
Patrick O Connor reports from Dalymount Park
Despite comprehensively beating Cork City 4-0 it was a disappointing end to the season for Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night as they finished the campaign in sixth place having once been league leaders earlier in the season.
A four-goal winning margin would normally be a cause for celebration, but as news filtered into the stadium of the results in the other games it became clear that the opportunity to secure European football via a top four finish were gone.
They were pipped to that coveted fourth place by virtue of Shelbourne beating Drogheda 4-2 and even Dundalk managed to claim fifth place by thumping UCD by 5-1.
Cork City on the other hand had nothing to play for and their team selection reflected that with interim manager Richie Holland electing to leave many of his first teamers such as Cian Coleman, Aaron Bolger and Cian Bargary out of the squad.
He also gave a starting debut to 17-year-old centre back Sam Bailey but it proved to be a baptism of fire for the youngster and he was hauled off by Holland early in the second half with the side 2-0 behind at that stage.
The Gypsies were on the front foot from the first whistle and took the lead on the 12th minute when Danny Grant’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off Bailey past Oliver Byrne to make it 1-0.
It looked like remaining like that into the half time break but just on the stroke of 45 minutes leading scorer Jonathon Afolabi headed in at the far post to make it 2-0, a much better reflection of their first half superiority.
Bailey’s difficult debut turned even worse in the 55th minute when he scored an own goal, diverting Paddy Kirk’s bye line cross into his own net before being rescued by Holland who called him ashore to be replaced by John O’ Donavan.
The normally vocal home support in the Jodi stand were stunned into silence early in the second half as the goals started to rain in at Weavers Park and Belfield, and even though Afolabi went on to score his second of the night and his fifteenth of the season to make it 4-0, there was an anticlimactic feel to the end of the game as it petered out with some fans leaving the stadium early.
Declan Devine’s side now turn their attention to the FAI Cup Final where they have one last opportunity to end the season on a high note by beating St Patrick’s Athletic and gaining entry to European football via that route.
Cork City on the other hand have another Cup Final of sorts to worry about as they face into a promotion/relegation play off next Friday night against either Waterford or Cobh Ramblers. They too will look to put a shine on a disappointing season for them by retaining their Premier Division status for 2024.
Bohemians: James Talbot, Bartlomiek Kukilowicz, Patrick Kirk, Krystian Novak, Jordan Flores© (Declan McDaid 67) Cian Byrne, Danny Grant (Oluwaseun Akintunde 74), James Clarke (John O’Sullivan 74) James McManus, Dylan Connolly (Ali Coote 55), Jonathon Afloabi.
Subs not used. Luke Dennison (GK); Louis Holzman, Adam McDonnell, Dean Williams, Kris Twardek.
Booked: Oluwaseun Akintunde (76)
Cork City: Oliver Byrne, Gordon Walker, Jonas Hakkinen, Oran Crowe, Andri Kravchuk (Ben Worman 63), Sam Bailey (John O’ Donavan 55) Conor Drinan, Malik Djiksteel (Jaze Kabia 55), Cian Murphy, Ruairi Keating© (Jaden Umeh 74) Babatunde Owolabi (Barry Coffey 63)
Subs not used: Tiernan Brooks (GK); Josh Fitzpatrick, Cathal O’ Sullivan, Zachary Dunne.
Booked: Conor Drinan (36)
Referee: Neil Doyle
Player of the Match: Jonathon Afolabi (Bohemians)
Attendance: 4,083
Despite comprehensively beating Cork City 4-0 it was a disappointing end to the season for Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night as they finished the campaign in sixth place having once been league leaders earlier in the season.
