CORK HIT A HOME RUN
CORK CITY celebrated their first home win of the season and their first home goals with a hard fought victory over Bohemians at a damp Turner’s Cross last night.
High-flying Bohs, one of only two unbeaten teams along with Dundalk at kick-off, made three changes with Dinny Corcoran, Keith Buckley and Danny Grant coming in for Ali Reghba, Luke Wade-Skater and Scott Allardice.
Buckley and Corcoran passed late fitness tests to play in what was a big game for both clubs.
City made one change with front man Graham Cummins, who got the winner in a 4-3 triumph over Finn Harps last time out, restored to the attack with Dan Smith back on the bench.
John Caulfield’s boys denied Bohemians a first FAI Cup final appearance in a decade when Kieran Sadlier’s spot-kick gave them victory in last year’s semi-final replay, so the visitors had a big incentive.
Bohs contributed to a lively start on a wet surface but the home side came closest after feisty opening quarter.
Daire O’Connor’s jinking run into the box was halted when goalkeeper James Talbot dived to tip his low drive out for a corner.
Karl Sheppard’s follow-up from the corner flashed wide of the target while Bohs’ impressive midfielder Danny Mandroiu fired over at the other end after 21 minutes.
The game was played in a light drizzle and the breakthrough arrived on 23 minutes when Conor McCarthy got on the end of an O’Connor corner, delivering a powerful header that flew into the roof of the net.
It was City’s first home goal of the new campaign and set them on their way to back-to-back wins.
The Leesiders lost the services of lively wide man Daire O’Connor to a shoulder injury just before half-time and that loss of was compounded when Graham Cummins powered a header into the Bohs’ net on 44 minutes only for it to be deemed offside.
Five minutes into the restart and City doubled their advantage when ex-Bohs man Dan Casey rifled home James Tilley’s short free kick, the ball swerving past Talbot on the goal-line.
It was the perfect start to the second period for the home side after which the three points never looked in doubt.
Bohs’ boss Keith Long brought on substitutes Luke Wade-Slater, Ryan Swan and Robbie McCourt in the second half. The match was out of reach for the Gypsies at that stage and they resorted to some ambitious long-range shooting to try and reduce the deficit.
City can be happy with their night’s work after a solid defensive display. They climb to fourth in the SSE Airtricity League table.
Cork’s league game away to UCD next weekend has been postponed because of international call-ups so they will look to continue their winning ways against Shamrock Rovers on April 5.
CORK CITY: McNulty; Horgan, McCarthy, Casey, Griffin; McCormack, Morrissey (Comerford 89); Sheppard, (K O’Connor 89) Buckley, D O’Connor (Tilley 43); Cummins. Scorers: McCarthy 23, Casey 50.
BOHEMIANS: Talbot; Pender (capt), Cornwall, Finnerty, Leahy; Levingston, Buckley (McCourt 76); Ward, Mandroiu (Swan 66), Grant (Wade-Slater 58); Corcoran.
Referee: Robert Hennessy (Limerick)