Kelly shines for Bohs as Cork title bid goes sour
CORK CITY’S grasp on the league title, which they have owned since last season was already looking slippery, but it appears even more tenuous after a heavy defeat to Bohemians could be the killer blow in their bid to retain the title.
And while a vibrant Bohs side, inspired by youngsters Daniel Kelly (22) and JJ Lunney (20), as well as veteran Derek Pender, deserve full credit for the 4-2 win which moves them into the top five in the table for the first time this season,
Cork will look back on this game in anger as some utterly dreadful defending gifted Bohs goal after goal.
Cork are now six points behind leaders Dundalk and the Co Louth club have a game in hand, teeing up next week’s clash of the top two as a season-defining game but it’s a challenge for Cork to lift morale now.
Cork’s defensive form had been a concern coming into this game, City without a clean sheet in the league in four matches, and a sign of that was the choice of Peter Cherrie in goal ahead of longtime No 1 Mark McNulty.
City were off-colour but Cherrie and defender Delaney, in particular, would have a torrid night, Bohs 3-0 up after half an hour and 4-1 ahead at the break, Delaney replaced at the half-time break, no doubt to his relief.
It was ex-Ireland man Delaney who gave Bohs the lead on 11 minutes, over-hitting his back-pass to Cherrie, under pressure from Dinny Corcoran, and Cherrie could only watch in agony as Delaney’s pass hit the inside of the post and bobbled over the line.
Daniel Kelly, a mid-season signing from Bray Wanderers, made it 2-0 on 22 minutes, bustling his way goalwards and brushing past centre-halves Delaney and Barry to score with a fine finish, though City had conceded possession in the first place with a poor goal-kick by Cherrie.
On the half-hour mark it was another episode of horror stuff from Cork, Delaney losing possession to Keith Ward in Cork’s half.
Ward played in a perfect pass for Delaney and Kelly, who played for a host of junior clubs before joining the League of Ireland ranks with Bray at the start of this season, came up with another brilliant finish.
The 3-0 deficit promoted a response from Cork and they nicked a goal back on 35 minutes, Graham Cummins leaping higher than his marker to get his head to Steven Beattie’s cross.
But Bohs restored their three-goal lead just before the break, a superb team move finished off by a rare goal from defender Derek Pender, as he played a one-two with Kevin Devaney and finished.
Cork tried to rescue things by taking off Delaney at the break and 12 minutes into the second half they had a reward, of sorts, when Jimmy Keohane headed home from a Karl Sheppard cross, making it 4-2.
City could argue they won the second half but it amounted to little value as Bohs, despite some nervy moments, held on.
Tensions flared as Shane Supple was booked for putting his arm around Sheppard’s neck while later on Sheppard saw yellow for a lunge at the Bohs goalkeeper.
Cherrie saved late on to prevent Dinny Corcoran from making it 5-2 but, after a decade of struggles, Dalymount Park had something to savour, Cork left with a very sour taste.