With such a quick turn around from Fridays league exertions, changes were aplenty as Bohemians sealed their EA SPORTS Cup semi-final spot. Bohs, making eight changes, had a couple of long distance efforts as both sides felt each other out. The visi
With such a quick turn around from Fridays league exertions, changes were aplenty as Bohemians sealed their EA SPORTS Cup semi-final spot.
Bohs, making eight changes, had a couple of long distance efforts as both sides felt each other out. The visitors then settled and James Tilley began to get on the ball had a couple of efforts of his own.
The Gypsies then missed a glorious chance to take the lead on the half hour mark. Luke Wade-Slater did brilliantly well to get to the end line and cut back to full debutant Ross Tierny, who saw his shot blocked from inside the area.
The ball fell kindly to Ryan Graydon, but just as the winger was about to pull the trigger, Conor McCarthy clipped his leg. Up stepped Sam Byrne but his low penalty was sharply saved down to this left by Tadhg Ryan.
Bohs, who started with just three players over the age of 20, took the lead shortly after.Scott Allardice battled and won the ball back in midfield, quickly spreading the play to Graydon. The pacey wide man took the ball in his stride and smashed an early snap shot off the near post and it was Tierney who reacted quickest to tap home.
Cork, who made six changes of their own reacted well to the set back and skipper Kevin O’Connor tested James Talbot with a volley just before the break. The Leesiders were making all of the running in the second half and were unlucky not to have equalised.
Darragh Rainsford, who had gone up front, collected the ball on the edge of the area and smashed the cross bar with a right footed effort. Moments later, substitute Daire O’Connor fizzed an effort inches past Talbot's far post.
Just as Cork pressed they were undone on the break, when Sam Byrne released half time substitute Danny Mandroiu over the top. Just as the Bohs attacker was about to pull the trigger Sean McLaughlin looked to bundle him over from behind.
Mandroiu made no mistake from the spot smashing it high to the left hand side to make it 2-0 and give Keith Long’s men their first win in six games.
