Cork City strike late to secure brilliant victory over Bohemians at Turner's Cross

Cork City 2 Bohemians 1 

Ruairi Keating’s goal seven minutes from time was enough to give Cork City their first win since returning to the Premier Division as they came from behind to defeat Bohs at Turner's Cross on Friday night. 

Keith Buckley had given Bohs a deserved lead in the first half but City drew level before the break through Seani Maguire, with Keating scoring the winning goal late on to send the majority of the 5,034 spectators home happy.

There was one change in the City starting 11 from their opening day draw against Galway United with Sean Murray replacing Cathal O’Sullivan, with the latter missing the game through injury, having picked up a knock in that match against John Caulfield’s side. With O’Sullivan’s absence, Tim Clancy opted for a change of shape with City playing a diamond formation.

City looked unsettled in their new shape in the early stages with Bohs starting the brighter of the teams. The visitors were better in possession than their opponents, with the City players seemingly lacking options when in possession, which frequently resulted in them going more direct.

Bohs created the first real opportunity of the game when an inswinging ball from Dawson Devoy found Ross Tierney, but his looping header came off the top of the crossbar and went out of play.

Moments later City were the team hitting the crossbar after Murray’s powerful strike flew past James Talbot in the Bohs’ goal, with the keeper relieved to see the effort hit the woodwork.

The Gypies were in front when their captain Keith Buckley found himself with a lot of space on the edge of the area before shifting the ball onto his left leg and seeing his effort take a huge deflection off Freddie Anderson which caused the ball to loop over Tein Troost in the City goal.

Troost kept his side from going two behind when he pulled off a double save, first to deny Tierny’s cross-goal shot, and then to quickly react and prevent James Clarke from tapping the ball into the net. Although Troost did brilliantly to prevent Clarke, it was a poor miss from the player.

Bohs were well on top of City which forced Clancy to abandon his diamond formation just over midway through the half and revert back to a 4-4-2 shape.

City were level when a wonderful cross from Rio Shipston found Maguire at the back post, who made no mistake to head past Talbot. Although it was an easy finish in the end for Maguire, the movement and determination from the former Carlisle player made the goal.

Bohs who came close to retaking the lead but Clarke was unable to hit the target after the ball had fallen to him inside the City penalty area.

Before the game there was a lot of talk about how City would cope with former Premier League player Lys Moussett, a player who once commanded a transfer fee of over €12m. The former Sheffield United player was replaced before the hour mark, and judging on his performance, it was easy to see why the player has had such a fall from grace, with Moussett looking disinterested throughout the contest.

Keating would have been disappointed not to have put City ahead after he wonderfully controlled Bernanrdo Couto’s pass, only to fire over from close range.

Keating was not to be denied with seven minutes to go when he cut in from the left-hand side and struck past Talbot from outside the penalty area.

Bohs ended the game with 10 when Rob Cornwall received his second yellow card for a foul on Harvey Skieters in injury time.

CITY: Troost; Crowley, Anderson, Lyons, Couto; Murray (Nelson 71) Bolger, Shipston (Nolan 58), Dijksteel (Skieters 82); Maguire, Keating.

BOHS: Talbot; Grehan, Cornwall, Kavanagh, Flores (Mountney 79); Devoy, Buckley (Morahan 79); Tierney (McDonnell 79), Clarke (Parsons 66), Rooney; Mousset (Whelan 59).

Referee: D Toland.