EA Sports Cup Report: Bohemians 2 - 0 Cork City

Dave Donnelly reports from Dalymount Park

Bohemians were awarded two penalties as they saw off the challenge of Cork City to book a spot in the draw for the EA Sports Cup semi-final.

Sam Byrne missed the first but substitute Danny Mandroiu buried the second to secure the 2-0 win after Ross Tierney had given Bohs the lead on his full debut before the break.

City, having beaten Bohs twice in the league this season, including three weeks ago at Dalymount, came into the game with confidence but both sides made significant changes.

A cagey opening quarter produced little in the way of clear-cut chances, with speculative shots from Tierney and Byrne the closest the home side came.

There are signs caretaker manager John Cotter has put a little more of his shape on a side who struggled in Tallaght on Friday, and Garry Buckley was particularly sharp in midfield.

City had some success pressing high up the pitch and, after James Tilley picked off Michael Barker’s pass to Robbie McCourt, the striker should have done better than blaze wide.

A patient passing move ended with Kevin O’Connor playing Darragh Rainsford in on goal but he shanked his shot off his own foot and the ball bobbled harmlessly over.

A cross from Ronan Hurley was turned wide by Conor McCarthy before Tilley, again, ignored passing options to take on a shot himself that James Talbot comfortably saved.

It was at the end of the visitors’ best period of the game that Bohs were awarded their first penalty, when Tierney’s shot was blocked and McCarthy nudged over Ryan Graydon.



Tadhg Ryan – who has been restricted to cup appearances since joining in the winter – got down low and palmed Byrne’s effort onto the post.

There was little the former Galway United keeper could do moments later though when Graydon’s shot smashed off the post, and Tierney nudged the rebound into an empty net.

A tenacious tackle by Tierney on McCarthy – which perhaps verged on dangerous – allowed him to play in Graydon and the winger forced Ryan to produce a fantastic full-stretch save.

Cork began the second half positively and more good work from the impressive Buckley allowed Graham Cummins room to shoot, but Talbot saved his curling effort easily.

Bohs continued to provide the greater threat and Mandroiu, on at half time for Robbie McCourt, played in Andy Lyons only for the full-back to blaze over from inside the box.

Nice interplay between Paddy Kirk and Keith Ward ended with Byrne driving wide, while substitute Gearóid Morrissey tested Talbot with a daisy-cutter from range.



Almost out of nothing, City nearly drew level as a snapshot from Darragh Rainsford rattled the top of the crossbar, before another sub in Daire O’Connor shot wide.

Any hope of a leveller were dashed ten minutes from time as Lyons sent a ball over the top for Mandroiu to chase and he fell under the pressure of Sean McLoughlin.

It was a fair challenge from the defender – shoulder to shoulder – but having given the penalty referee Robert Hennessy had to give the yellow card, and Buckley was booked for arguing.

Mandroiu showed Byrne how to score from the spot with an emphatic finish into the roof of the net, and Bohs could have had another when Scott Allardice’s smashed off the bar.

Bohemians: James Talbot; Andy Lyons, Michael Barker, James Finnerty, Paddy Kirk; Scott Allardyce, Robbie McCourt (Danny Mandroiu 46), Ross Tierney; Luke Wade-Slater (Keith Ward 54), Ryan Graydon (Dawson Devoy 68), Sam Byrne.

Subs not used: Seán Bohan (gk), Darragh Leahy, Alex Kelly, Ali Reghba.

Booked: Ross Tierney (59).

Cork City: Tadhg Ryan; Conor McCarthy (Colm Horgan 90+1), Dan Casey, Sean McLoughlin, Ronan Hurley (Daire O’Connor 70); Darragh Rainsford, Garry Buckley, Kevin O’Connor, Shane Griffin; James Tilley, Graham Cummins (Gearóid Morrissey 58).

Subs not used: Mark McNulty (gk), Colm Horgan, Garry Comerford, Pierce Phillips, Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh.

Booked: Sean McLoughlin (80), Garry Buckley (81).

Referee: Robert Hennessy.

Attendance: 665 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Scott Allardice (Bohemians).

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