Cork City turn on the style against Bohemians
City turned in one of their best performances of the season as O’Sullivan grabbed a first half double to set them on their way and the striker was outstanding as he tormented the Bohemians defence from start to finish to keep John Caulfield’s side six points off the champions with 12 games to go.
The home side went into the game on the back of a 10-league game unbeaten run and manager John Caulfield made only one change to the side that deservedly earned a 1-1 draw up in Oriel Park last Sunday with Colin Healy coming in to replace the injured Gavan Holohan.
Bohemians were 4-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes last week against Derry City before winning 4-2 and manager Keith Long had new signing from Dundalk Jake Kelly making his debut. Long also had his other recent signing Eoin Wearen starting as he made three changes to last week’s winning side, with Adam Evans, who scored a late equaliser at Dalymount the last time the sides met, also coming in.
The home side were given the ideal start when the bang in form O’Sullivan had them in front inside three minutes. Steven Beattie showed pace to get to the end line before crossing low for the City striker to audaciously flick the ball home at the near post to score for the fourth game on the spin.
In an exciting opening to the game, Kelly then had a chance for the visitors but his shot was well blocked by Kevin O’Connor before O’Sullivan, was only inches away from his second when his superb flicked header from O’Connor’s cross came back off the post.
Debutant Kelly was looking sharp and he was allowed cut inside from the right before bending a left footed effort from the edge of the box that flew narrowly over Mark McNulty’s crossbar as the away side looked dangerous on the break.
City were playing some excellent football now, looking much sharper and passing the ball a lot quicker than they have been doing in recent matches and it was that man O’Sullivan again who grabbed the second in the 27th minute.
Dunleavy, who was playing in midfield with Colin Healy at right back, was upended 25 yards from goal by Keith Buckley and from the resultant free-kick, Dunleavy touched the ball to O’Sullivan, who rifled a right footed shot low and hard into the right hand corner of Delany’s net for his eighth goal in his last nine games.
Ismahil Akinade had a chance nine minutes before the break to get Bohs back in the game but he couldn’t finish after neatly controlling Roberto Lopes’ ball over the top.
Delany got a touch to tip Sheppard’s shot over the bar before Dunleavy shot wildly over as the home side started the second half on the front foot again. Bohs were almost left back into the game midway through the second half when a sloppy pass from Garry Buckley was intercepted by Keith Buckley and the midfielder’s shot fizzed past McNulty’s post.
Long’s side were coming more into the game at this stage and Kelly went close in the 70th minute when his thunderous free-kick rattled the crossbar with McNulty beaten all ends up.
The game was over as a contest two minutes later following some calamitous defending by Bohemians when they had plenty of opportunities to clear their lines before Dave Mulcahy brought down Beattie in the box and Colin Healy buried the spot-kick.
Substitute Danny Morrissey got in on the act three minutes from time when he smashed the ball home from close range to complete the rout.
McNulty; Healy, Bennett (Folan 80), Murray, O’Connor; Beattie, Buckley, Miller (Morrissey 80), Dunleavy, Sheppard (Gaynor 58); O’Sullivan.
Delany; Lopes, Prendergast, Mulcahy, Best; Kelly (Byrne 81), Wearen (Moore 45), Creevy, Buckley, Evans (O’Brien 76); Akinade.
P Sutton (Clare).
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