Devine: 'Shelbourne can celebrate all they want tonight but we’re bringing that Cup back here'
ONE SHOT LEFT: Jonathan Afolabi of Bohemians shoots to score his side's fourth goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match against Cork City. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Twin targets of European qualification and the Golden Boot were missed for Bohemians as Jonathan Afolabi’s brace against Cork City could only share the top scorer’s accolade.
This win over a makeshift Cork City side with Friday’s playoff as their priority had Bohs in the European spot on the hour but Shelbourne’s comeback used up one of their lives.
When Shels were losing in Drogheda and Dundalk couldn’t find a lead goal against relegated UCD, ripples of excitement broke out among the 4,083 at Dalymount but developments eventually sucked the life out of that prospect..
For the Gypsies to regain a Europa Conference League spot next season, only victory in the FAI Cup final on November 12 against St Patrick’s Athletic will suffice.
They started the night sixth and finished sixth. “We’re sorry about that,” Declan Devine told the crowd afterwards before issuing a rallying call about usurping their Dublin rivals for the last European berth.
“Shelbourne can celebrate all they want tonight but we’re bringing that Cup back here.”
At least Afolabi springs into the Blue Riband on a personal high of his 15-goal haul.
This result was never in doubt once the teamsheets were in.
Contrasting the line-up, it was far more likely that the former Ireland U21 striker – rather than Ruairi Keating he was deadlocked with – would swell his tally.
He grabbed a goal either side of the break but the recovery of Shels spelt bad news on the double as Jack Moylan’s brace brought him level with the marksman.
It’s the first time since 2014 that the prestigious honour will be split across two players.
City’s interim boss Richie Holland was unapologetic about sparing his regulars from risking injury or suspension.
In that respect, the primary mission of having a full squad available for Friday’s showdown against Waterford or Cobh Ramblers for Premier Division survival was achieved.
He also got to blood some of the club’s youthful talent.
Seventeen-year-old Sam Bailey was handed his first start in the heart of defence and, despite being inadvertently involved in two concessions, acquitted himself well.
Jadon Umeh, off the bench, became the youngest-ever player to feature for City at the age of 15. The target of Benfica – younger brother of Crystal Palace’s Franco – almost crowned the occasion with a goal with 10 minutes left.
Although the game as a contest for both sides were over, the tricky winger drifted into the box from the right but could only scuff his left-footed shot straight into the hands of James Talbot.
It was a handy evening for the Bohs goalkeeper as his outfield colleagues made all the headway.
Bailey stuck out a boot to deny Afolabi after only five minutes but his intervention from Danny Grant’s 12th-minute shot wrongfooted Ollie Byrne to offer a breakthrough.
Afolabi nodded over from close range but was clinical in stoppage-time by applying a header when Grant’s shot deflected perfectly into his path at the back post.
Unluckily for Bailey, he again got a flick that beat Byrne six minutes after the restart for the third. Neat work down the left by Paddy Kirk presented space and his centre cannoned off the youngster for an own-goal.
City’s defence was further exposed seven minutes later by a pass that allowed Afolabi to sprint clear and make it 4-0 – one goal fewer than they scored against the Rebel Army in May, Colin Healy’s final game at the helm.
The striker’s rush to retrieve the ball proved immaterial, as events beyond their control switched the complexion of the table.
Both teams now have within their own control the ability to end the season with objectives reached.
: J Talbot; B Kukulowicz, K Nowak, C Byrne, P Kirk; J McManus, J Clarke (J O’Sullivan 73), J Flores (D McDaid 68); D Connolly (A Coote 56), J Afolabi, D Grant (J Akintunde 72).
: O Byrne; G Walker, S Bailey (J O’Donovan 56), J Hakkinen, C Drinan; O Crowe, A Kravchuk (B Coffey 64), C Murphy; M Dijksteel (J Kabia 56), R Keating (J Umeh 72), T Owolabi (B Worman 64).
: N Doyle (Dublin)
4083.
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