Bohemians continued the push to retain their league title with a hard fought win over Cork City at Dalymount Park.
Bohs scored the winner on the hour when Killian Brennan got a head on Paul Keegan’s free kick inside the packed City penalty area and glanced the ball past Dan Connor into the bottom left corner.
City had made the better start of the two sides but faded as the game continued. They were however cheered on by a large travelling support who displayed 'Coughlan out' banners in reference to Chairman Tom Coughlan.
City looked that little bit hungrier with both Guntars Silagailis and Fahrudin Kuduzovic causing havoc for the Bohs defence while the City back four of Danny Murphy, Dan Murray, Neal Horgan and Greg O’Halloran looked very solid.
On 12 minutes Kuduzovic fired in a free from the right but Bohs managed to clear while Jason Byrne shot high and wide for Bohs two minutes later.
Bohs were coming more into the game but Brennan wasted a good opportunity just two minutes later when he sent his free kick directly into the City wall.
With 25 minutes gone City cleared a Bohs attack with the ball falling to Gary Deegan but the Bohs number four crashed his shot high into the terraces.
They action between sides placed first and third in the table dipped for a spell after the half hour but picked up coming into the break.
Bohs' Joseph Ndo began to see a lot more of the ball on the right and whipped in a series of cracking crosses into the box but Bohs couldn't convert any. Byrne got is head to one of them just before the break but headed over the top.
Bohs threatened again on 52 minutes when Brian Shelley passed to Conor Powell on the left who in turn sent a decent cross over but Murray cleared for City.
The intense Bohs pressure continued with a Neale Fenn free with 58 minutes on the clock but it hit the City wall and bounced out for a corner.
Bohs were ahead two minutes later when Brennan got on the end of Keegan’s free inside the area and glanced the ball past Connor into the bottom left corner.
With time running out Cork sub Davin O'Neill sent a fine low cross into the area but Bohs cleared the ball before the inrushing Tim Kiely could get on it.
Bohemians: 1 Brian Murphy; 2 Mark Rossiter, 3 Conor Powell, 4 Gary Deegan, 5 Brian Shelley; 6 Ken Oman, 7 Paul Keegan (c), 8 Joseph Ndo, 11 Killian Brennan; 10 Neale Fenn (12 Paddy Madden 80 mins), 9 Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: 14 Owen Heary, 15 Glen Crowe, 16 Glenn Cronin, 25 Matt Gregg.
Cork City: 15 Dan Connor; 2 Neal Horgan, 3 Danny Murphy, 5 Greg O'Halloran, 6 Dan Murray; 11 Billy Dennehy, 14 Cillian Lordan, 17 Tim Kiely (18 Shane Duggan 72 mins), 24 Stephen O’Donnell (8 Joe Gamble 72 mins); 9 Guntars Silagailis (25 Davin O’Neill 55 mins), 10 Fahrudin Kuduzovic.
Subs not used: 16 Mark McNulty, 20 Paul Deasy, 26 Kevin Long.
Referee: D Tomney
