Bohemians 0-1 Cork City
Billy Dennehy's 83rd-minute penalty ended Bohemians' hopes of European football next season as a 1-0 win for Cork City ensured the Rebels finished as runners-up for the second successive season.
Dennehy converted the late penalty to secure second for the FAI Cup finalists after Anto Murphy was adjudged to have handled Colin Healy’s cross.
Both goalkeepers were in excellent form in Dalymount Park with Mark McNulty and Dean Delaney producing top-class saves in a high-octane game.
Bohs, chasing European football, made their intentions known in the opening quarter with Akinade heading three attempts at the Cork goal inside the first eight minutes.
City stopper McNulty was called into action in the ninth minute, reacting under pressure to tip Anto Murphy’s cross come shot over the bar.
McNulty saved the visitors again after 16 minutes when pushing the ball away from Lorcan Fitzgearld as he bared down in front of goal on a long ball.
Bohs were claiming a penalty on 25 minutes, with Dan Murray appearing to hold Akinade back from Jake Kelly’s corner but referee Doyle waved it away.
Bohs stopper Dean Delaney was at his best four minutes before half time, reacting swiftly to his lower right corner to keep Stephen Beattie’s free kick out.
The visitors then came close to opening the scoring 60 seconds later after Delaney half-punched away Ross Gaynor’s corner. Dan Murray couldn’t follow in Michael McSweeney’s scuffed effort and the ball rolled across a crowed penalty area with Karl Sheppard back heeling wide of the net.
City should have taken the lead with a chance in the final stages of the first half but Mark O’Sullivan blasted over on 45 minutes.
Then, two minutes into stoppage time, Dennehy opened up the Bohs defence, finding the sprinting Karl Sheppard who rattled the side netting as Delaney closed the angle.
Keith Buckley’s exquisite 62nd minute chip produced an acrobatic save from Mark McNulty, stretching backward to tip the ball over the cross bar.
Paddy Kavanagh was too slow to pull the trigger as he roamed into the City box from the resulting corner as the game remained scoreless.
Delaney produced another top draw save when keeping Dunleavy’s edge of the box drive out 17 minutes from time.
Delaney then had Buckley to thank three minutes later - Buckley’s outstretched leg keeping out Mark O’Sullivan's bullet header.
Dennehy then secured the points from the spot on 83 minutes after Anto Murphy was adjudged to have handled Colin Healy’s cross.
Bohemians: Dean Delaney, Dylan Hayes, Anto Murphy, David Mulachy (Derek Prendergast 12), Lorcan Fitzgearld, Paddy Kavanagh, Keith Buckley, Roberto Lopes, Eoin Wearen, Jake Kelly (Adam Evans 84), Ismahil Akinade
Subs Not Used: Karl Moore, Jason Byrne, Robbie Creevy, Stephen Best
Cork City: McNulty, Michael McSweeney, John Dunleavy, Dan Murray, Ross Gaynor, Billy Dennehy (Chiedozie Ogbene 88), Liam Miller (Darren Dennehy 35), Kevin O’Connor, Karl Sheppard (Colin Healy, Mark O’Sullivan, Stephen Beattie
Subs Not Used: Danny Morrissey, Alan Smith, Connor Ellis, Liam Kearney
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
