Bohemians took a major step towards claiming a place in Europe as stalwart Derek Pender scored to seal a 1-0 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division win over Cork City at Dalymount Park.
Pender's innocuous chip was not dealt with by Tadhg Ryan in the Cork goal and he carried the ball over the line.
That goal was enough for Bohs in a tight game where an often-spirited Cork threatened, but they faded in the last 15 minutes.
The win moves Bohs five points clear of St Patrick’s Athletic in fifth place in the race for the Europa League qualifying spots.
Bohemians 1-0 Cork City - Derek Pender puts the home side in front with a big slice of luck and it's one that Tadhg Ryan won't want to see again. #rtesoccer #soccrepublic pic.twitter.com/50gRPFYAC5
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) October 4, 2019
Bohs welcomed back the experienced Keith Ward as Mick McCarthy watched on with a number of other exciting young players on show. However, Under-21 international Danny Mandriou remained unavailable.
Karl Sheppard was the focal point for City throughout the first half and he threatened on three occasions, but was ultimately left disappointed.
Ward’s free-kick midway through the half almost gave the visitors the lead, but Ryan got his fingertips to the ball to deflect the effort over the bar.
Pender’s goal arrived less than two minutes after the restart, with the calamitous Ryan looking shell-shocked in the Cork goal.
Cork kept up the pace and showed plenty of endeavour, but they couldn’t muster any real chances late on.
The Leesiders remain winless under Neale Fenn as Bohs move on knowing they are within touching distance of a most unlikely place in Europe, given the age profile of their squad and the club’s financial constraints.
Bohemians: J Talbot; D Pender (M Barker 75) R Cornwall, J Finnerty, P Kirk; R Tierney, S Allardice; L Wade-Slater, K Ward (D Devoy 82), D Grant (R Graydon 90); A Wright.
Cork City: T Ryan; C Horgan, C McCarthy, D Casey, S Griffin; C McCormack, A Byrne; D O'Connor, E Stokes (M O’Sullivan 75), J Coustrain (B O’Brien-Whitemarsh 88); K Sheppard.
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
