Cork City's promotion party came to a shuddering halt on Friday evening as their first game back in the Premier Division ended in a 2-1 defeat to Bohemians at a sold out Turner’s Cross.
Declan Devine’s team were excellent on the night and they were rewarded for their performance with goals from Grant Horton and Jordan Flores.
It was a dominating performance by the Gypsies, as they inflicted a culture shock onto a team that was celebrating its return after two years in the First Division.
As it happened: Premier Division recap
Healy started with the same system that won his team that league title, a 3-5-2 formation with full-backs running between defence and midfield. Bohemians’ 4-3-3 allowed them to pull City apart in the final third and this gave James Akintunde and Dylan Connolly acres of space on the wings.
The Gypies set the 90 minute tone early on when Ali Coote picked off a Barry Coffey clearance and crossed to Akintunde.
Cork City 0-1 Bohemians - Grant Horton scores the first goal of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division with a fine headed finish. #RTESoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 17, 2023
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His header was put out for a corner by Tobi Oluwayemi, and their next advance into the penalty area saw a side footed attempt from Adam McDonnell go narrowly wide.
The warning shots stopped when the fourth corner of the game was taken short and Coote stepped through into the penalty area. He sent it to Horton and he headed into the Shed End to give Bohemians the lead.
Up until that moment, the best chance City created came from Cian Bargary throwing to Ali Gilchrist and he flicked this inches wide.
What Declan Devine’s team were doing was simple; they stuck to their shape and made sure they were first to every ball. It was a simple way of playing that proved to be effective as they went into the break comfortably in front.
They almost doubled this advantage in the first minute of the second half when Akintunde connected with a cross from Keith Buckley, but this was put wide in front of the sizable travelling support.
The Gypsies didn’t regret this as their next shot was from Flores and it fell past Tobi Oluwayemi to make it 2-0.
Healy responded by bringing on Matt Healy and Darragh Crowley, two important components of their First Division title win. This added some level of urgency to the hosts' play and then a goal came from the most unlikely places.
Ally Gilchrist hit a long ball that James Talbott came out to clear. The shot-stopper missed this completely and Ruairi Keating tapped into an empty goal.
Cork City 0-2 Bohemians - The visitors double their lead through Jordan Flores but it's a calamity of errors that from the City defence that leads to the goal. #RTEsoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 17, 2023
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City finished the game with a flourish and two late balls in needed to be taken off the line and stopped by Talbot and Paddy Kirk.
Cork City: Tobi Oluwayemi; Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist, Tunde Owolabi (Daniel Krezic 80), Aaron Bolger, Ruairi Keating, Barry Coffey (Darragh Crowley 80), Cian Bargary, Albin Winbo (Matt Healy 60), Josh Honohan, Kevin Custovic.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Patrick Kirk, Grant Horton, Jordan Flores, Alistair Coote (James Clarke 75), Jonathan Afolabi (Dean Williams 75), Dylan Connolly (Kris Twardek 88), Oluwaseun Akintunde (Declan McDaid 50), Kacper Radkowski, Kevin Buckley, Adam McDonnell.
Referee: Rob Hennessy
