Bohemians warmed up for the FAI Cup final next weekend with a comfortable 4-0 win over Cork City.
With the Aviva Stadium outing next weekend to look forward to, Bohs were looking to build momentum during this contest at Dalymount and they did exactly that, with Jonathan Afolabi getting on the scoresheet twice.
The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute. After being picked out by a neat pass across by Bart Kukulowicz, Danny Grant showed slick footwork to cut inside before shooting from the edge of the box. His effort ended up in the back of the net via a deflection of City defender Sam Bailey.
Danny Grant will be claiming this one!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) November 3, 2023
BOH 1-0 COR #LOI | #BOHCOR pic.twitter.com/G3b9KOzOu7
Overall, Declan Devine’s Bohs side dictated the tempo and controlled possession in the opening half. On 23 minutes, Afolabi headed over from close range from a Jordan Flores cross.
Afolabi then went close with a low strike from the edge of the box which City goalkeeper Ollie Byrne dealt with comfortably, while Grant saw a driving effort go high and wide on 40 minutes.
At the other end, a shot by Ruairí Keating was the closest City came to finding the back of the net.
Bohemians doubled their lead on the cusp of half-time. When the ball broke into his path inside the penalty area, Afolabi was on hand to head in well for his 14th league goal of the campaign.
With Shelbourne trailing in Drogheda and Dundalk being held by UCD at that stage, the Dublin club went in at interval knowing they were 45 minutes away from European qualification.
The season for Cork City all comes down to their season-defining game next weekend in the promotion/relegation playoff against Waterford or Cobh Ramblers.
Early in the second half, the visitors had a sight of goal, but Conor Drinan fired wide from distance.
However it was Bohs that went three goals ahead in the 51st minute. A driving ball across the penalty area by Paddy Kirk took another deflection off the unfortunate Bailey before ending up in the net.
The home side were in the groove and they almost got a fourth when Afolabi was denied by a good save by Byrne.
Afolabi and Bohs did get goal number four before the hour mark, as he raced through before slotting home with a cool finish.
City introduced Benfica-bound Jaden Umeh and he had a rare second-half chance for the Leesiders with a low strike that was saved by Bohemians goalkeeper James Talbot.
The contest fizzled out in the latter stages, as it became clear attention was starting to turn towards the two bigger games next weekend.
Come next Sunday, Bohemians will hope they will be bringing silverware home, which they now know is required if they want to be playing Europa Conference League Football in 2024.
