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Mansaram strikes to beat Cork

Friday 10th August 2007, 10:32 pm

Neale Fenn in action against Gareth Farrelly.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Bohemians secured a 2-1 win in a thrilling Premier Division encounter at Dalymount Park tonight. Kevin Hunt and Darren Mansaram struck either side of a Gareth Farrelly equaliser to give Bohs all three points.

Beginning life without top scorer Roy O'Donovan Cork began with John O'Flynn leading their line. Mark McNulty replaced the suspended Michael Devine while Bohs put goalkeeping coach Gary Matthews in with Brian Murphy out injured.

An early slip by McNulty on the rain-soaked surface gave Cork a nervous start before he eventually dealt with a Sean Kelly back-pass.

Kevin Hunt appears to have returned to his form of old and an incisive through ball from him was just too fast for Ryan McCann.

Darragh Ryan evades Ryan McCann's challenge.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Indeed it was a star studded midfield encounter as Cork's three full internationals came up against the likes of Hunt, John-Paul Kelly and debutant Stephen O'Donnell.

Cork had two strong penalty appeals in the game. The first came before the twenty minute mark when Jason McGuinness appeared to barrel through the back of O'Flynn but escaped action.

John-Paul Kelly was continually chasing down the left flank and after cutting inside midway through the half hammered a shot against McNulty's crossbar.

Minutes later McNulty had to get out quickly to block a break from Glen Crowe with Crowe heading just wide from Kelly's cross in the ensuing action.

Kelly again threatened before the break but saw his shot saved on the line following more trickery.

Owen Heary and Gareth Farrelly clashed early in the second half.

Photo by Tom Carey.

In the last real action of the half, Cork skipper Dan Murray headed against the Bohs crossbar as the visitors came close to snatching a half-time lead.

A clash between former Bohs manager and Owen Heary marked the start of a very lively second period. The two veterans clashed over a throw-in before order was restored.

Having starred this week, Hunt got his reward with the lead goal on 54 minutes. He forced the ball home at the back post after Kelly's cross had come through to him.

Another Kelly cross found the head of McCann before the hour but Cork skipper Dan Murray blocked bravely.

John-Paul Kelly tormented the Cork defence all night.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Bohs were threatening to roll over Cork but Hunt dragged his shot wide after the hour following another great build-up. Hunt was again denied by a block from Farrelly inside the box as City hung on.

Cork were struggling to do much when they got the ball, mostly falling prey to the home-side's tight offside trap and just the lively O'Flynn providing an outlet up front.

Cork got themselves level on 72 minutes when Farrelly rifled home a leveler. Returning to the ground where he managed for a couple of seasons, Farrelly fired home from the edge of the box as O'Flynn laid the ball off.

Bohs went back in search of the lead immediately and Crowe's shot was somehow blocked out from close range before Heary headed narrowly over from the resulting corner kick.

Colin Healy flicks away from Stephen O'Donnell.

Photo by Tom Carey.

A knock to Crowe eventually forced him off with Mansaram replacing him. The impact was almost immediate as Mansaram turned the ball home for an 83rd minute winner after Cork had failed to clear from a corner.

City were left incensed after again having a penalty appeal waved away when O'Flynn went down under a challenge from McGuinness in the box just moments before what proved the winner.

Two huge wins this week have lifted much of the gloom that threatened to take over at Dalymount Park but Cork City look well off the pace - without even considering how tough life may be without Roy O'Donovan.

Bohemians : Matthews, Heary, Burns (Pooley 67), McGuinness, Powell, Hunt, O'Donnell, McCann, Kelly (Harkin 79), Fenn, Crowe (Mansaram 79).
Cork City : McNulty, Horgan (O'Callaghan 89), Ryan (Lordan 67), Murray, Kelly, Gamble, Farrelly, Healy, Woods, McSweeney, O'Flynn.