No joy for Cork just yet

Cork City 0 Bohemians 1:Bohemians achieved a notable win over Cork City to clinch third spot in the league at Turner's Cross last night.

Bohemians, needing a draw to deny Cork third spot, showed dogged determination in front of a crowd of 5,000 as they withstood protracted pressure in the second half and gained some revenge for their recent cup defeat. But their negative tactics spoiled the match as a spectacle.

Cork must win the FAI Ford Cup final if they are to qualify for Setanta Cup and European competition.

And the threat of a row about the cup final arrangements was heavy in the air when Cork officials circulated a statement before the match expressing anger at an FAI decision not to give themselves and Longford Town a share of the gate receipts on December 2nd.

Cork will meet with FAI officials on Wednesday.

A poor first half was without incident until Bohemians struck twice in the 38th minute. They had the ball in the net when Des Byrne slipped inside the Cork defence to head in a cross from the right but was ruled offside.

Goalkeeper Brian Murphy then drove a clearance over the Cork defence. The Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine advanced but his centre back Sean Kelly deflected the ball over his head and into the net from 22 yards as he attempted an overhead clearance.

Cork maintained pressure on the Bohemians defence throughout the second half but without a return.

Denis Behan was questionably whistled back for offside when running onto a great ball from Colin Healy in the 73rd minute. And they had claims of a goal turned down in added time when a header from Kelly appeared to cross the goal line before it was hacked clear.

CORK CITY: Devine: Horgan, Kelly, Murray, Woods; Softic (Carroll 80), Healy, Gamble, Farrelly, Kearney (Lordan 37); Behan.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy, Heary, McGuinness, Burns, Powell; McGinley (Pooley 90), O'Donnell, Turner, Byrne; Crowe, Singh (Harkin 84).