TWO pieces of inspiration from veteran midfieider Patsy Freyne earned Cork City a League Cup final meeting with Galway United after they deservedly beat an understrength Bohemians in the second semi final at Dalymount Park last night.
Freyne scored a classic goal, Cork's first, and then provided the cross for Damien O'Connell to score the second inside a six minute spell early in the second half. It was a confident performance from a Cork side that was itself missing three key players through suspension and injury.
A dread fully poor first half failed to produce even one decent shot on target. The clearest opening was created by Bohemians on 21 minutes when Brian Mooney's cross from the right looked destined for the well positioned Eoin Mullen straight in front of goal. However, Cork right back Declan Daly got back well to nip the ball off Mullen's toe.
Thankfully, the second half offered a huge improvement. Within two minutes there was a superb opening goal. Mooney gave away a free kick out by Cork's left touchline. Brian Barry Murphy played it quickly to Gareth Cronin, whose strong left foot delivered a pacey cross to the far post, where Freyne arrived to score with a classic diving header for his first goal of the season.
Six minutes later, Freyne was involved as Cork all but killed the game off with their second goal. A swift break up the left, following the breakdown of a Bohemians attack, resulted in Freyne slipping a perfect pass to the unmarked O'Connell, some 15 yards straight in front of goal. He appeared to have all the time in the world to beat Dave Henderson in the Bohemians' goal with a perfectly placed, left foot shot.
It was to Premier Division leaders Bohemians' shame that they got just one shot on target throughout the whole 90 minutes.
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