DEREK SWAN'S first league goal in over two months kept Bohemians' title aspirations intact at Dalymount Park as they jumped back into second place in the Premier League table above Shelbourne. If the only goal had come much earlier than the 53rd minute this game might have been rescued as a spectacle, and that's saying something after a dreadful first half.

Both sides were forced into reshuffles by injury. Bohemians, in particular, were badly hit with Coll, O'Driscoll, O'Connor and Best unavailable. Eoin Mullen and Donal Broughan had to make up an unlikely central defensive pairing, with Brian Mooney having to switch wings to play on the left with Derek McGrath on the right.

Bohemians were disorganised and shapeless for much of the first half and Cork should have exploited it but didn't. Cork created the better chances of the half, although the first serious attack did not arrive until the 36th minute.

Bohemians survived as John Caulfield's looping header bounced back into play off the crossbar after an excellent run down the left and cross by Ollie Cahill.

Bohemians had a half chance minutes earlier but Mooney headed well over the Cork crossbar.

But Cork continued to be the better side and Brian Barry Murphy's 30 yard volley forced the Bohemians goalkeeper, Dave Henderson into a fine diving save shortly before the interval.

The game badly needed a goal, and it came eight minutes after the restart. Byrne's free kick was headed away by Cork's Dave Hill, but fell to Mooney, who delicately threaded Swan in behind the Cork defence. He drew Phil Harrington to shoot home from 10 yards.

It was the tonic Bohemians needed and they totally dominated thereafter.

Swan returned the compliment for Mooney from Kevin Brady's cross minutes later but the winger blazed over the bar from 12 yards.

Peter Hanrahan burst through from midfield only to shoot narrowly wide across goal.