Bohs boss Long resisted the urge to blood all of his new boys, with Kurtis Byrne the only debutant in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Other new signings Mark Quigley and Ayman Ben Mohamed were named on the bench. Cork fielded no less than 7 new signings including former St Pats duo Kenny Browne and Greg Bolger, with former Dundalk youngster Maguire leading the line.

In front of a heaving crowd of 4,028, Bohs took immediate advantage of the wind that blew strongly in the Gypsies favour towards the shed end. Sporting a startling new season hairdo, Ismahil Akinade was the target of plenty of early ball, and plenty of early punishment from the Cork defence. John Caulfield had clearly marked Akinade as the dangerman, and Kenny Browne was deservedly booked for clattering the Nigerian from behind after 17 minutes.

The pitch at Turners Cross was deceptively bad. Television viewers may not have been able to notice the very bobbly surface which made free-flowing football almost impossible. The ground staff at Turners Cross may well have been working hard, but a snow flurry the day before left the surface in a poor state. Summer football, ey?

Bohs struggled to convert their dominance in possession into any clear cut chances. Cork’s continued hacking of Akinade yielded plenty of free kicks, but Lorcan Fitzgerald’s deliveries were below his usual high standard. Nevertheless, Keith Long would have been satisfied heading into the dressing room at half time. His side had dominated the play, quitened the crowd, and left Cork looking toothless.

A ten minute salvo between the 53rd and 63rd minutes proved to be the winning – and losing – of this game. Bohs defender Anto Murphy will hope that the Sky plus box accidentally malfunctioned, because he wont want to watch this second half again. Cork full back Eoghan O’Connell chipped the ball into the box, and it seemed like an easy pass for Murphy to cut out. However, the defender tried to shepherd it back to Dean Delany, unaware that Sean Maguire was lurking right behind him. The former Dundalk man kept his composure and poked the ball past Delany at the near post.

The opening goal seemed to shell-shock the Gypsies, who never really looked coherent again. The second came just after the hour mark, and again Anto Murphy wont be happy. A similar pass down the channel put Maguire in a chase with Murphy, but the Cork man outpaced and outmuscled the experienced defender. Maguire still had plenty to do, 15 yards out at an almost impossible angle. That his firm shot found its way through Delany’s legs and in off the opposite post will be hugely disappointing to the Bohs shot-stopper.

Long introduced Mark Quigley and Eoin Wearen in an attempt to introduce more creativity to the Gypsies’ attacking play, but Cork and their fans had their tails up. Roberto Lopes grew increasingly frustrated, and his first yellow card was well-deserved for a lunge at Gavin Holohan. His second was a little more contentious as it looked like he may have touched the ball before felling Stephen Dooley, but the game was lost long before then.

Bohs welcome Sligo Rovers to Dalymount next Friday, hoping to bounce back straight away at the beginning of a big week that sees them play the Bit O’Red, St. Pats and Wexford Youths in the space of 7 days.

Cork City: Mark McNulty, Eoghan O’Connell, Alan Bennett, Kenny Browne, John Dunleavy, Greg Bolger, Gearóid Morrissey, Ian Turner (Karl Sheppard,75), Gavan Holohan (Steven Beattie, 68), Stephen Dooley (Colin Healy, 85), Sean Maguire. Subs not used: Mark O’Sullivan, Danny Morrissey, Michael McSweeney, Alan Smith.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Anto Murphy (Eoin Wearen, 74), Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Keith Buckley, Paddy Kavanagh, Jake Kelly (Mark Quigley, 66), Kurtis Byrne, Ismahil Akinade (Dan Byrne, 86). Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Ayman Ben Mohamed, Adam Evans, Dylan Hayes.

BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Ismahil Akinade

Following four successive league draws, Keith Long was looking for an elusive win, and picked an attacking starting line-up with Jake Kelly and Keith Buckley on the wings, flanking Karl Moore in a no.10 role behind Izzy Akinade. Perennial pest Christy Fagan led the line for Pats, and had the first chance, but his goal-bound effort was struck right into the face of Dave Mulcahy – a typical block from the Kilkenny man. Missing Greg Bolger and Killian Brennan, Pats were uncharacteristically sloppy in possession, and Bohs got the breakthrough on 14 minutes.

Jason McGuinness was in a foul mood all night, and chopped down Akinade about 40 yards out on the Jodi Stand side. Lorcan Fitzgerald’s free kick wasn’t the best, and was headed out towards Eoin Wearen on the opposite flank. Wearen’s cross was inch-perfect, landing just over the heads of the Pats defence onto the left foot of Anto Murphy. The defender did well to keep the shot down, and such was the power that it flew past Conor O’Malley before he could move. The hundreds of German fans in attendance nodded in admiration at the atmosphere created by the 2055 fans.

Bohs continued to press forward, with the hassling of Akinade, Buckley and Kelly proving too much to handle, especially for James Chambers in the Pats midfield, who simply didn’t look to have the fitness or sharpness to be playing at this level. Three times Bohs broke toward the Pats goal in a 3 on 3 situation, but the final pass let them down each time. Then, just before half time, Lorcan Fitzgerald’s free kick was somehow not nodded in by Mulcahy, who was less than 3 yards out.

Half-time entertainment included a welcome visit from Johnny Logan, and a fluent German speech from Bohs PRO Brian Trench to the German visitors. My Deutch isn’t what it used to be, but the warm applause from the Germans in attendance signalled that they sincerely appreciated the gesture.

As mentioned above, ex-Bohs defender Jason McGuinness seemed determined to earn some cards. Pats’ first set piece of the second half was swung in and headed away by Dave Mulcahy – who McGuinness simply kung-fu kicked in the head. If it was anywhere else on the pitch, a straight red card would be mandatory, but referee Robert Harvey went for the yellow. McGuinness didn’t hang around, taking out Akinade as the Nigerian skipped past him on the edge of the box. A second yellow in the space of 3 minutes, and McGuinness was invited to head back to the away dressing rooms.

Bohs made the game safe just after the hour mark. Akinade was brilliant in the air all night, this time flicking it on to Jake Kelly cutting in from the right. Kelly played it to Karl Moore, and his shot cannoned down off the crossbar, over the line, and back out. The eagle-eyed referee’s assistant signalled the goal, and three points were secured.

Bohs could easily have added to their tally, with Fitzgerald, Moore and Jason Byrne all having late chances. Pats could easily have lessened their representation on the pitch – Fagan (no relation) should have walked for a lunge on Akinade by the corner flag. Bohs head to Sligo next Saturday aiming to keep the pressure on. Pats need 4 points from their last 4 games against Drogheda, Cork, Sligo and Galway.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Dylan Hayes, Dave Mulcahy, Anto Murphy, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Keith Buckley (Dan Byrne, 90), Roberto Lopes (Jason Byrne, 81), Eoin Wearen, Jake Kelly (Aaron Ashe, 88), Karl Moore; Ismahil Akinade. Subs not used: Kealan Dillon, Adam Evans, Robbie Creevy, Lee Steacy.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Conor O’Malley, Ger O’Brien, (Ian Morris, 37), Jason McGuinness, Shane McEleney, Ian Bermingham, Conan Byrne, Jamie McGrath (Jack Bayly, 78), James Chambers, Sam Verdon (Morgan Langley, 68), Aaron Greene, Christy Fagan. Subs not used: Michael Hannigan, Darragh Markey, Paul Rooney, Pat Jennings.

Mr Green Bohemian Man of the Match: Karl Moore