With their perfect start to the season on the line, Cork struggled to get a foot hold in the game and eight minutes before half time referee Ben Connolly found himself at the center of huge controversy for both sides.

Firstly, Karl Sheppard looked the favourite to get on to a long ball over the top but was met by the body of the onrushing Shane Supple, with a goal kick being the outcome, leaving the travelling support behind the goal incensed.

The home fans had their turn to vent their outrage moments later when midfielder Poynton raced through showing the City defence a clean pair of heals, only to be hauled down as he approached the 18 yard box. The loose ball spilled to Kaleem Simon, and just as it seemed the front man was about to tuck it away, he was then brought down amidst a tangle of legs. Amazingly, the referee waved away claims for both calls and allowing advantage.

Outrage turned to full on fury just minutes later when the visitors took the lead with their first effort on target, and what a goal it was. A corner was half cleared from Bohs and as the ball came out of the night sky, Sheppard hit a first time volley the flew into the top corner, giving Supple no chance and arguably rivaling Conan Byrne for goal of the season.

The Gypsies continues their high tempo game into the second half and really should have equalized on the 58th minute. Kaleem Simon showed good hold up play and played a delicate little reverse pass to Keith Ward who galloped in on goal only to be denied by McNulty, who stayed big until the last second.

City did well to take the sting out of the game thereafter, restricting Bohs to a couple of set pieces but an honorable mention has to go to Bohs energizer bunny in midfield, Fuad Sule, who worked tirelessly throughout and set the tone for the Gypsies excellent performance and is quickly becoming a fan favourite around Phibsboro.

With just five minutes left the visitors doubled their lead when current player of the month Sean Maguire won the ball back in the corner and delivered a low cross that was bundled home by Garry Buckley to extend their winning run to an incredible nine games and kill the tie off.

Things don’t get any easier for the Gypsies as they face reigning Champions Dundalk next week at Oriel Park whilst league leaders Cork face an exciting battle against a resurgent Bray Wanderers at Turners Cross.

Bohemian fc: Shane Supple, Derek Pender (c), Lorcan Fitzgerald, Rob Cornwall, Dan Byrne, Keith Ward (Jamie Hamilton), Kaleem Simon, Paddy Kavangh, Oscar Brennan, Fuad Sule (Ian Morris), Georgie Poynton (Steven Nolan)

Subs: Greg Murray, Philip Gannon, Eoghan Morgan, Ian Morris, Dylan Hayes, Steven Nolan, Jamie Hamilton

Cork City: Mark McNulty, Alan Bennett (c), Ryan Delaney, Jimmy Keohane (Steven Beattie), Conor McCormack, Stephen Dooley (Shane Griffin), Kevin O’Connor, Geroid Morrissey, Karl Sheppard, Sean Maguire, Garry Buckley (Greg Bolger)

Subs: Alan Smith, John Kavanagh, Greg Bolger, Achille Campion, Steven Beattie, Connor Ellis, Shane Griffin

Referee: Ben Connolly

Such is the early-season congestion around mid-table, sixth-placed Bohs are only two points off fourth but also two points off the relegation spots.

The Gypsies have four points from their four games at Dalymount Park this season and Long is keen for his side to improve their home form to stay ahead of the rest.

He said: “Our home form has been patchy and that’s something we’re looking to rectify.

“We know it won’t be easy but there is great determination within the group to go out and do ourselves justice.”

Bohs’ cause has been hampered by injuries to date and they will continue without several key first-teamers.

Dinny Corcoran (knee) and Jamie Doyle (quad) are still a couple of weeks off fitness, while long-term absentees Eoin Wearen (cruciate) and Ismahil Akinade (surgery to remove spleen) remain on the sidelines.

But Ian Morris (knee) could come back into the fray and there was some further good news with Long revealing that Akinade has returned to training.

The striker has been unavailable all season having had surgery on March 1st to remove his spleen.

Long said: “Izzy is back in training this week, doing some gym work and working with the physios.

“The other lads are improving but not as quickly as we would have liked. We’d hoped to have Dinny back but he’s not quite where we need him to be.

“Ian will train tonight and should hopefully come back into contention.”

Key players’ continued absence has provided an opening for others to stake their claim, with the likes of Dean Casey and Fuad Sule starting in the 2-0 defeat away to Sligo Rovers on Saturday.

Sule in particular stood out having only made his first-team debut four nights previously in the EA Sports Cup against Cabinteely.

Long said: “It’s important we reward players. It’s a big step up from playing Cabinteely to playing in the Premier Division and it took him 20 minutes or so to find his feet.

“But he eventually found his rhythm and it was a very good performance from him.

“He’s a young lad and still has a lot to learn. He had a bit of a stop-start pre-season, partially due to his involvement with Maynooth in the Collingwood Cup.

“But that’s over now and he’s catching up. It was a big test for him on Saturday but he did very well.”

Although frustrated not to get anything out of the game, there were plenty of reasons for Long to take the positives out of a performance that saw Bohs dominate the second half despite failing to score.

Long said: “We played very well, but were disappointed with both goals we conceded. We pride ourselves on our set-plays, so it’s disappointing to concede from one.

“We had long periods of real pressure and dominance but didn’t take our chances. I can’t fault the effort in our performance but ultimately we feel we lost three points.

“Such was the momentum we had in the second half, if we’d pulled one back, you’d have fancied us to go on and win it.”

It was much-needed game-time for others too, with Dylan Hayes and Philip Gannon each getting 90 minutes.

Long said: “They certainly did themselves no harm. The lads did very well, it was a good performance. We dominated the ball for most of the game.

“It’s a squad game, so it’s important to know we’ve got people who can make that step up, especially with the injuries we have at the moment.

“It was important for others to get game-time too. We’re seven games into the league season and it was an opportunity for those who have not played so often to do so against decent opposition.”

Bohemians are once again without Ian Morris (knee), Jamie Doyle (quad), Dinny Corcoran (knee) as well as long-term absentees Eoin Wearen (cruciate) and Izzy Akinade (surgery to remove spleen). Stephen Best (bug) misses out too.

There was some good news, however, with goalkeeper Shane Supple fit to start having been forced off with a hip injury during last week’s loss to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Skipper Derek Pender, who missed the EA Sports Cup victory against Cabinteely through illness, is also available for selection, as is Dean Casey, who hobbled off in that game with an ankle injury.

Long said: “We’d hoped to have Dinny back for this game. But he’s not recovered quite as quickly as we would have liked, so we’re not going to rush him back for tomorrow night’s game.

“It’s a long season and this is just one game – we have to be careful with him.

“Ian’s had an injection in his knee this week, so we are hopeful we will have him back in training ahead of the Cork game next week.

“Jamie got good news with his scan but he will still need a couple of weeks to recover. Shane’s responded well to treatment all week and he’s ready to play.”

Long is demanding Bohs up their game following last week’s bruising 4-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Although the scoreline perhaps flattered the winners, Long is in no doubt that his side deserved nothing from the game.

He said: “Pat’s were better than us, we were far too easy to play against.”

The Gypsies travel to The Showgrounds to face a Sligo team who are second from bottom and without a manager.

Just seven games in, Dave Robertson became the second Premier Division managerial casualty of the season.

Long added: “It’s never nice to see a manager lose their job.

“Sligo will have pride as a group and feel they have something to prove. They probably feel they are in a false position in the league.

“It will be a tough game – I’ve no doubt they will have targeted this fixture.”

But despite the host’s good early possession, particularly Fuad Sule looking impressive trying to build from the back, Cabinteely showed they wern’t just here to make up the numbers, looking dangerous on the break with Steven Bell providing the threat over the top. And it was the Cabo front man who almost nicked the opener himself when Bohs keeper Greg Murphy got in a tangle with the forward and luckily escaped with the ball at his feet.

Following the bright start Bohs were unable to make their domination count, besides having a couple of long range efforts from Rob Cornwall and Sule as the home fans became frustrated.

Bohs came out firing in the second half and took the lead on the 47th minute. Dylan Hayes played a clever one-two with Sule and the right back dinked a lovely ball right onto Steven Nolans head. The front man did well to loop his header over Menton giving the keeper no chance.

The visitors became increasingly frustrated at not getting a foothold in the game and saw both Maher and Harney go into the book in quick succession. Maher’s late lunge on the talented Dean Casey saw the winger forced off with what looked like an ankle injury to add to Keith Long’s list of walking wounded.

Bohs missed a glorious chance to double their lead from the penalty spot as the action began to heat up. Menton made an outstanding save to his left at full stretch to deny Philip Gannon, following a soft foul on the Bohs midfielder.

The Gypsies continued to turn the screw and midfielder Sule was unlucky to see his right footed effort come crashing off the bar in the 75th minute and substitute Jamie Hamilton saw his side foot attempt creep agonizingly wide moments later.

Bohs saw out the game with relevant ease and will be delighted to get back to winning ways but the Bohs boss will be questioning just what he has done to suffer more bad luck of two more injuries to an already paper thin squad, losing both Casey and Kirk to injuries.
Bohemians: Greg Murray, Dylan Hayes, Rob Cornwall (Dan Byrne), Oscar Brennan, Patrick Kirk (Jamie Wilson), Fuad Sule, Eoghan Morgan, Philip Gannon, Dean Casey (Jamie Hamilton), Brandon Perry, Steven Nolan

Subs: Kian Clarke, Dan Byrne, Jamie Hamilton, Jamie Wilson, Eoghan Stokes, Cian Fay, Dylan Thornton

Cabinteely: Jack Menton, Adam Harney, Darragh McConville (Mark Hanlon), Sean Fitzpatrick, Andrew McGovern, Rob Duggan (Jason Byrne), Adam Maher, Jack Hudson, Michael Scott (Cian Lynch), Steven Ball, Paul Fox

Subs: Mick Kelly, Mark Hanlon, Aaron Robinson, Cian Lynch, Cian O’Sullivan, Rob McGee, Jason Byrne

Referee: Derek Tomney

Supple is ruled out of tomorrow’s game and will continue to receive treatment before he is reassessed.

Corcoran will not be risked against Cabinteely but it is hoped he is nearing a return to action.

With one eye on Saturday’s SSE Airtricity League clash away to Sligo Rovers, Long is not prepared to take unnecessary risks.

His side slipped to fifth after Friday’s loss and the Gypsies will travel to The Showgrounds facing a Bit O’Red team battling for points.

With that in mind, players lacking game-time and under-19 starlets will be given the opportunity to stake their claim tomorrow.

Expected to be included in the matchday squad are promising Ireland under-17 internationals Brandon Kavanagh, Dominic Peppard and Kian Clarke.

Brandon Perry, Cian Fay, Dylan Thornton and Paddy Kirk are among those who could be promoted from Graham Lawlor’s Bohemians under-19s.

Long said: “We have a very good first XI when we have everyone fit and healthy.

“We just can’t afford to lose anymore bodies. Our injuries have effectively dictated who can play.

“But this is a huge opportunity for players from the under-19s to step up.

“It’s a competitive game and with the injuries we have, there are places up for grabs in our squad for Saturday too.

“It’s also a chance for players who have been in and around the first team – the likes of Dylan Hayes – to get a bit of game-time under their belt and show us what they can do.

“We want to win the game, but the chance to be included on Saturday is an extra bit of motivation.”

Against Cabinteely, Bohs face a team flying high in the First Division.

Pat Devlin’s side will be licking their wounds after they squandered a two-goal lead and a chance to go top of the league in their 3-3 draw away to Athlone Town.

They are a club with some familiar faces too, with two-time Bohemian league winner Jason Byrne in their ranks, and former Bohs assistant manager Graham O’Hanlon on their backroom team.

Long added: “They’re doing very well and will be disappointed they’re not go top of the table.

“They’re going to give us a game and it’s up to our players to show they’re up for it.”