With both sides knocked out of all cup competitions and fighting for a fifth-place finish in the league, the early exchanges were understandably slow-paced.

There was very little action in terms of scoring opportunities, so perhaps it came as a surprise when the first chance yielded a goal.

The Bohs defence, which has been one of the positives of Aaron Callaghan’s first season, fell asleep as it allowed Vinny Sullivan surge into the box and superbly volleyed home past Greg Murray.

Most people would have thought that this would shock the Gypsies into action but the problems that were evident in the home defeat by Dundalk were still present and Cork nearly went two goals ahead when another cross by Daryl Horgan was headed onto the post by Sullivan.

The home side were restricted to crosses from Andy Mulligan and Owen Heary, which weren’t causing Tommy Dunne’s side many problems.

On the stroke of half-time, referee Rob Rodgers waved away a Bohs penalty appeal for handball, which on another night could well have been given.

The half-time break saw Callaghan turn to his subs bench to make the difference.

On came Dave Scully for Ken Carr as he partnered the versatile Evan McMillan, who had played at centre-back in the first half. up front.

And straight away the changes began to have an effect. McMillan made a nuisance of himself and chances were being created.

Keith Ward delivered a free-kick, which nearly found its way to McMillan and Scully should have done better from a great cross from Mulligan but headed wide.

It wasn’t long after that the equaliser came, though. Some terrific work from McMillan again led to him getting the ball at his feet 25 yards from goal. The former St Patrick’s Athletic man showed great composure to curl in his sixth goal of the season.

It looked like Bohs would power on to to win but it could have been oh so different two minutes later as Sullivan hit the post for the second time.

McMillan continued to win more aerial duels as the Cork defence just about dealt with the constant aerial bombardment.

Both sides had moments of hope near the end. After a through ball from Stephen Kenny, Horgan found himself 20 yards from goal but he tried a deft chip which sailed over the bar.

Shortly afterwards, Ward ran into the and fell to ground from what looked like a mistimed challenge from Dan Murray.

The referee saw otherwise and booked Ward for simulation, which meant he was sent off having already been shown a yellow card earlier in the second half. This proved to be the last kick of the game as the referee blew for full time.

Next up for Bohs is a short trip out to the Belfield Bowl to face Martin Russell’s UCD.

Man Of The Match: Evan McMillan

“I think we can target 11 or 12 points from the five remaining games,” Callaghan said.

“The onus is on us to go out and win the games. If we make sure that the attitude of the players is right we can get a run of wins.”

Friday’s game is also an opportunity to get over last weekend’s cup quarter-final defeat to Dundalk. It came in a match which Callaghan thinks neither side deserved to win but also a performance from Bohemians that the manager described as “poor all over the pitch”

“There may have been a bit of stage fright. The euphoria of beating Shamrock Rovers was probably still in a lot of our minds and we were in the unusual position of being favourites.

“From our point of view the preparation for the game was no different. But if your head is not right as a player going into any match you’re going to get your comeuppance.

“In football you always have your next game to get over a disappointment. It’s done and dusted now and we have been focusing on the Cork City game.”

For Friday, Derek Pender is suspended and Ryan McEvoy (ankle) is unlikely to be fit. Kevin Feely returns today (Thursday) from a trial at Stoke City and will be assessed. Latest signing Garreth O’Connor is likely to be in the match-day squad on Friday.

For this final run of games Callaghan may give some of the fringe players a chance to prove themselves, also with an eye to next season.

“We’ll be looking at giving Andy Mulligan and John O’Connor, for instance, more game time and we’ll be looking at some of the under-19 players who have been doing well.”

Bohemians have recently registered several of their under-19 players with the senior team to give them the possibility of appearing in the remaining league games.

As FAI Cup quarter finals go, the first half of this one will not live long in the memory. There was little or no goalmouth action at all. Kevin Devaney flashed a cross along the six yard box in the opening minutes, but that was as threatening as it got for either side in the first 45 minutes. Bohs played marginally the better football, with Keith Buckley particularly impressive on the right side.

Before the game, Aaron Callaghan praised Dundalk manager Darius Kierans for making the Lilywhites a team that were ‘hard to beat’, and the away side lived up to that billing – Liam Burns and Derek Foran were rock solid at centre back.

Following a toothless 45 minutes for Bohs, Evan McMillan was shifted up front for the second period. He offered a better outlet for the home side, but the spark just wasnt there for Bohs. Dundalk slowly started to come into the game, taking control around the hour mark. Mark Griffin looked particularly skillful and dangerous – his goal against Drogheda last month is widely regarded as the leading contender for Goal of the Season.

Griffin’s delivery from a left-sided free kick should have yielded the opener for Chris Shields, but the Dundalk captain completely missed his header. With 15 minutes to go, it was looking like a replay – unless a moment of magic was to settle matters. That moment arrived when Dave Mulcahy’s clumsy challenge felled Michael Rafter 25 yards out from Greg Murray’s goal.

Griffin stepped up, and let fly with an unstoppable right-footed effort that soared into the top corner. The travelling fans in the Des Kelly Stand went ballistic, and Bohs found themselves backed into a corner.

Callaghan threw on Andy Mulligan and John O’Connor for a hectic last ten minutes. Mulligan provided some much-needed penetration down the left flank. and with 5 minutes to go, his pullback agonizingly avoided everyone in the box as Bohs grew more and more desperate. A Keith Ward cross was headed down to Dave Mulcahy as the game entered injury time – but Mulcahy’s twisting volley clipped the top of the bar and went over. The last throw of the dice was a Ryan McEvoy corner which goalkeeper Murray went up for. Fittingly, Liam Burns headed away – and Bohs FAI Cup dreams were left in tatters.

Five league games remain for Callaghan’s young side. With a top-half finish absolutely within reach, that would be a truly admirable achievement considering the position the club were in when he took over. As for trophys, they’ll have to wait for another year to come back to the home of Irish football.  

Bohemians: Greg Murray, Dave Mulcahy, Owen Heary (John O’Connor, 82), Kevin Feely, Roberto Lopes, Karl Moore (Ryan McEvoy, 69), Keith Buckley, Keith Ward, Derek Pender, Evan McMillan, Kevin Devaney (Andy Mulligan 82). Subs not used: Andy McNulty, Michael Barker, Dave Scully, Ken Carr.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Derek Foran, Liam Burns, Chris Shields, Nathan Murphy (Eoghan Osbourne, 90), Mark O’Brien, John Mountney, Stephen McDonnell, Mark Griffin, Gary Shanahan, Michael Rafter (Paul Walsh, 86).Subs not used: Chris Reilly, Lorcan Shannon, Bob McKenna, Conor McDonnell, William Woods.

For early starters, the bars at Dalymount Park will be open during the afternoon and those attending the Dogs night are invited to watch Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur from the comfort of the Members’ Bar, where there will be drinks promotions throughout the day.

If you are unable to attend the Dogs night, there are still other ways to support this event:

Dog sponsor – €10.

You can now sponsor a dog for just €10 via the Bohs Store. If your dog wins the race, you go will be entered into a draw for an FAI season ticket. All dog sponsors go into another draw for other top prizes.
Half-page advert in racecard programme (including two admission tickets) – €50.

Email commercial@bohemians.ie for more information.

Full-page advert in racecard programme (including five admission tickets) – €100.

Email commercial@bohemians.ie for more information.

 It’s Bohs’ best head-to-head record with Rovers since Pat Fenlon’s double-winning team of 2008.

With Bohs without a league win in seven, Rovers without defeat at home since May and unbeaten in Tallaght against the Gypsies, all the signs looked ominous for Aaron Callaghan’s side.

But it was the visitors who created the early openings. A flurry of quickfire Bohs chances gave the hosts something to think about.

First, Keith Ward shot wide past Oscar Jansson’s post. Then new boy Devaney – formerly of Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps – came close to opening the scoring when he flashed a header wide from a tough angle.

But after that, it was Stephen Kenny’s side who were in the ascendancy for most of the opening half.

Gary Twigg, so often the thorn in Bohs’ side, was beginning to wreak havoc and he came close when he peeled away from Feely to flash a half-volley over the crossbar.

Not long afterwards, a further warning was delivered after Thomas Stewart blasted a shot against the crossbar from 18 yards out.

Bohs were having to withstand some serious pressure, but the likes of the impeccable Feely at the back and impressive 19-year-old Greg Murray in goal – in only his second game for the first team – were more than a match for everything Rovers threw at them.

And Bohs’ dogged performance received an unlikely reward just before half-time.

A Ward free-kick on 44 minutes was delivered into Rovers’ penalty area. McMillan rose for the ball but it hit the onrushing Jansson and fell into the path of  Devaney, who scored his first goal for the club at a vital time.

Bohs fans were delirious, Rovers’ were silenced.

In what proved to be a nail-biting second 45 minutes for the travelling faithful, Ward could have – and should have – made it 2-0 just after break.

Ward capitalised on a mistake from former Bohs man Ken Oman and was one-on-one with Jansson, but his poorly-hit shot flashed wide.

Having been on fire throughout the game, Ward will have been disappointed with a missed opportunity that could have proved costly.

And not long afterwards, Twigg almost made Bohs pay. The Scot latched on to the end of a Stewart cross to divert the ball towards the top corner of Murray’s net.

But Twigg – the league’s top scorer in 2009 and 2010 – saw the ball ricochet off the crossbar and once again, Feely was on hand to clear the danger.

Having come so close in the past, it was beginning to look like it could finally be Bohemians’ night in Tallaght.

Rovers continued to try and press for the equaliser but Callaghan’s instructions seemed to work as his side looked comfortable for the last half-hour or so.

Former Bohs favourite Killian Brennan came on but was unable to make any real impact.

In fact, it was a Bohs substitute – Ken Carr – who came closest to finding the net.

He raced through towards Jansson less than a minute after he was introduced in place of Devaney. But his shot was well-saved by the Swedish goalkeeper.

When McMillan slipped under a high ball in the dying moments, it looked as if Oman would spare his team’s blushes.

But he headed tamely into the ground where the unfazed Murray gathered the ball without any fuss.

Rovers knew the game was up.

We’ll never win in Tallaght, eh?

 

MAN OF THE MATCH: Kevin Feely.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Sullivan, Oman, Hawkins, O’Connor; McCabe (Kilduff 60), Finn, Rice, Dennehy (Brennan 74); Twigg, Stewart (Greene 78).

BOHEMIANS: Murray; Barker, McMillan, Feely, Lopes; Pender, Ward, (J O’Connor 88), Mulcahy; Buckley, Devaney (Carr 80), Moore (Mulligan 68).

REFEREE: P McLaughlin.