Bohemians again fail to ignite

With a new manager and a good bit of previously unseen talent, quite a few people rated Bohemians as the dark horses for this year's title before the season kicked off a few weeks ago.

So far, however, Joe McGrath's men are finding it a little tricky to get out of the starting gates. This defeat makes it one point from nine and leaves them further off the early pace being set by Cork City and last year's champions, St Patrick's Athletic.

Two weeks ago the teething problems were obvious as players scarcely on first-name terms attempted to strike up understandings on the pitch. While things appear to be improving on that front, the team clearly needs another few weeks before we can see what they are capable of achieving.

Matters weren't helped last night when the most recent arrival at Dalymount, Shaun Maher, was sent off in his first game back with the club.

The Dubliners were already behind to a Jason Kabia goal at the time and for the rest of the second half they were forced to take chances at the back in the hope of salvaging something from the game.

It didn't quite work out. Noel Mooney was forced into the action once or twice during the second period but nothing spectacular was required of the 21 year-old goalkeeper.

At the other end, almost inevitably, the three-man defence they played, left McGrath's side vulnerable. A quarter of an hour from time, Gareth Cronin picked out Kabia who laid off for Gerald Dobbs to drive home.

It was a harsh blow for Bohemians who had started the game as their manager says he intends them to continue: playing good, open football and creating the sort of chances that should have enabled the home side to take the lead early on.

Derek Swan, searching for his 100th league goal, looked sharp enough to get it. But twice, when the chances fell to him, he passed up the opportunities, first heading Harry Ngata's ball straight at Noel Mooney and then missing the target completely after Brian Mooney had done the hard stuff out wide.

The couple of chances they allowed, their hosts accepted, though, City looked to have the measure of the Dubliners through the opening period.

Dave Barry's team did look a little uncomfortable when Mooney pushed wide but Raffaele De Gregorio's preference for cutting into a crowded area suited them fine, while the pace of Ollie Cahill gave them a speedy route out of defence.

Cahill had been central to all his side's best attempts on goal in the first half, setting up Dobbs with a low cross, after Kelvin Flanagan had brilliantly sent him on his way.

Then, midway through, he crossed for Kabia who finished a four-man move he had started with a glancing header that slipped under Jason Batty into the net.

Bohemians: Batty; Broughan, Maher, O'Hanlon, Brunton; Mooney, Harkin, Dodds, De Gregorio; Swan, Ngata. Subs: Byrne for Bruton (86 mins); Lawlor for De Gregorio (70 mins)

Cork City: Mooney; Daly, Coughlan, Hill, Cronin; Flanagan, Freyne, Herrick, Cahill; Kabia, Dobbs Subs: Barry Murphy for Freyne (half-time); Caulfield for Dobbs.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone)