An outrageous own goal by Donal Broughan at Dalymount Park last night, may well have been the final misfortune in a deeply flawed season for Bohemians.
It cost them their chance of further progress in the Harp Lager FAI Cup and possibly, signalled the end of the line for those of their senior players who simply failed to deliver on their reputations.
The end product was a win for Cork City which delighted manager Dave Barry as much as it infuriated the fretful figure of Turlough O'Connor just yards away.
It was scarcely the stuff of heroics but having startled the opposition with the pace and weight of their early assault, Cork settled for expediency in a second half contested for the most part, in their half of the field. Conceding midfield by default, they opted for a formula of disciplined defence and pace on the counter attack. In spite of persistent pressure in the last half hour, Bohemians created no more than a couple of half chances.
And they were undeniably fortunate not to have conceded a second goal when John Caulfield layed on the perfect chance for Noel Hartigan in front of goal, only to see the big man miscue in front of an open goal.
That was typical of the inept finishing by both sides and in those circumstances, it was fitting that the decisive goal should emanate from a couple of bizarre mishaps in the home penalty area. The game was only eight minutes in progress and Cork had already served notice of their intent when Maurice O'Driscoll sliced Ollie Chaill's cross against his upright.
But the sense of reprieve died in the throats of Bohemians' fans when the rebound fell to Broughan running back towards goal and he somehow managed to get enough spin on his attempted clearance to take the ball inside the post rather than the easier task of putting it elsewhere.
"No matter which way you look at it, it was a bizarre goal but having waited 14 years to beat Bohemians in a Cup tie, we'll accept it," said Barry. "We did a professional job on the night and hopefully, we'll now get a home game in the next round".
He could feel well pleased with a defence in which Gareth Cronin and Derek Coughlan presided with authority and Declan Daly missed little that mattered on the right. Ollie Cahill and Colin O'Brien produced some artful touches in midfield and up front, there was the encouragement of a vintage John Caulfield performance. Bohemians' individual successes were less obvious on the night. Maurice O'Driscoll and Dave Henderson, two of the senior citizens did well in defence but with Paul Doolin, Peter Hanrahan and Brian Mooney some way below their best, the front men seldom counted until Warren Parkes arrived on the scene as a replacement.
A firm header by Hartigan and Caulfield's mis-hit shot, might have had Cork in an unshakable position before Swan's persistence finally lit the fuse for a Bohemians' revival in the second quarter.
Exploiting a perceived weakness on the left side of Cork's defence where Philip Long's experience proved no substitute for a shortage of pace, he should have scored twice for the home team approaching half time.
Bohemians: D Henderson; D Broughan, D McGrath, M O'Driscoll, E Mullen; D Swan, P Doolin, P Hanrahan, B Mooney; G Lawlor, B Markey. Subs: A O'Connor for Markey (45 mins) W Parkes for Doolin (69 mins), J Ryan for Hanrahan (69 mins).
Cork City: N Mooney; D Daly, D Coughlan, G Cronin, P Long; C O'Brien, P Freyne, B BarryMurphy, O Cahill; N Hartigan, J Caulfield. Subs: J Cotter for Freyne (76 mins).
Referee: J Stacey (Westmeath).
