Bohemians’ Ismahil Akinade (second from left) celebrates his goal with team-mates in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division win over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium last Friday. Photo: SPORTSFILE

Ismahil Akinade has said sorry for his goal celebration which almost sparked a pitch invasion in Friday's tense Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers.

But the big forward makes no apology for the determination of his Bohemians side to stay in the top flight and move away from the releagtion zone.

Bohs are in action again tonight away to a Cork City side who only need 11 more points to secure their first league title since 2005, City in a position to have the league won away to Finn Harps next month.

Keith Long's side will head south today to play Cork in confident mood as Friday's 2-1 win away to Rovers ended a three-game losing streak.

Akinade was a key figure in the game as he scored the first goal for Bohs, then set up the winner for strike partner Dinny Corcoran, and also got himself booked for celebrating his goal - his first since he had his spleen removed during surgery in March - in front of the Rovers supporters.

"The emotions got the better of me and I obviously apologise for that, I did apologise to the referee, I shouldn't have done it but it was in the heat of the moment, that was out of character for me," Akinade told The Herald.

"I had been missing in action for a long time, with the operation, Friday was my first start since last August so it was great to come back and get my first goal since I had the op.

"It was even better as it was away to Rovers, we haven't done well against them this season so the win was good.

"It wasn't just winning the derby, it was also about getting three points on board because we had to get away from the bottom half of the table, if we'd lost on Friday we'd be heading down to Cork trying to avoid a fifth loss in a row.

"Everyone had us written off last Friday so it was great to come away with the win and we have momentum behind us now going to Cork," he added.

"The team we have is good enough to stay in the league and I don't see us getting relegated. We need points to back that up but we can do it."

Dropped points by Dundalk on Saturday in Sligo means Cork need only 11 points to become champions. "There is a lot of talk out there, but we just have to focus on our own game and get our points. It would be stupid of us to switch off," says boss John Caulfield.