Bohemians 0 - 2 Derry City

Derry City progressed to the EA Sports Cup semi-final and compounded more misery on Bohemians with a 2-0 win at Dalymount Park on Monday night. A late brace from Michael Duffy was enough to see Declan Devine’s side into the last four and it was no more then they deserved after a competent display throughout the evening.

The home side, looking for their first win since the last round of this competition against Bray last month, started brightly and had a half chance on two minutes when newcomer Santiago Falbo’s snapshot flew over from 25 yards.

The Foylesiders grew into the game and controlled the play for much of the half. Their first chance came on nine minutes, Michael Duffy lifted the ball over Michael Barker before volleying over from an awkward angle and six yards out.

Large parts of the game were played in the middle third of the pitch with neither side able to take advantage of the perfect conditions. Michael Rafter had a half chance from distance, but his best chance came on 35 minutes. Ryan McEvoy seemed to be chopped down from behind but the referee didn’t see anything and Patrick McEleney took advantage playing a perfectly weighted ball over the top which Rafter raced onto before seeing his toe poked effort well saved by Greg Murray in the Bohs goal.

A mix up in the Bohs defence saw Duffy pouncing on the loose ball, his half volley come lob was touched onto the crossbar by the impressive Murray and away for a corner.

Karl Moore and substitute and debutant Zein Albehadlie were proving menacing up the right hand side. When they got on the ball Bohs looked dangerous, without adding an end product. One of those moves could have paid dividends just before half time when good play up the right found McEvoy who fed Lyons out wide, he turned Deery inside out but shot when he should have squared it. His effort blazed over Gerard Doherty’s crossbar.

Derry owned the ball at the start of the second half. Substitute Paddy Kavanagh could have given them the lead on the hour mark when he shook off a challenge from Luke Byrne and weaved his way through the Bohs defence before seeing his shot just missing Murray’s left hand post.

Despite being under pressure, the home side could have taken the lead on the counter attack on 65 minutes. Dave Scully started the move, turning on the halfway line and playing the ball into acres of space on the left for substitute Darragh Reynor. He held it up before swinging in a great cross which was met by the oncoming Scully who could only skew his free header to off target.

Two minutes later and a bout of head tennis in the Bohs box saw Stewart Greacen find Ryan McBride eight yards out but his powerful header was well tipped over by Murray in the Bohs goal.

Duffy had looked dangerous all night and he was again at the source of Derry’s good play. His run up the left saw Albehaldie left for dead, he squaring it to Rafter who shinned it over from 8 yards with the goal at his mercy. Darragh Reynor went close for Bohs on 75 minutes after latching onto a great cross-field ball, but saw his shot flash wide of the far post.

The breakthrough for Derry finally came with seven minutes remaining and it was no more then they deserved. Rafter began the move on the right hand side, before finding McNamee who in turn found Duffy across the box, he managed to find himself some space before firing low and under Murray.

Bohs weren’t going to lie down and Scully could have leveled, but only managed to blaze over from Albehaldie’s low cross. With time up, the visitors doubled their advantage. Bohs committed men forward only for Derry to turn the ball over and break, with three on two, Rafter played in Duffy who raced clear before beating Murray with some style.

Bohemians: Greg Murray (GK): Michael Barker, Roberto Lopes, Ciaran Nangle (Zein Albehadlie ’31), Luke Byrne; Santiago Falbo (Darragh Reynor ’63), Ryan McEvoy, Keith Buckley, Karl Moore; Chris Lyons (Michael Scott ’87), David Scully.

Subs not used: Dean Delany, Conor O’Brien, Lee Whelan, Kevin O’Leary.

Booked: None.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Shane McEleney, Stewart Greacen, Ryan McBride, Sean Houston (Kevin Deery ’13); Barry McNamee, Michael Duffy, Barry Molloy, Patrick McEleney; Michael Rafter, Mark Griffin (Paddy Kavanagh ’56).

Subs not used: Simon Madden, James Gallagher, Ryan Curran, Tony McNamee, Joshua Tracey.

Booked: Griffin (16), Deery (45). 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 543.

Extratime Man of the Match: Michael Duffy – Scored twice and was a menace throughout.