FAI Cup Report: Derry City 1 - 3 Bohemians

Odhrán Crumley reports from the Brandywell Stadium

Bohemians advanced to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup and a date with holders Cork City as they beat Derry City 3-1 at the Brandywell on Wednesday night.

Bohs hit the front two minutes before the break as Dan Casey headed home a Kevin Devaney corner.

They doubled their lead in the 59^th minute as Dinny Corcoran exposed defensive frailties to tap past Gerard Doherty.

Ally Roy pulled one back for Derry before Dinny Corcoran sealed the win in injury time.

Derry had the first real chance of the game as space opened up for Aaron McEneff, who slid the ball to Ronan Hale on the right.

The pass was slightly overhit, leaving Ronan Hale at a less desirable angle but Shane Supple was on hand to parry away his powerful strike.

Bohs first threatened Derry goalkeeper Doherty in the 14^th minute of the game when Daniel Kelly’s searching cross towards the back post was punched clear by the City netminder.

Midway through the first half, Bohs were presented with a big chance as Kevin McHattie coughed up possession on the edge of his own area.

Kelly pounced but his effort towards the bottom right corner tailed well off target, concluding as a Derry City throw-in.

Neither side could create anything really clear-cut as Rory Hale hit the wall with a Derry free kick before Darragh Leahy headed wide of the target at the other end.

Two minutes before the break, the visitors took the lead through Casey, after a well-worked routine straight from the training ground saw Keith Ward win a corner.

Kevin Devaney clipped the ball into the area for Casey to powerfully head into the bottom corner of the net.

Keith Long’s men took a deserved lead in the changing rooms at half-time and they continued where they left off at the beginning of the second half.

Confusion inside the Derry area allowed Dinny Corcoran to strike an acrobatic effort, prompting a brilliant reaction save from Gerard Doherty.

Pressure from Bohs continued, and Casey really should have done much better after being left unmarked in the area, but he headed Devaney’s corner over the top.

Corcoran doubled his sides advantage just before the hour mark, exposing acres of space and a gap in the Derry defence.

The striker glided past the last defender before tapping into the bottom right corner of the net.

Derry got one back minutes later as Roy fired home Jamie McDonagh’s delightful cross, which would prove his final action of the game as he was replaced, much to the striker’s displeasure.

In the 73^rd minute, it looked like Ronan Hale had equalised with a wonderful looping volleyed effort. Shane Supple, however, was up to the task and touched it over the bar.

Aaron McEneff swung the resulting corner into the area, prompting cries of handball from the home brigade.

The game grew more and more open as the time ticked on and, when Bohs broke from a Derry corner, JJ Luney squaring to Dinny Corcoran who looked to kill the tie but Gerard Doherty made a brilliant save.

At the other end, Adrian Delap maybe should have equalised for Derry, his volleyed effort from a McDonagh cross saved by Shane Supple.

Corcoran then tapped home in the final minute to put the icing firmly on the cake.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Kevin McHattie, Darren Cole, Gavin Peers, Jamie McDonagh; Ben Fisk (Adrian Delap 64), Aaron McEneff, Rory Hale, Dean Shiels (Shane McNamee 81); Ronan Hale, Ally Roy (Nicky Low 64)

Subs not used: Eric Grimes (gk), Dan Seaborne, Aaron Splaine, Eoin Toal.

Booked: Kevin McHattie (36), Ronan Hale (42), Nicky Low (80).

Bohemians: Shane Supple; Derek Pender (Rob Cornwall 70), Darragh Leahy, Dan Casey, Ian Morris; Daniel Kelly (Eoghan Stokes 94), Keith Buckley, JJ Luney, Kevin Devaney; Keith Ward (Oscar Brennan 76); Dinny Corcoran.

Subs not used: Colin McCabe, Dan Byrne, Paddy Kirk, Ryan Graydon.

Booked: None

Referee: Robert Harvey.

Attendance: TBC.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dinny Corcoran (Bohemians).