Bohemians 4-2 Sligo Rovers (AET)
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Bohemians booked their place in the final of the EA Sports Cup following a 4-2 win over Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park on Monday.
Matthew Blinkhorn opened the scoring for Sligo on 37 minutes, but Paul Cook’s men were reduced to ten men shortly after the interval when Martin Camano was shown a straight red. The home side made their numerical advantage count on 56 minutes when Neale Fenn pulled them level. Alan Keane’s penalty four minutes later appeared to have sealed the win for Sligo but substitute Paul Keegan popped up with an injury time equalizer to force extra-time.
Bohs took advantage of their extra player in the additional 30 minutes with goals from Ken Oman and Joseph Ndo sealing the win.
Pat Fenlon’s side will now meet the winner of Tuesday’s semi-final between UCD and Waterford United.
In what turned out to be a pulsating affair, Bohs looked dangerous from the outset and carved open the visitor’s defence inside the opening three minutes when Conor Powell roamed forward, ghosted past several Sligo players, before his attempted pass was intercepted.
Ndo then tried his luck with a long-range shot, but he failed to trouble keeper Richard Brush as his shot flew past the outside of the post.
Despite having the stronger team (on paper at least) Bohs were disjointed at times with Sean Byrne and Killian Brennan proving to be ineffective as wingers, while striker Fenn didn’t get the kind of service he was hoping for.
That allowed The Bit O’Red to build up some momentum and they came close with a few efforts. Camano and Rob Turner should have done better with headers, and Conor O’Grady drilled a shot just wide. Brian Cash arguably had the best of their chances when he picked up a pass, cut inside his marker, and blasted a shot at goal that Brian Shelley blocked out for a corner.
At the other end, Gary Deegan tested Richard Brush with a fine shot from the edge of the box. However, it was Sligo who took a surprise lead when the Bohs defence was caught off guard on 37 minutes.
A poor clearance from keeper Matt Gregg gave possession straight to the visitors and they reacted quickly to feed Blinkhorn as he raced through and lobbed the ball into the back of the net.
Fenlon rung the changes at the interval with Jason Byrne and Keegan entering the fray. Byrne made an almost instant impact, enticing a foul from Camano on the edge of the box – a tackle for which the centre-back was harshly sent off for.
Bohs continued to press and an equalizer seemed inevitable as Brennan forced Brush into a top class save when he curled a free-kick towards the top corner.
On 56 minutes the Gypsies drew level when Fenn found enough space at the back post to hook his shot past Brush and light up the scoreboard in favour of the home team.
The action switched from end to end with Brush denying Byrne from close range before Bohs ‘keeper Matt Gregg – handed a rare start in place of Brian Murphy – saved well from Sligo midfielder Cash.
However, the Bohs shot-stopper could do nothing to stop Keane’s penalty on 61 minutes, which was awarded after the former UCD man was adjudged to have fouled Rafael Cretaro inside his own box.
With the vocal encouragement of the home crowd, Pat Fenlon’s side kept going in their hunt for a second equalizer. Jason Byrne twice came close, while Gary Deegan brought the best out of Brush with a fine shot.
Just as it seemed that Sligo had done enough to book their place in the final, Bohs grabbed a last-ditch leveler when Keegan fired home from close range after a scramble in the box in the final minute of injury time.
There was only one team that looked like scoring in extra-time, so it was barely a surprise when Oman rose highest in the box to head a Keegan corner past the helpless Brush. The Dublin club then secured a place in their second final in three years when Ndo slotted the ball into the net after his original shot had been saved by Brush.
Bohemians: Gregg, Rossiter (Heary, 84 mins), Oman, Shelley, Powell, Brennan, Deegan, Cronin (Keegan, HT), S Byrne (J Byrne, HT), Ndo, Fenn.
Substitutes Not Used: Murphy, McEvoy.
Sligo Rovers: Brush, Boco, Keane, Camano, Kendrick, Creatro, O’Grady (Christopher Kelly, 123 mins), Ventre, Cash (Morrison, 102 mins), Blinkhorn, Turner (Ryan, 52 mins).
Substitutes Not Used: Ciaran Kelly, Keohane.
Referee: Richie Winter.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paul Keegan
Matthew Blinkhorn opened the scoring for Sligo on 37 minutes, but Paul Cook’s men were reduced to ten men shortly after the interval when Martin Camano was shown a straight red. The home side made their numerical advantage count on 56 minutes when Neale Fenn pulled them level. Alan Keane’s penalty four minutes later appeared to have sealed the win for Sligo but substitute Paul Keegan popped up with an injury time equalizer to force extra-time.
Bohs took advantage of their extra player in the additional 30 minutes with goals from Ken Oman and Joseph Ndo sealing the win.
Pat Fenlon’s side will now meet the winner of Tuesday’s semi-final between UCD and Waterford United.
In what turned out to be a pulsating affair, Bohs looked dangerous from the outset and carved open the visitor’s defence inside the opening three minutes when Conor Powell roamed forward, ghosted past several Sligo players, before his attempted pass was intercepted.
Ndo then tried his luck with a long-range shot, but he failed to trouble keeper Richard Brush as his shot flew past the outside of the post.
Despite having the stronger team (on paper at least) Bohs were disjointed at times with Sean Byrne and Killian Brennan proving to be ineffective as wingers, while striker Fenn didn’t get the kind of service he was hoping for.
That allowed The Bit O’Red to build up some momentum and they came close with a few efforts. Camano and Rob Turner should have done better with headers, and Conor O’Grady drilled a shot just wide. Brian Cash arguably had the best of their chances when he picked up a pass, cut inside his marker, and blasted a shot at goal that Brian Shelley blocked out for a corner.
At the other end, Gary Deegan tested Richard Brush with a fine shot from the edge of the box. However, it was Sligo who took a surprise lead when the Bohs defence was caught off guard on 37 minutes.
A poor clearance from keeper Matt Gregg gave possession straight to the visitors and they reacted quickly to feed Blinkhorn as he raced through and lobbed the ball into the back of the net.
Fenlon rung the changes at the interval with Jason Byrne and Keegan entering the fray. Byrne made an almost instant impact, enticing a foul from Camano on the edge of the box – a tackle for which the centre-back was harshly sent off for.
Bohs continued to press and an equalizer seemed inevitable as Brennan forced Brush into a top class save when he curled a free-kick towards the top corner.
On 56 minutes the Gypsies drew level when Fenn found enough space at the back post to hook his shot past Brush and light up the scoreboard in favour of the home team.
The action switched from end to end with Brush denying Byrne from close range before Bohs ‘keeper Matt Gregg – handed a rare start in place of Brian Murphy – saved well from Sligo midfielder Cash.
However, the Bohs shot-stopper could do nothing to stop Keane’s penalty on 61 minutes, which was awarded after the former UCD man was adjudged to have fouled Rafael Cretaro inside his own box.
With the vocal encouragement of the home crowd, Pat Fenlon’s side kept going in their hunt for a second equalizer. Jason Byrne twice came close, while Gary Deegan brought the best out of Brush with a fine shot.
Just as it seemed that Sligo had done enough to book their place in the final, Bohs grabbed a last-ditch leveler when Keegan fired home from close range after a scramble in the box in the final minute of injury time.
There was only one team that looked like scoring in extra-time, so it was barely a surprise when Oman rose highest in the box to head a Keegan corner past the helpless Brush. The Dublin club then secured a place in their second final in three years when Ndo slotted the ball into the net after his original shot had been saved by Brush.
Bohemians: Gregg, Rossiter (Heary, 84 mins), Oman, Shelley, Powell, Brennan, Deegan, Cronin (Keegan, HT), S Byrne (J Byrne, HT), Ndo, Fenn.
Substitutes Not Used: Murphy, McEvoy.
Sligo Rovers: Brush, Boco, Keane, Camano, Kendrick, Creatro, O’Grady (Christopher Kelly, 123 mins), Ventre, Cash (Morrison, 102 mins), Blinkhorn, Turner (Ryan, 52 mins).
Substitutes Not Used: Ciaran Kelly, Keohane.
Referee: Richie Winter.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paul Keegan
About Gareth Maher
Gareth Maher is an award-winning journalist who has covered domestic, international and women's football for the best part of a decade. Previously a columnist for the Irish Daily Mail and Football Editor for Setanta Sports, … View Full Profile