FAI Cup Report: Lucan United 0 – 2 Bohemians

Rónán MacNamara reports from Dalymount Park

Bohemians are through to the quarter-final of the FAI Cup after first half goals from Liam Burt and Jonathan Afolabi ensured they safely navigated their way past a stubborn Lucan United side at Dalymount Park.

Two goals in three minutes just after the half hour mark gave last year’s beaten finalists the victory.

Lucan were drawn as the home side in the last-16 tie but the game was moved to Phibsborough so this is certainly one of the shorter away trips Bohs have made in recent years.

Keith Long certainly wasn’t taking anything for granted as he named a strong side despite Dublin derbies against St Patrick’s Athletic (Monday) and Shamrock Rovers (Friday) looming large. Perhaps the Bohs manager views the cup as their best route back into Europe next season.

It was fitting that Bohemians wore their cup edition Dublin Bus kit, because like a bus they were rather stop, start in an uncomfortable opening spell for the heavy favourites. 

Joshu Ukek almost put the cat amongst the pigeons for the Leinster Senior League side when he rattled the post inside the first five minutes after former Leyton Orient marksman David Mooney did well to set him up.

From there, it was the away side who took over with recent signing James Clarke going close on two occasions. First, he warmed the palms of Imrich Toth with an effort from outside the box before flicking wide following a flowing team move later in the half.

Burt thought he had broken the deadlock when he pounced on a dropped ball from Toth but in bizzare circumstances the offside Tyreke Wilson blocked the shot on the goalline.

Keith Long’s charges finally made their long-awaited breakthrough as Burt pounced on a through ball and opened his body to calmly curl past Toth to open the scoring.

It was two goals in three minutes and a first Gypsy strike for former Celtic player Jonathan Afolabi after he headed home Wilson’s clipped cross.

The Bohs number 20 had a strange night showing flashes of his pace and power but often lacking sharpness and he was replaced moments after going down having blazed the ball over the bar after a good run into the box.

His successor Ethon Varian almost had an instant impact as he glanced a header towards goal but Toth did brilliantly to tip it over the bar.

Bohs – wearing their Dublin Bus FAI Cup kit for the first time - did have the ball in the net for a third time but Feely’s volley was disallowed for an earlier foul in the box.

Lucan stopper Toth certainly impressed on his big night under the lights stepping up when needed again to deny Ciaran Kelly twice from a Mullins corner – the second made to look even better as he scrambled across his line to claw away Kelly’s bouncing header.

The home team for the night almost got back into the game as Marco Chindea’s cross clipped the bar. However, any hopes of a famous cup upset were dashed after substitute Anthony McKay was given a straight red by Kevin O’Sullivan for a wild lunge on Bohs youngster James McManus.

Tempers flared for a moment but fortunately the pitch side water sprinklers came on to cool everyone down and soak those in section G, which brought a chorus of laughter across the Jodi Stand.

Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t be complaining of a dry pitch if he saw this.

The final ten minutes saw the game play out to its inevitable conclusion and the Jodi Stand stood and clapped to pay tribute to the late Derek Monaghan, better known as Mono.

Without really getting out of second gear Bohemians peppered the Lucan goal and Varian really ought to have left the pitch with a goal. Kelly picked him out beautifully with a cross but his free header from nine yards, middle of the goal lacked any conviction and was straight at Toth – who probably deserved a goalless second half.

Lucan United: Imrich Toth; Dylan Connolly, Anthony Kavanagh, Gareth Matthews, Harry McEvoy; Marco Chindea, Michael McLoughlin, Adrian Rafferty, Gary Seery, Joshu Ukek; Dave Mooney.
Subs not used: Andrew Bracken, Aaron Brazil, Luke Green, Jonathan Lukaso, Stephen Kinsella, Jake Ellis, Anthony McKay, James McMahon, Sean Ray. 
Booked: None. 
Sent off: Anthony McKay (76). 

Bohemians: Jon McCracken; Ciaran Kelly (c), Josh Kerr, Tyreke Wilson; Liam Burt (c) (Declan McDaid 66), James Clarke (Cian Byrne 80), Ali Coote (Jamie Mullins 46), Rory Feely, John O'Sullivan (James McManus 57); Jonathan Afolabi (Ethon Varian 57), Kris Twardek.
Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan, Ryan Burke, Jordan Doherty, Max Murphy. 
Booked: None. 

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
extratime.com Player of the Match: James Clarke

FAI Cup Friday - No shocks as Premier Division teams progress https://t.co/JJcLuNAmOZpic.twitter.com/VqOmQMlyay

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) August 26, 2022