Bohemians 3 - 0 Douglas Hall

Bohemians ran out comfortable winners against Munster Senior League side Douglas Hall on Friday night to book their place in the 4th round of the FAI Cup.

Goals from Anto Flood, Stephen Traynor and Robert Bayly ensured Pat Fenlon’s side would not be the victims of any potential upset at Dalymount Park.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side. A Christy Fagan corner from the right was met by the head of strike partner Flood, but he saw his header fly just over Adrian O’Donovan’s crossbar.

Just moments later, Flood opened the scoring for the Gypsies. A ball in from Keith Buckley found the former Galway man who struck a beautiful right-footed effort on the half-volley which flew into the top right corner of the Douglas net.

Flood’s deflected effort just after the half hour mark almost doubled the advantage for the hosts, but thankfully for the men from Cork, the ball went narrowly over the bar and out for a corner.

Chris Forrester, who will sit his Leaving Certificate next week, nearly got himself on the score sheet just before half-time. The young winger dribbled unchallenged to the edge of the Douglas penalty area before striking a low effort which O’Donovan just managed to get to.

Bohs defender Aidan Price had the Douglas keeper O’Donovan sweating with 67 minutes on the clock when his looping header almost crept under the Douglas crossbar. Luckily for O’Donovan, he managed to get his finger tips to the ball to glance it over the bar for a corner.

Douglas frustrated their opponents for much of the second half, proving difficult to break down and despite not having much of the ball, they never looked in serious danger of conceding a second. That was until Price had another header on 73 minutes which this time cannoned off the Douglas post, but the away side somehow managed to clear to keep the score at 1-0.

Minutes later the Bohs pressure finally told and substitute Stephen Traynor doubled the lead. Fagan’s swung a corner in from the right and the ball bounced across the Douglas six-yard box before Traynor bundled to ball home to settle the nerves amongst the Bohs faithful.

Robert Bayly put the game beyond all doubt just minutes after Traynor’s goal. The former Shamrock Rovers midfielder did well to get on the end of a Gary Burke cross and steer the ball past the Douglas substitute keeper Daniel O’Leary.

Bohemians progression into the next round of the FAI Cup never really looked in danger. However, the non-league side can leave the capital with their heads held high knowing that, for large spells of the game, they held their own against one of the most successful clubs in Irish football.

Bohemians: Chris O’Connor; Owen Heary, Ger O’Brien (Daniel Joyce 20), Liam Burns, Aidan Price; Keith Buckley (Gary Burke 80), Christopher Forrester, Robert Bayly, Glenn Cronin; Anto Flood (Stephen Traynor 71), Christy Fagan.
Subs not used: Barry Murphy, Kevin Feely, Eoin Fowler.

Bookings: D Joyce (51).

Douglas Hall: Adrian O’Donovan (Daniel O’Leary 81); Mark O’Callaghan, David Hackett, Brian Wilkinson, Gareth O’Donovan; Wayne Bruton, Derek Varian, Gary Drennan, Graham McCarthy; Mark Murphy (Robert Lehane 83), Declan O’Connell (Robbie Brohan 60).
Subs not used: Kevin Kelleher, Joe McSorley.

Bookings: G Drennan (7).

Referee: Rob Rogers.
Attendance: 500 (estimate).
Extratime Man of the Match: Derek Varian.