EA Sports Cup - Bohemians 3 - 2 UCD

Bohemians came from two goals down to see off UCD in their end-to-end EA Sports Cup tie on Monday night, running out 3-2 winners.

Dinny Corcoran gave UCD a two-goal lead before goals from David Scully, Karl Moore and an extratime strike from Chris Lyons saw Bohs advance to the next round.

Bohemians wasted a great chance to open the scoring after just four minutes as Dwayne Wilson’s through ball from the right found Conor O’Brien through one-on-one with UCD keeper Mark McGinley, but O’Brien fired his effort across the face of the goal.

UCD’s first chance saw Dean Clarke forced Greg Murray into a smart near post save after Clarke’s run from the right. Stephen Paisley then almost gave Bohs the lead on the quarter hour, but his header from Andy Mulligan’s corner was cleared off the line by Gary Burke.

UCD continued to threaten and Robbie Benson went close but, after getting the better of two Bohs defenders, he dragged his shot just wide of Murray’s far post.

Dwayne Wilson was causing all sorts of trouble with his pace and his chance went just wide of the target shortly afterwards.

That chance saw UCD take over the tie and they took the lead nine minutes before the break. A defensive mix-up from the home side left Gary Burke free on the endline with the ball, and he superbly picked out Dinny Corcoran to fire past the dive of Greg Murray.

Dean Clarke was next to try his luck but his strike was blocked before Bohs were handed a lifeline four minutes before half-time.

Derek Pender went down under little pressure from Hugh Douglas and referee Derek Tomney pointed to the spot. Shane Murray stepped up but Mark McGinley made a save down to the right before jumping up to save the rebound.

The second penalty arrived nine minutes into the second half, and again it was a soft one. Roberto Lopes was adjudged to have hauled Corcoran down and the striker calmly made it 2-0 from 12-yards. The two goal cushion lasted just a minute as Bohs got back into the game; Dave Scully firing past McGinley with a tidy finish after a left wing cross.

Craig Walsh had a great chance after coming on as a substitute but he couldn’t loop his header over Murray, before Chris Lyons forced McGinley into a good save down the other end.

Corcoran almost grabbed his hat-trick with 11 minutes left but, after getting his shot away under pressure, Bohs keeper McGinley got back to his line in time to stop the ball. UCD came to rue that chance as Bohs grabbed a last minute equaliser as Karl Moore fired in an unstoppable free kick over the wall and past McGinley to force the game into extratime.

Stephen Paisley has a great early chance in extratime but his header came crashing back off McGinley’s crossbar, with the UCD shotstopper grabbing the loose ball off his goal line.

Extratime provided little in the way of chances until the 107th minute when Bohemians took the lead. UCD keeper McGinley was adjudged to have fouled Stephen Paisley and Chris Lyons stepped up to take the spot kick. McGinley saved his second penalty of the night but Lyons was quick to the rebound and fired home.

Gary Burke had a great chance for the leveller with six minutes left but Greg Murray got down well to save. UCD had one final great chance to level the game in the final minute of extratime but substitute Sean Coyne’s effort went wildly over from close range.

Bohemians: Greg Murray; Michael Barker, Roberto Lopes, Stephen Paisley, Ciaran Nangle; Dwayne Wilson (Karl Moore 63), Shane Murray, Derek Pender, Conor O’Brien (Chris Lyons 63), Andy Mulligan (Darragh Hanaphy 80); David Scully.
Subs not used: Dean Delany, Darragh Reynor, Luke Byrne, Santiago Miguel Falbo

Bookings: David Scully (60), Chris Lyons (82), Derek Pender (89), Shane Murray (100),

UCD: Mark McGinley; Gareth Matthews, Hugh Douglas, Tomas Boyle (Colm Crowe 106), Mark Langtry; Dean Clarke (Craig Walsh 56), James Kavanagh, Robbie Benson, Samir Belhout (Sean Coyne 78), Gary Burke; Dinny Corcoran.
Subs not used: Ger Barron, David McMillan, Tyrone McNelis, Cillian Morrison.

Bookings: Roberto Lopes (54)

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 150 (estimate).

Extratime Man of the Match: Dinny Corcoran (UCD).