Bohemians 0-1 Sligo Rovers

• Simon O'Gorman
• Fri, Oct 15 2010


A Gavin Peers goal fifteen minutes from time was enough to secure victory for Sligo Rovers in this, the first FAI Cup semi-final of the weekend, as Bohemians were bounced out of the competition at Dalymount Park on Friday night.

With Bohemians pushing on towards what looks increasingly likely to be a third league title in a row, it was their opponents Sligo Rovers who took control of this game from the beginning. Mathew Blinkhorn was the man doing the early damage, fielding balls in the air and on the ground and feeding the five man Sligo midfield that was patrolling behind him.

In the 11th minute it was Romauld Boco who benefitted from Blinkhorn’s efforts, finding himself played in behind Conor Powell and with just Barry Murphy to beat from ten yards. Unfortunately for the visitors Boco’s lob lacked the delicacy required and drifted over the crossbar.

Boco had another attempt on goal moments later as the Bohs defence continued to stand off the Sligo attack and, having strode unchallenged across the edge of the box, it was left to Murphy to save low down at his right hand post.

But it was in the 36th minute that Sligo had their clearest opportunity of the half and it was only a superb double save by Murphy that kept the sides level going into the break. Gary McCabe fired in a shot from outside the box that Murphy did well to parry, the rebound falling to Blinkhorn, all on his own, just six yards out. He batted the ball back towards the empty net only for Murphy to pull off a remarkable reflex save.

Bohemians did show some signs of life in the opening half, Rafaele Cretaro unleashing a snapshot from 20 yards which Ciaran Kelly held comfortably, and Jason Byrne flinging a cross in from the right that Paul Keegan might have made better use of had he not collided with Cretaro as he made contact.

Killian Brennan showed occasional glimpses of his creative ability and Cretaro too was lively in his approach play but it was Sligo who won the half on points, and by a considerable margin.

When the second half began as the first had ended, with Sligo making all the moves, Pat Fenlon quickly replaced talisman striker Jason Byrne with Mark Quigley. It was a move that shifted Cretaro into the position of target man but the danger for Bohs remained at the other end with young defender Lopez looking increasingly uncomfortable against Blinkhorn and the sprightly McCabe.

On 61 minutes McCabe ducked inside Lopez and was brought down right on the line of the penalty area. The free kick came to nothing, as did the corner that followed, but the Sligo pressure was building and it seemed that something decisive must come from the creaking Bohemians right flank.

But a period of inactivity followed. Sligo appeared to sit back at a time when they might have pushed on and made their dominance pay. For fifteen minutes play was concentrated in the middle of the pitch and the energy drained from the game.

Pat Fenlon, introduced Paddy Madden for Cretaro and, with Bohemians ability to grind results from the least promising circumstances, there developed a feeling that the visitors might pay for their caution.

But with 75 minutes on the clock Sligo finally got the goal that their overall performance deserved. Central defender Gavin Peers threw himself at a Richie Ryan corner and the ball cannoned off his forehead and beyond Murphy for what would prove to be the only goal of the game.

A rash of Sligo substitutions followed and although Mark Quigley caused a brief moment of anxiety for the travelling supporters in the 84th minute with a shot that billowed high up and over Kelly’s crossbar, their team were never put under real pressure.

When four minutes of added time were declared there seemed little danger that Bohs would use it to any great effect and so it proved. The whistle came and the Bit o’ Red were able to celebrate their passage to a second successive FAI Cup Final.

Bohemians:Barry Murphy; Mark Rossiter (Roberto Lopez, 33), Brian Shelley, Ken Oman, Conor Powell; Gareth McGlynn, Paul Keegan, Glen Cronin, Killian Brennan; Jason Byrne (Mark Quigley, 52), Rafaele Cretaro (Paddy Madden, 73).
Subs not used: Chris O’Connor, Gary Burke, Aaron Greene, Ruaidhri Higgins.

Bookings: None.

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly; Iarfhlaith Davoren, Gavin Peers, Jim Lauchlan, Alan Keane; Gary McCabe (Eoin Doyle, 86), John Russell, Joseph Ndo, Richie Ryan; Romauld Boco (Danny Ventre, 83), Mathew Blinkhorn (Conor O’Grady, 90).
Subs not used: John Gibson, Derek Foran, John Dillon, Mark McGoldrick.

Bookings: Ciaran Kelly (78).

extratime.ie Man of the Match: Mathew Blinkhorn.

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 2,500 (estimate).