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@bfcdublin A second-half strike by Jason McGuinness was just enough to see Sligo Rovers reach the FAI Ford Cup final, Shane Quinn reports.
In a scrappy game, both teams never got a strong grip of the game with few chances created. Former Gypsy McGuinness was the difference when firing home, uncharacteristically, with his foot and not his head following a corner.
Bohs may feel their display warranted a replay, but it was not to be. Sligo had arrived in Dalymount Park on a downer with their defeat at St Pat’s as good as writing them out of the title race. The FAI Cup holders have improved under manager Paul Cook, but have lacked that extra bit in order to win championships. Bohs themselves had defeated Sligo twice at The Showgrounds this season, when staunch underdogs. Indeed this was the visitors’ first victory over the Phibsborough club this season.
This outcome mirrored Sligo’s elimination of Bohs from the cup at the same stage last season, also with a 1-0 victory.
Similar to the ‘welcome to Lansdowne Road’ message Roy Keane gave Marc Overmars a decade ago, Glenn Cronin went clattering into Sligo captain Richie Ryan just seconds in.
Ger O’Brien was to handle the ball in his area early on, and while there were strong penalty appeals from Sligo players, the ball was played onto his hand from a very short distance.
Sligo brought with them the season’s largest travelling contingent, adding to the traditional cup-tie atmosphere at the ground.
The opening half was helter-skelter with both sides taking time to settle. There were plenty of tough challenges flying in, and it was good to see referee Damien Hancock letting the game flow.
The Connacht men had the ball in the net mid-way through the opening half. Former Bohs player Aaron Greene shot from 20 yards, but John Russell, in an offside position, helped guide it to the net.
A cause of concern for Sligo was goalkeeper Brendan Clarke’s kicking, which was very poor. And, truthfully, the first half was too with both sides failing to get into a rhythm or having an attempt on target. It was quite a scrappy affair with possession conceded all too cheaply and all too regularly.
Joseph Ndo registered the game’s first shot on target in the 58th minute when Barry Murphy comfortably gathered his 20-yard effort. Signalling Paul Cook’s displeasure with how his team were playing, he brought on two substitutes with Mathew Blinkhorn and John Dillon entering the pitch.
And finally the deadlock was broken, but it was not of the home side’s doing. Ryan produced a superb piece of skill to leave Cronin for dead, before producing a cross eventually booted home by another Bohs old boy, McGuinness.
Bohs produced concerted pressure on Sligo after conceding, but the quality on the critical final pass or cross was missing.
Bohemians: Murphy; Rossiter (Feely, 85),, Heary (C), O’Brien, Cahill; Forrester, Hurley (Buckley, 78), Cronin, Brennan; Traynor (Burke, 89), Downes
Sligo Rovers: Clarke; Davoren, Peers, McGuinness, Keane; Greene (Cretaro, 88), Ryan (C), Ventre (Dillon, 67), Russell (Blinkhorn, 65), Ndo; 11 Doyle
Possession – Bohs: 47%; Sligo: 53%.
Attempts on target – Bohs: 0; Sligo: 3.
Attempts off target – Bohs: 1; Sligo: 1.
Corners – Bohs: 1; Sligo: 5.
Yellow Cards – Bohs: Stephen Hurley, Ollie Cahill; Sligo: Gavin Peers.
Red Cards – Bohs: 0; Sligo: 0.
Referee – Damien Hancock (Dublin). |
