LEINSTER SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL
BOHEMIANS…………………….. 2
SHELBOURNE………………….. 0
DAIRE WALSH reports
FOLLOWING last Friday’s shock defeat in the FAI Ford Cup to Sheriff YC, Shelbourne’s cup woes continued in Dalymount Park last night.
Late goals from Christopher Forrester and Christy Fagan gave Bohemians a dramatic victory in the Leinster Senior Cup semi-final.
Shels had the first-half’s best opportunity on 28 minutes, which came about after Karl Bermingham was fouled by Kevin Feely on the edge of the area.
David Cassidy stepped up to take the subsequent set-piece, and it crashed off the crossbar before rolling away to safety.
Fagan had a decent opportunity in injury-time that was deflected just wide of the target.
The beginning of the second half proved to be much more open than the first, with a brilliant save by Shels custodian Paul Skinner denying Stephen Hurley four minutes in.
That was followed by a similarly important stop by Sexton from a crisp Conan Byrne strike.
This momentum wasn’t maintained however, and things became rather tight and tentative once more.
Heading into the final quarter, Bohs took the lead with a superb goal courtesy of Forrester, who beat the keeper via the upright.
This was followed by a coolly converted penalty from Fagan, after he had been upended by Gareth Matthews.
BOHEMIANS: Sexton; O’Reilly, Lopes, Feely, Rossiter; Burke (Dixon 63), Buckley, Forrester, McEvoy, Hurley (Traynor 93); Fagan.
SHELBOURNE: Skinner; Matthews, Boyle, Paisley, Fitzgerald; Ryan; Byrne (Mulhall 79), Cassidy, Sullivan (Da Silva 90), Clancy; Bermingham.
Subs not used: McGill, James, Byrne, Hughes, Delaney.
REFEREE: P Caschera (Dublin).
ATTENDANCE: 415.