Avondale are pipped by Bohs
FAI CUP
By DAIRE WALSH
Bohemians 1
Avondale United 0
Despite a sensational performance from veteran goalkeeper David O’Keeffe, Bohemians ultimately had too much for Avondale United in a lively FAI Ford Cup third round tie in Dalymount Park last night.
O’Keeffe pulled off two terrific saves from penalty-kicks in the opening period, but a 43rd minute goal from Evan McMillan was enough to ensure that the Dubliners progressed into the next round of the competition.
In a lively beginning to the contest, it was the visitors who had the first major opening of the night, when Mark O’Sullivan rose majestically to meet a corner from the right by full-back Dave Spratt, but he was unable to keep his powerful header from drifting over Andy McNulty’s goalposts.
Despite this minor let-off, Bohs were generally enjoying the better of the opening stages, and they looked all set to take the lead 11 minutes in when referee Tomas Connolly awarded the hosts a penalty,
following consultation with his linesman, after Long was adjudged to have handled the ball just inside the area. O’Keeffe got down superbly to turn Dave Scully’s spot kick away from danger on his
right-hand side.
Avondale were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief thanks to the efforts of their shotstopper, but they were finding themselves on the back-foot more and more as the half progressed, and they would concede another penalty on 24 minutes when left-back Declan Cahill was penalised for a push on Bohs winger Keith Buckley. With Scully understandably shying away from penalty duties this time, it was left to midfielder Danny Joyce to try and get the better of O’Keeffe, but the Cork netminder was in inspired form, as he palmed away Joyce’s low drive, followed by an excellent reaction stop from Michael Barker’s re-bound.
Yet, despite the best endeavours of John Cotter’s men, Bohs still looked the more likely of the two sides to eventually break the deadlock, and the Avondale resistance was finally broken two minutes before the interval when McMillan got the better of O’Keeffe with a fine header from a Joyce corner on the right.
This goal was a major boost for the seven-time Champions heading into the second period, but Avondale were never going to let their heads drop, and they applied plenty of pressure in the Bohs half during the opening moments after the re-start.
Indeed, their industry could not be faulted at any stage, but they were finding it hard to create inroads through a very organised Bohs defence. The Avondale rearguard were stepping up to the plate when
required as well, however, and the impressive Mark Horgan put a halt to a promising Gypsies attack by cutting out a dangerous Keith Buckley cross on 68 minutes.
Moving into the final quarter, Bohs were attempting to go for the jugular, but O’Keeffe was proving to be a thorn in their side, and he denied Scully and McMillan in the 73rd and 76th minutes respectively
when they appeared certainties to score.
O’Keeffe had to be at his very best once again with six minutes remaining to deny McMillan after he broken into the area following a sharp turn towards the Avondale goal.
Bohs would continue to search for a second goal as the game drew to a close, and though McMillan was denied by O’Keeffe for a third occasion in time added on, they were able to hang on for a narrow triumph on an evening when the MSL side acquitted themselves admirably on the big stage.
BOHEMIANS: Andy McNulty; Owen Heary, Roberto Lopes, Kevin Feely, Derek Pender; Michael Barker, Dave Mulcahy, Danny Joyce; Keith Buckley, Evan McMillan, Dave Scully. Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Karl Moore, Keith Ward, Stephen Traynor, John O’Connor, Andy Mulligan, Daniel Corcoran.
AVONDALE UNITED: David O’Keeffe; Dave Spratt, Michael Mulconry (Kevin Mulcahy 38), Mark Horgan, Declan Cahill; Eoghan Lougheed, Karl Caulfield, Brian Murphy, Danny Long (Ian Stapleton 64); Mark O’Sullivan, Conor Meade (Kenny Murphy 80). Subs not used: Daniel O’Leary, Michael Doody.
Referee: Tomas Connolly (Dublin).