David Whittle clears the ball for Bohs
Bohemians 0 Regional Utd 0
(aet; Bohs won 4-2 on pens)
Normal and extra time could not separate the teams and it came as no surprise that the winners would have to be decided by penalties.
In the previous round Bohemians defender Leo Jacques was the hero as he had to replace the injured Geoff Kelly in goal for a penalty shoot-out against Willow Park in Athlone. He saved two penalties in that game.
On this occasion he had the responsibility of scoring the all-important spot-kick, and he did that in superb style.
This was not a game for the purist because it produced very little in the way of free-flowing football but nevertheless it had plenty of honest effort from both sets of players.
Bohemians may be struggling somewhat in their domestic league but when it comes to the FAI Cup they look like a completely different team.
On the evidence of their last two displays, the cup may remain in the Waterford League following on from Carrick United’s triumph last season.
Foley efforts
Gary Keane of Bohemians went close early on with a fine shot on the run but he watched his angled strike go inches over the Regional crossbar.
Six minutes later the visitors from Limerick almost took the lead. Marty Foley took possession of the ball following good build-up work but his cracking drive from 30 yards rattled the Bohemians crossbar with goalkeeper Geoff Kelly beaten.
Barry Conway then got in a fine cross from the left but Danny Galvin headed wide from eight yards out.
Bohemians went close on 31 minutes when Kevin Whittle rose at the back post to meet a corner kick taken by Alan Quinlan from the left but he could not keep his effort on target.
Marty Foley was back in the thick of the action on 36 minutes. A clearance by David Whittle was picked up by Robbie O’Keeffe but he lost control of the ball 30 yards from goal and that allowed Foley the chance to get another shot on goal, but this time he was just wide of Geoff Kelly’s left upright.
Brilliant save
Bohemians went on the attack nine minutes into the second half when Alan Quinlan whipped in a cross from the left with real class but the rising Kevin Whittle headed the ball over the bar.
Andrew Denn missed a great chance for Bohs on 58 minutes. He met a pass from Leo Jacques but from eight yards he snatched at the ball rather than shooting hard with the goal at his mercy.
Geoff Kelly produced a fine save from Alan Fincuane on 67 minutes but his best stop came in the last minute of normal time. Frank Stewart got to the far post to meet a well-directed left-wing cross from Mark Sheehan but somehow Kelly managed to spread himself to touch the ball around his left upright.
Extra-time did not produce much in the way of chances so the dreaded penalty shoot-out was required. Bohemians defeated Piltown on penalties in the first round and they beat Waterford Crystal in the same manner in round four, and as already stated Willow Park in the last stage , so they did not have any fear when they had to take the same path here.
Gary Keane had his effort saved by the Regional goalkeeper Cieran McMahon before Alan Fincuane netted for the Limerick outfit.
Adam Heaslip scored for Bohemians but then Mark Sheehan had his penalty saved by Geoff Kelly. Matthew Billinham and Michael Reddy then exchanged penalties.
Alan Qunlan then made no mistake for the home side and Regional’s Frank Stewart struck the post so it was down to Leo Jacques to win the game for the Red and Blacks, and he duly sent McMahon the wrong way as Bohemians march on.
Bohemians: Geoff Kelly, Leo Jacques, Andrew Denn, David Whittle, Matthew Billingham, Robbie O’Keeffe (Liam Maher, 103) Gary Keane, Kevin Whittle, Alan Quinlan, Kenny Purcell (Àdam Heaslip, 83)
Regional United: Cieran McMahon, Darragh Droug, Michael Reddy, Mark Sheehan, Eoin Mullins, Michael Ahearne (Tony Fahy, 12) Shane O’Donoghue (Frank Stewart, 79) Marty Foley (David Cowper, 86) Danny Galvin, Alan Fincuane, Barry Conway.
Referee: Eddie McNally (Cork).
