Lilies crush Bohs to reach semis
THE Dundalk Duracell batteries show no sign of draining as they close in on a sixth successive Extra.ie FAI Cup final appearance, while j uggling Europa League commitments along the way.
This clinical demolition of Bohemians at Dalymount was evidence that a rejuvenated Dundalk have moved on from their end-of-season blip against Sligo and are gearing up for their return Euro jousts with Arsenal, Rapid Vienna and Molde.
Along the way, they may tick off the 100th FAI Cup, and a third since 2015 as they will be red-hot favourites to see off Athlone Town in the semi-final tomorrow week.
Indeed, i f they display this urgency, speed and attacking flair, it would be a difficult afternoon for the sole First Division survivors.
‘We are in good shape now and hope to finish the season well,’ said head coach Filippo Giovagnoli.
By the end of an entertaining tie, it was akin to target practice as Dundalk toyed with Bohs, something few teams do. Before last night, Bohs hadn’t conceded more than two goals in any game.
It was an evening of penalties in the FAI Cup with two here to go with an earlier trio in Ballybofey.
They were awarded to either side and neither was disputed. Nor was the final scoreline which reflected Dundalk’s dominance.
The first half was an old-fashioned toe-to-toe duel, with Dundallk’s heavier artillery and rapier attacking thrusts from the excellent David McMillan and Michael Duffy, holding the high ground.
The visitors stuck early through Duffy who sped between the Bohs cover in the inside right channel to latch on to a superb McMillan pass.
The arrowed right-foot finish beyond James Talbot was that of a master craftsman and Dundalk were on their way.
Bohs cleared the stars from their eyes and drew level from the spot after Chris Shields, arms in the air as if a puppet on a string, handled Andre Wright’s effort.
Wright took the spot kick himself, and breathed a sigh of relief as the ball squirmed beyond the paws of Gary Rogers, who correctly dived to his left.
With Shields bossing the engine room, the parity didn’t last long as Dundalk set about restoring their lead. Twice, James Talbot was called smartly into action as Shields and Duffy found the range with crisp daisy-cutters.
Without Danny Mandroiu, who played for the Irish Under 21s on Wednesday, Bohs looked to their other Danny boy, Grant, for an attacking threat.
Apart from one near-post fizzer which Rogers dealt with smoothly, Grant’s impact was less than it needed to be with so much on the line.
Dundalk’s marathon men were on their game and Duffy’s pirouette sold Michael Barker, allowing him to dash into the box where Keith Buckley’s contact, while light, was sufficient for referee Rob Harvey to point to the spot.
McMillan duly did the business and minutes later he extended Dundalk’s advantage when he rose and twisted like a salmon to meet Cameron Dummigan’s nearpost cross and spear a header past Talbot.
From the stand, it appeared as i f the ball had gone out of play before Dummigan’s delivery but TV replays couldn’t confirm for certain.
At 3-1, Bohs were desperate for a way back and Wright almost provided it just before the break when he headed goalwards only for Andy Boyle to execute an athletic headed clearance.
Bohs upped their levels after the break but veteran Rogers stood firm with a trio of outstanding saves inside 30 seconds midway through the half to repel all boarders, or rather Evan Ferguson who single-handedly attempted to storm the Dundalk bastille.
Soon after, Barker was sent off for clipping Shields and Dundalk took charge. Talbot thwarted substitute Daniel Kelly and the marauding McMillan before substitute Nathan Oduwa’s close range fourth after Duffy did the spadework. BOHEMIANS: Talbot; Barker, Cornwall, Casey, Kirk; Omochere (Ferguson 56), Devoy, Buckley, Levingston (Moylan 67), Grant; Wright. Scorer: Wright 15.
DUNDALK: Rogers; Gartland, Boyle, Cleary; Gannon (McEleney 73), Shields, Sloggett, Dummigan (Kelly 80); Duffy, McMillan (Oduwa 85), Colovic (Mountney 73).
Scorers: Duffy 2, McMillan 35 pen, 38., Oduwa 86
REFEREE: R Harvey (Dublin)