REF JUSTICE FOR BOHS GIVES CORK REPRIEVE
BOHEMIANS have not set foot in the Aviva Stadium since the new pitch on the old Lansdowne Road opened for business eight years ago.
And to get there this season they will have to do it the hard way, as Keith Long’s side are headed for a replay next Monday in their FAI Cup semi-final tussle with Cup holders Cork City.
They will point the finger in the direction of referee Rob Rogers, as a penalty four minutes from full-time gave Cork the equaliser which keeps their grip on the Cup, the trophy they have owned for two seasons now, intact.
Leading 1-0 with 23 minutes to play thanks to a tap-in from Dinny Corcoran, the approach work done by wide men Darragh Leahy and Kevin Devaney, Bohs fancied their chances of edging this tight, nervy affair in front of 3,207 paying customers and making it to the final for the first time since their last success, in 2008.
Instead, that penalty conversion by Kieran Sadlier, the spot-kick awarded for a foul by Leahy on Conor McCarthy on 86 minutes, means this battle is set for another instalment.
Opinion was divided on whether the penalty was justified and, even after repeated viewings, debate carried on late into the night, both in the bars around Dalymount Park and in the convoy of Cork supporters headed home down the N7.
“I don’t think it was a penalty, it looked like Darragh got the ball first and I’m not sure what else he can do. Between the three officials – the referee, the linesman and the assistant behind the goal – they came to that decision,” said Bohs manager Long, frustrated at being denied his first Cup final with the Phibsboro club.
“But there’s not a lot we can do, we can feel sorry for ourselves and feel disappointed, but that won’t get us anywhere. We have to bounce back stronger from this and we will, I feel. The boys won’t let each other down, we will make sure we are right for the replay.
“We are bang in this tie, we have to go to Cork and if we are to get to the Aviva, we have to do it the hard way.”
Opposite
Naturally, his opposite number had a different take. “It looked like a reckless challenge and the lad (McCarthy) has a serious gash down the side of his foot to his ankle. It was in the box, so from our point of view there was no question that it was a penalty,” said John Caulfield.
“The quality of the play wasn’t fantastic, it was hell for leather, the intensity was massive right from the start to the end. Bohs are a really good side but we’re happy to get another chance,.”
Bohs will feel that this was the one that got away as Cork were there for the taking, a sub-par display for long spells from City in a game which had passion but lacked quality.
The home side had been in some very good form of late – a return of nine wins from nine – but Bohs looked on edge for the first-half, only really troubling Cork just before the break when Devaney’s shot hit the upright.
Nerves eased as Bohs came into the game in the second half and had a deserved lead, Corcoran’s tap-in his 12th goal of the season.
Sub Graham Cummins tested Shane Supple on 71 minutes as Cork showed they still had some fight, but it needed that penalty to earn the draw and a replay on home turf. Sadlier now has a record of scoring a goal in every round.