FAI Cup Semi-Final
Bohemians 1
Waterford 0
Waterford's wait for the FAI Cup goes on after Georgie Kelly's 88th-minute strike saw Bohemians progress to the final, despite a spirited performance from the ten-man Blues.
Kyle Ferguson was sent off early in the second half, after Waterford 'keeper Brian Murphy denied Kelly from the penalty spot after 32 minutes. Niall O'Keeffe was sent off late on as Waterford were down to nine at the end of play.
The atmosphere was electric from the offset at Dalymount, with smoke filling the Dublin sky through the seas of red and blue.
The hosts saw an early penalty appeal turned down on two minutes when former Blue, Ali Coote, went down under the challenge of Phoenix Patterson - but referee Rob Harvey beckoned him to his feet.
While Bohs were undeniably the better of the sides in the opening period, it was Waterford who went closest from open play on 7 minutes.
Eddie Nolan's free kick was cushioned down in the box and worked brilliantly, with the ball falling into the path of Anthony Wordsworth in the box - but he sliced his driven effort narrowly over the bar. A big chance for the visitors to take an early lead.
Dawson Devoy, Andy Lyons, Coote, Georgie Kelly and Ross Tierney all tried their luck - but none of them could trouble the Blues 'keeper Brian Murphy.
Murphy was constantly seeking John Martin with his outball, but that side of the pitch was well-marshalled by Bohs full-back Anto Breslin.
Lyons soon slipped in Kelly, but a heavy touch let down the striker seeking his 21st goal of the season.
Waterford worked the ball well up field, and feeding off scraps, Patterson and Junior Quitirna combined nicely down the left but were blocked off by fine defending from the Dubliners.
Andy Lyons saw another penalty appeal laughed off as he made another trademark overlapping drive, before a great ball from Kyle Ferguson sought to play in Quitirna but he dragged down Ciaran Kelly in pursuit.
Niall O'Keeffe was the first man in the referee's notebook for a high tackle on Tierney - but he was joined by teammate Brian Murphy not long after as the hosts finally got the spot kick they yearned for.
Kelly was played in and as he fired wide, he was adjudged to have been caught late by the Waterford 'keeper and a penalty was given right after the half hour.
It seemed a rather harsh decision, and up stepped Kelly to seek the lead for the hosts - but Murphy sprung down low to his left to block the effort with his legs. His second penalty save in the Blues' rollercoaster cup run.
Brian Murphy concedes but then saves a penalty from Georgie Kelly to keep it Bohemians 0-0 Waterford in the #FAIcup semi-final at Dalymount. Live updates: https://t.co/5IY3chG6gd pic.twitter.com/VgymK3mzyI
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 22, 2021
Ferguson made a brilliant block to deny Ross Tierney as Keith Long's men were in the ascendancy, but it was Marc Bircham's men who went in the happier at half time - Ali Coote's effort on the cusp of half time closer to decapitating the linesman than it was the net.
It could be argued that the Blues got away with one at the beginning of the second period as Liam Burt's strike hit Niall O'Keeffe's hand in the area but the officials were unmoved.
The task got all the more tougher for Waterford when they were reduced to ten men seven minutes into the second half. Kyle Ferguson had been booked in the first half and could have no complaints when he bundled over the lively Liam Burt on the edge of the area and received his marching orders.
Shortly after surviving another penalty appeal, Waterford are down to 10 men as Kyle Ferguson is shown a second yellow for foul on Bohemians' Liam Burt. #FAIcup Live updates: https://t.co/5IY3chG6gd Live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/oiMBjOGL3v
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 22, 2021
Greg Halford replaced Shane Griffin as Marc Bircham shuffled the pack, with Dawson Devoy soon testing Murphy but he got down well to gather.
Waterford fashioned a fine chance to open the scoring on 56 minutes when Martin slipped in Quitirna but he blazed a first time strike over the bar.
The hosts went agonisingly close once again on the hour mark when Anto Breslin nutmegged Darragh Power and whipped a delicious ball across the face of goal but neither Georgie Kelly or Ross Tierney could get enough on it to Waterford's relief.
Ali Coote made a great run from a short corner four minutes later and poked it square for Rob Cornwall but he could only find the grateful waiting grasp of Brian Murphy. Ross Tierney then slalomed past two but his goalbound effort cannoned off the rock-solid Greg Halford.
He soon made way for Promise Omochere with Prince Mutswunguma replacing Junior up top for the Blues. Andy Lyons was denied by a great covering block by Jack Stafford as Bohs began to up the ante in the last 20 minutes - with Georgie Kelly ruing a squandered free header from the resultant corner.
Waterford saw a penalty appeal of their own waved away on 74 minutes when Rob Cornwall's flailing arm struck John Martin in the face, before the Blues were lucky not to be reduced to nine men after a very rash tackle from Mutswunguma.
The substitute was soon substituted owing to a knee injury, with Cameron Evans on in his place as the Blues shut up shop and looked to secure a replay.
They registered their first shot on target on 85 minutes when John Martin tested James Talbot with a close-range acrobatic effort - but just two minutes later, calamity struck.
Ireland U-21 international Dawson Devoy found substitute Omochere in acres and his great ball across the box was prodded home in clinical fashion by Georgie Kelly to send the home crowd into delirium.
Georgie Kelly strikes late and Bohemians have one foot in the #FAIcup final | Live updates: https://t.co/5IY3chG6gd Live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/pkMXjz6mng
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 22, 2021
Waterford threw the kitchen sink for the equaliser with five minutes added time, but it wasn't to be - a great effort from Phoenix Patterson well gathered by Talbot.
Despite a valiant and spirited display, it wasn't to be for the Blues - going down to nine men late on as Niall O'Keeffe was dismissed with just seconds remaining.
The wait for the FAI Cup goes on - while Bohemians will meet with St. Patrick's Athletic in the final.
The teams meet again in the league on Monday night - and the game will be brought to you live on WLR FM thanks to McC
WATERFORD FC: Brian Murphy; Darragh Power, Kyle Ferguson, Eddie Nolan, Jack Stafford; Niall O'Keeffe, Shane Griffin (Greg Halford '54), Anthony Wordsworth; Phoenix Patterson, Junior Quitirna (Prince Mutswunguma '69), John Martin.
BOHEMIANS: James Talbot; Andy Lyons, Rob Cornwall (Rory Feely '90), Ciaran Kelly, Anto Breslin; Keith Buckley (Conor Levingston '81), Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney (Promise Omochere '69); Liam Burt, Ali Coote (Keith Ward '90), Georgie Kelly.
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)
