Determination is etched on the faces of Tramore

Bohemians 0; Tramore 4

Two exciting teams came face to face in Ben Wadding Park on Saturday morning last. The old venue was in sublime condition and the glorious sunshine added greatly to the occasion.

Tramore are chasing the double and they went into the game as favourites but Bohemians have always produced fine underage teams. However, following the 60 minutes it was the free-flowing Tramore team who advanced to meet Ferrybank in the last four.

All of the visiting players played well, but the main man was the multi-talented Meschac Babatu. He scored two first-half goals and was involved in everything positive. His powerful running and passing were a joy to behold and no doubt the Ferrybank people watching will already be putting plans in place to try and find some way to stop him.

Opening goal
Tramore took the game to Bohemians from the off and went close after only six minutes. Babatu won possession 30 yards from goal before passing to Luke Furlong whose hard shot was well saved by goalkeeper John McGrath.

But it was only a matter of time before the attack-minded Seasiders took the lead and they did so on 14 minutes. Niall Kennedy drilled the ball forward into the path of Babatu and he unleashed an unstoppable shot past McGrath with his right foot from 15 yards.

Four minutes later, Tramore doubled their advantage and one had to feel sorry for the Bohs’ defence. Niall Kennedy swung in a corner from the left, the ball took a wicked deflection off a defender, but all of the Tramore players ran over to congratulate Kennedy, who was credited with the goal.

Whatever chance Bohs had of getting back into the game evaporated a minute later. Daniel Coad sent Babatu clear with a lovely weighted pass, and after controlling the ball he chipped it over the advancing ‘keeper.

Final Furlong
Before half-time Niall Kennedy was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet again but his strong shot came back off the woodwork. Tramore continued where they had let off when the second period got underway and scored a peach of a goal four minutes in.

Again Babatu was involved. He controlled the ball, looked up and found Luke Furlong who in turn cracked the ball over the helpless McGrath from just inside the penalty area.

Dean Walsh went close for Bohs shortly afterwards but it was Tramore who finished the game strongly and Babatu was denied on two occasions by goalkeeper John McGrath and then he saw defender Aaron Fitzgerald take the ball off the line, after he had looked odds-on to complete his hat-trick.

On this display, Tramore will take some stopping but needless to say, Ferrybank will have other ideas.

Bohemians (panel): John McGrath, Chris Thomas, Ross Battye, Shane Ryan, Aaron Fitzgerald, Peter Queally, Andrew Phelan, Dessie Hutchinson, Cathal Walsh, Darren Burke, Dean Walsh.

Tramore (panel): Matthew Connor, Gearoid Hanratty, Geogg Holmes, Evan Connor, Dara McCarthy, Aaron Coad, Niall Kennedy, Koffi Teti, Daniel Coad, Maschac Babatu, Luke Forlong, Cormac Longeran, Jack Douglas, Ryan Costello, Alan Curran, Niall Dunphy.

Referee: Noel Ryan.