Kilmacow’s Alex Walsh beats Bohs Adam Doheny in this aerial duel.
This clash, which was played in Ben Wadding Park on Saturday night between two First Division teams, was expected to produce a tight affair and that’s exactly how it panned out. Bohemians almost took the lead after 17 minutes when Andy Phelan cracked in a free kick from 20 yards but the Kilmacow goalkeeper Killian Dunphy produced an incredible save for the Division 1B outfit.
Dunphy then saved from Darragh Swaby shortly afterwards and Graham Murphy had a close range effort blocked on the line by Mike Kent as the home side dominated proceedings. Kilmacow almost took the lead however with their first meaningful attack on 27 minutes. Nicky Owens sent over a corner kick from the right which was met by Noel Downey but his powerful header was taken off the line by Bohs defender Adam Dohney.
Jason Dalton cracked in a rasping strike for the visitors on 30 minutes but his fine effort went inches over the crossbar.
The hosts were presented with a glorious opportunity to take the lead after 35 minutes when Mike Kent upended Ryan Sinnott inside the 18 yards box but Andy Phelan had his penalty saved superbly by Killian Dunphy.
Two minutes before the interval Andrew Reid struck the Kilmacow upright with an excellent volley from 30 yards.
A big talking point arrived after 67 minutes when the visiting right- winger Gary Cooney fired in a speculative lob from the sideline and the ball looked destined for the net but the backpedalling Bohemians goalkeeper Adam Carroll clawed the ball away although to the naked eye it appeared as if the ball had crossed the line.
Bohs took the lead with the breakthrough goal on 82 minutes.
Andy Phelan sent over a cross from the left and second half substitute Aaron Fitzgerald rose high to head past Killian Dunphy from 16 yards.
Five minutes later however Kilmacow got back on level terms when Anton Phelan played in Gary Cooney who in turn hammered the ball past the advancing Adam Carroll from just inside the penalty area.
The penalty shoot-out went horribly wrong for the visiting team. Their goalkeeper Killian Dunphy took the first spot kick but he shot straight at his counterpart Adam Carroll. Nicky Owens struck an upright with their second penalty and Adam Carroll saved from Alex Walsh from penalty number three.
Liam Kelly netted Bohemians’ first penalty and Graham Murphy (who had his first effort saved) made no mistake with his second kick after the referee Gavin Keyes had adjudged that Killian Murphy had moved off his line for the original kick. Gary Wallace cracked the ball to the roof of the net with Bohs’ third penalty to secure a ticket to the next round for the Red and Blacks.
BOHEMIANS: Adam Carroll, Adam Doheny, Liam Kelly, Eamon Kennedy, Dean Hayes, Andrew Reid, Ryan Sinnott, Gary Wallace, Graham Murphy, Andy Phelan, Darragh Swaby.
SUBS: Aaron Fitzgerald for Doheny (46 mins) Diarmuid Cunniffe for Sinnott (63 mins) Ryan Pepper for Hayes (76 mins)
KILMACOW:. Killian Dunphy, Liam Kearns, Darren Waters, Darren Treacy, Mike Kent, Jason Dalton, Nicky Owens, Anton Phelan, Noel Downey, Alex Walsh, Gary Cooney.
SUBS: Jack Laffan for Kearns (46 mins) Paddy O’Keeffe for Dalton (68 mins) James Dalton for Phelan (83 mins)
REFEREE: Gavin Keyes.
