History eludes outclassed Ringmahon

Bohemians 8 Ringmahon Rangers 0

Bohs keeper Matt Gregg scuffed a clearance. It caught Brian Kenny unawares and he couldn’t make the most of the opportunity.

Forty seconds later, Colm O’Leary was picking the ball out of the net, Tony Grant polishing off a fine move involving Ken Oman and Bobby Ryan.

Bohs were five up at half-time, it could have been double that. Ryan and Damien Lynch were torturing Ringmahon down the right wing, while the sheer power of Grant was causing all manner of problems.

In the 19th minute, Ryan was again the provider for Dave Morrison to power a header past O’Leary. Seven minutes later, Grant’s persistence in a goal-mouth scramble forced his second goal.

The first half was simply a story of concerted Bohs pressure. Stephen O’Donovan was unfortunate to see the ball come off his knee in the 32nd minute and past O’Leary as Ryan crossed a dangerous, low ball into the box. Four minutes later, Ringmahon’s inability to deal with the strength of Grant was again evident as the power-house striker squared for his partner, Stephen Ward, to nab his first.

O’Leary might have conceded eight, but he made smart saves, from Morrison and Grant in the first half and an excellent reaction stop to Ryan’s snap-shot in the second half.

With the match effectively over as a contest after 20 minutes, spectators had to look for other ways to entertain themselves. ‘Will Grant get his hat-trick?’ became a theme for the night, especially following one of the worst misses of his career on the stroke of half-time.

Grant wouldn’t get his hat-trick. Ward did. The professional outfit released their foot from the pedal for most of the second half, but were shook into life by Ward’s wonderful 30-yard left-footed drive into the top corner on the hour mark.

Eight minutes later, Ward nodded the ball into the net to get his hat-trick. There was even time for a cameo for Glen Crowe, whose slick finish in the 88th minute meant he claimed the all-time record for Bohs goals in the Cup, 16.

Ringmahon supporters amused themselves to the end. The efforts of Johnny Delaney, Aidan Foley, who cleared a couple of balls off the line, and their keeper were heart-warming. Long journey to make for this result, though.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Lynch, Oman (Logan h-t), McNally, Keddy; Morrison (Heary 60), Caffrey, Rice, Ryan; Grant (Crowe 79 mins), Ward.

RINGMAHON: C O’Leary; R Kenny, Foley, O’Donovan, Mulconroy; Delaney, Deasy (Ahern 80), O’Sullivan, Jones (O’Riordan 55); B Kenny, De Puis (P O’Leary 69).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).