Dundalk sunk as Flood diverts Bohs into semis

A GOAL in extra-time from Anto Flood helped Bohemians advance to the semi-finals of the FAI Ford Cup following their last-eight replay win over Dundalk at Dalymount Park last night.

The match began in encouraging fashion with the hosts threatening inside 30 seconds as Killian Brennan’s free-kick found Owen Heary at the back post but the captain’s volleyed pull-back was headed wastefully over the bar by Ger O’Brien from six yards.

That chance was the sum total of Bohemians’ attacking ambitions in a dour opening half with Dundalk generally playing the more enterprising football, with Mark Quigley’s volleyed attempt from Nathan Murphy’s left-wing cross forcing a fine save from Barry Murphy in the 15th minute.

If the 1100 souls in attendance were rationed on goalmouth action in the first half, the second half was even worse and it was left to referee Tomás Connolly to enliven proceedings when issuing two yellow cards followed by a red in quick succession to Dundalk’s centre-half Dean Bennett in the 76th minute.

A couple of half-chances followed for the hosts ensued for the hosts as they attempted to benefit from their numerical advantage but both substitute Christy Fagan and Brennan shot too close to Peter Cherrie as the 90 minutes ended scoreless.

With penalties looming, the hosts finally opened the scoring in the 108th minute.

It owed much to the quick-thinking of Brennan, who found Mark Rossiter in space, and the latter’s shot was superbly diverted to the net by the head of Flood from eight yards.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, Burns, Price, Rossiter; O’Brien (Buckley 66) Bayly, Cronin, Brennan, Flood; Downes (Fagan 85).

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Bennett, C Byrne, McHugh; Breen, Bolger, Ward, Murphy; Quigley, Griffin (J Byrne 66).

Referee: Tomás Connolly (Dublin).