Cook: a bit of luck for Bit O’Red
Paul Cook’s side will meet the winners of tonight’s replay between St Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne at the Aviva Stadium on November 6.
“That’s a fantastic achievement by the players and I’m very proud of them,” beamed an elated Cook afterwards.
“To get there again is great credit to the players. The travelling support, last week at St Pat’s we felt we let them down, today we had even greater numbers here and we’ve got a win.
“Football is a cruel game. We weren’t at our best on the day, great credit must go to Bohemians. They’ve had a fantastic season under great pressure.
“Today they were without four or five players and there was nothing in the game for long spells.
“It’s great to win, we’re delighted to do so, but we offer our commiserations to Bohemians and wish them all the best for their future.”
While agreeing it was a poor spectacle of a game, Cook insisted we are the results end of the season.
“People don’t remember how you played. They remember who wins competitions. Like we said last week, it’s about results.
“Last week we left St Pat’s on the floor, we leave Dalymount as proud as hell.”
And while delighted to be in another cup final, Cook admitted the league is gone.
“Over the season, I’ve said it many times, the best team wins the league. We’ve no problem with that.
“I’d like to think we’ve been around the league all season and it looks like we’re going to fall short there.
“But we are in a cup final again. Whoever we play, we’ll really look forward to it.
“It was a special occasion last year and one which we all enjoyed. To go back there is special for us all.”
Central defender McGuinness, who left Dalymount for Sligo at the start of this season, struck to give Sligo a deserved winner on 73 minutes. Captain Richie Ryan, who was named man of the match, had his corner played back out to him and he put over a cross to the back post, where the unmarked McGuinness swept the ball home.
With three key men — Liam Burns, Christy Fagan and Anto Flood — suspended and Aidan Price injured, Bohemians were short up front and at the back.
Skipper Owen Heary and Ger O’Brien filled the roles in central defence while Aidan Downes returned from suspension to lead the attack.
With leading scorer Eoin Doyle fit to start, Sligo had the luxury of being at full straight.
Bohemians started positively, passing the ball well. But Pat Fenlon’s side were fortunate to benefit from a wrong call from the match officials on eight minutes.
Skipper Ryan’s dink into the box was flicked on by Alan Keane and touched the arm of O’Brien. But neither referee, Damien Hancock, nor his assistant on the far side, Damien Delaney, gave it.
The officials were right, though, on 28 minutes when disallowing a Sligo goal.
Aaron Greene’s quick feet and guile got him all too easily inside Ollie Cahill on the right. But John Russell was a yard offside when he toed home the cross.
Sligo soon enjoyed much of the possession, but Bohs had bite in the tackle with Stephen Hurley, in particular, putting his foot in which brought a booking just before the break.
A little more direct on the resumption, Sligo forced a save from Barry Murphy five minutes in. Joseph Ndo’s free-kick from the left hung in the air with Murphy batting it away under pressure from Greene, with Heary completing the clearance.
Bohemians grew in confidence, without seriously threatening Brendan Clarke’s goal.
McGuinness then struck to win it for Sligo.
“I don’t think we deserved to go out,” said Bohemians’ boss Fenlon.
“But it’s not like other years, the lads have been great for us. Obviously, some of them will learn from it now.”
BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Rossiter (Feely 85), Heary, O’Brien, Cahill; Forrester, Hurley (Buckley 77), Cronin, Brennan; Traynor (Burke 90); Downes.
SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren; Ndo, Ventre (Dillon 67), Ryan, Greene (Cretaro 88); Russell (Blinkhorn 64); Doyle.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
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