Bohs punish nervy Waterford to take Setanta Sports Cup

Bohemians 3 Waterford United 1

Killian Brennan scored twice inside half an hour as Bohemians eased to a facile EA SPORTS Cup win as First Division Waterford froze in front of a 3,000 crowd at the RSC.

It was Bohemians’ first win in the competition in 30 years and, perhaps more remarkably, the first time manager Pat Fenlon and captain Owen Heary had won it in their trophy-laden careers.

Contrary to his pre-match assertion that he’d field a weakened side, with their league trip to Derry City on Tuesday in mind, Fenlon started a virtual full strength eleven with Jason Byrne, who was on the bench, the only notable fit absentee.

It mattered little as Bohs found themselves a goal up after just eight minutes, punishing a nervous start by the home side.

Referee’s assistant Mark Gavin, with the Bohs faithful congregated behind him, flagged for a free-kick on the edge of the area for a handball by John Kearney. Brennan nonchalantly dinked the dead ball over the wall to beat Michael Devine at his near post.

Brennan doubled Bohemians' lead on the half hour when casually sending Devine the wrong way from the penalty spot after Marc Hughes was pushed in the back by defender Kevin Murray as he latched onto Joseph Ndo’s pass.

A howler by the Waterford keeper and skipper Devine then gifted Bohemians their third goal to effectively end the game as a contest on 42 minutes.

Former Waterford striker Neale Fenn was given far too much space to let fly from over 30 yards. Devine, despite getting two hands behind the ball, fumbled it into his own net.

Waterford scored a consolation goal on 79 minutes when Bohs' keeper Brian Murphy failed to grasp John Kearney’s deep free-kick and Graham Cummins set up defender Kenny Browne to tap home from two yards.

The goal roused Waterford and substitute Paul Walsh should have done better then shoot straight at Murphy before Cummins was narrowly wide with a 30-yard effort.