Bohs avoid a shock in Tralee thanks to penalty shoot-out win over gutsy Kerry
Ross Tierney of Bohemians hands the ball to Kennedy Amechi of Kerry FC during the penalty shoot-out at Mounthawk Park in Tralee. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Bohemians required penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup after Kerry FC twice came from behind to stun the Dubliners, who narrowly avoided a massive cup upset.
The Gypsies leave Mounthawk Park breathing a huge sigh of relief, and can now look forward to the quarterfinal draw on Tuesday.
Declan McDaid scored the deciding penalty, as Bohs went a perfect four from four from the spot. Tierney, Devoy, Grant and McDaid all scored whilst Amechi and Barrett both missed for Kerry.
The story of regulation saw Bohs take the lead through Clarke at the quarter mark. Kelliher popped up at the back post to level but Bohs through Greive made that short-lived. Kelliher doubled down at the start of the second half after forcing Chorazka into a mistake.
Bohemians threw everything they had at Kerry as the tie wore on and through the additional 30 minutes but the Kingdom stood firm.
The hosts started the tie well, with manager Conor McCarthy opting for an extra midfielder instead of his usual front three to try and ensure a quiet start as the clear underdogs in the tie.
Bohemians looked like a side who were struggling for form in the opening stages as the squad with five changes from last week’s loss to Waterford struggled to create anything meaningful.
The away side took the lead at the quarter mark of the tie through a stroke of luck in the area. A Dayle Rooney corner took an awkward bounce off a Kerryman and the ball found its way to the head of James Clarke who made no mistake from close range.
The Kingdom did not fold after going behind, and began to play with a bit more freedom. A couple of half chances from Teahan and Crowe got the crowd back on their side, and they were rewarded a couple of minutes before halftime when Cian Barrett smashed across goal and found the First Division’s leading scorer Ryan Kelliher in his usual spot, poking home from close range.
Unfortunately for the hosts, despite Mounthawk Park rocking, the Premier Division side retook the lead within minutes of the restart. Dayle Rooney, the Bohs July Player of the Month proving the difference once more, this time providing for Alexander Grieve who netted for the first time for his new club right on the half.
Within six minutes of the half, Kerry were level for the second time. Ryan Kelliher doubled his tally in the tie after a huge Kerry press caught the Bohemians defence napping, with the Kingdom number nine going shoulder to shoulder with Chorazka, turning over possession and smashing into the roof of the net.
Bohs had their chances, Tierney with the best of them but were unable to retake the lead even with an additional seven minutes, so extra time was required.
The story of extra time was a blue wave of attack after attack, but somehow Bohs didn’t take the lead. Mills in particular had a couple of huge chances coming forward from the backline but the game of inches was falling the Kerry way.
Onto penalties we went, which saw Amechi’s spot kick saved and Shamrock Rovers loanee Cian Barrett smash over the bar, as Bohemians showed more relief than celebration at the halfway line when McDaid converted.
A O’Sullivan; F Barrett, E Kos, A Spain, S O’Connell; O Crowe, C Barrett, R Teahan (C Brosnan 95); S McGrath (K Amechi 70), R Kelliher (D Okwute 83), N Gleeson (S Aladesanusi 114).
: K Chorazka; L Smith, J Mills, L Kavanagh, B McManus (P Piszczek 108); D Devoy, A McDonnell; J Clarke (D Grant 66), R Tierney, D Rooney (D McDaid 95); A Greive (J Akintunde 59).
: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
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