City sneak through after extra time in thrilling contest with Bohs

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It was a vital clash for both Cork City and Bohs at Turners Cross in the quarter final of the Women’s FAI Cup. With each team having little to play for league wise, the cup was seen by both sides as a huge chance to get their hands on some silverware.

City were coming off of a disappointing 4-1 loss to second placed Shelbourne two weeks ago, a scoreline that perhaps flattered Shels, but nonetheless a deserved three points for the Dublin side. Even still, City have had a brilliant run of form in the second half of the season, with the side massively over performing so far in relation to outside expectations.

Danny Murphy made two changes to his side that were beaten by Shelbourne two weeks ago. Orlaith O’Mahony and Alix Mendez were preferred to Ciara McNamara and Jesse Mendez.

Bohs are also on a pretty good run of form under manager Ken Kiernan, with his team only losing once since the 8th of June, that loss coming to this Cork City side. Bohs and City are two of the most evenly matched sides in the country, with moments of individual brilliance winning the most recent games between the two clubs.

Both teams came out trying to get at the other, with the home side going very close early on. City’s high pressing led by Colleen Kennedy O’Connell bore fruit eight minutes in, when Colleen nicked the ball off of Lisa Murphy and began bearing down on goal. Rachael Kelly came flying out of goal and closed the gap, with Colleen’s shot being smothered by the Bohs captain.

City and Bohs seemed at a deadlock, with both sides struggling to get an edge over the other team. Each team had a few half chances, but nothing really came to fruition.

City could've had a penalty on the half hour mark. A Freya De Mange free kick led to a game of pinball in the box, before the ball fell to Colleen Kennedy O’Connell who let a shot fly that evidently hit the arm of Lisa Murphy, but her arm seemed in a natural position so it was waved away by referee Eoghan O’Shea.

City kept pushing and had two back to back efforts in the space of two minutes, with Eva Mangan and Becky Cassin each having a long range pop at goal with eight minutes left to play in the half.

Bohs immediately hit back with two long range efforts of their own, with Aoibhe Brennan and Sarah Power both coming very close to giving their side the lead in this tightly contested cup tie, with Power’s effort forcing a great save from City shot-stopper Una Foyle.

Both sides entered the second half extremely disciplined, which led the game into a bit of a stalemate, with neither side seemingly able to really break down the other and open the scoring. The game began to open up a little bit with twenty five minutes to play. Alannah McEvoy tested Una Foyle with a low shot that the City keeper dealt with well. City then went up the other end and forced a good double save from Rachael Kelly, with Shaunagh McCarthy and Barrett Eidson being kept out by the Bohs goalie.

City were getting closer, and squandered a great chance with fifteen minutes to play. Barrett Eidson released Eva Mangan down the right hand side. Mangan kept the slightly overhit ball in play and dinked in a cross by the byline, which was taken down by Colleen Kennedy O’Connell. Coleen then layed it back to Becky Cassin, who struck her first time shot narrowly over the bar.

The game just seemed destined to go to extra time, and although there were a few chances to stop it, it indeed ended 0-0 after ninety minutes sending the tie into extra time.

Bohs made two changes in the first few minutes of extra time, while Danny Murphy stuck with the side that had gotten him this far in the game. Again, both teams were desperately trying to nick the first goal of the game, but not many clear cut chances were being created. This was pretty much summarised in the 104th minute. A Bohs corner led to a massive scramble in the box. The scramble led to the ball landing at the feet of Sarah Power on the left hand side of the box, whose subsequent shot was blocked by Becky Cassin and rolled out for a corner. This failed opportunity very clearly frustrated the Bohs players.

Their luck wouldn't get any better. Just a minute later, Orlaith O’Mahony picked up the ball in midfield and released an absolute rocket of a shot from twenty five yards out which went flying into the top left corner past Rachael Kelly, much to the delight of the CIty faithful, a lead the hosts probably slightly deserved.

Unfortunately for them though, It only took Bohs a minute into the second half to respond emphatically, with Katherine (Katie) Malone brilliantly putting the ball past Una Foyle from a tight angle on the right hand side to drain City’s confidence that they had only just obtained.

And just like that, it was back to a tightly contested matchup. The two sides were doing everything in their power to get an edge on the other, but none of it was working for either side.

That was, until a minute into additional time. City won a free kick on the far left of the box. Freya De Mange knocked the free kick short to Eva Mangan, who got towards the byline and drilled the ball across the penalty spot, where it was met by the foot of Barrett Eidson. Eidson’s first time shot squirmed under Rachael Kelly and sent Turners Cross into pandemonium.

Bohs hadn't given up yet though. Bohs had a free kick in the final seconds of the game, which was taken by Rachael Kelly. Kelly sent the ball towards the back post, where it was met by the head of Lisa Murphy, who sent her header goalward, but somehow the header was clawed away by Una Foyle, who got a hold of the ball. Despite claims of the ball being over the line (which it most definitely wasn't) the referee blew for full time and City had snatched it late at the death.

It was a match that was as evenly matched as you will get in football. Two very well coached teams that are usually only separated by moments of magic. In this case, It was Orlaith O’Mahony’s wondergoal on the stroke of half time in extra time that did it, along with Barrett Eidson’s goal right at the end. City struggled to consistently create clear cut chances throughout the game but I would say they deserved the win just about.

As for Bohs, it's another trip to Turners Cross where they'll come away feeling mightily disappointed. Ken Kiernan will definitely feel his side could've gone through on the night, and to be honest if that game was played one hundred times, both teams probably win fifty each. Bohs didn't get as many crosses into the box as usual and probably didn't utilise the flanks as much as they wanted to, as it's something they've modelled their game on so far this season.

My Player of the Match goes to Orlaith O’Mahony. Orlaith dominated the midfield all night long, and I feel she was someone City were sorely missing against Shelbourne two weeks prior. She was very comfortable on the ball and won a lot of ground duels throughout the game. She did also score an absolute belter that surely is the goal of the tournament so all around i think she deserves it.

City are back in action in the league next Saturday evening, where they will take on Munster rivals Treaty United in Market’s Field. As for Bohs, they'll be playing Shelbourne in Dalymount in the North Dublin Derby that same evening.