Kerry 2 Bohemians 2 (Bohs win 4-2 on penalties AET) Dawson Devoy of Bohemians has words with Oran Crowe of Kerry FC during the FAI Cup third round match at Mounthawk Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Bohemians broke Kerry hearts with a penalty shoot-out victory in this FAI Cup third round contest, but they most certainly didn’t break their spirit. The Kingdom showed defiance in spades to twice come back from behind, and in the last hour of action (including extra-time) unbelievable resilience to resist a near-constant onslaught from the visiting Dubliners.
The Bohs faithful amongst the 1,110 in attendance in Mounthawk Park would certainly have felt they should have got the job done sooner than they did, with a succession of chances, forcing save after save from Kerry keeper Aaron O’Sullivan. By the time penalties came around the home side were very much out on their feet, so much so that it was little surprise that Bohemians were that much more composed for the spot-kicks. Bohs scoring all four of their penalties – Ross Tierney, Dawson Devoy, Daniel Grant and Declan McDaid with the clincher – as Kerry missed two in-a-row from Kennedy Amechi and Cian Barrett.
While Bohemians were fully deserving of their victory, Kerry left the field with real credit having twice battled back, having held on by their finger-tips to force extra time. Bohs opened the scoring on 22 minutes – James Clarke nodding a corner home – with Kerry striking back on 43 minutes to raise the roof in Mounthawk Park. The euphoria amongst the Kerry FC faithful didn’t last long, however, when Kavanagh played a beautiful diagonal pass to Rooney, who in turn picked out strike Alexander Greive for a sucker-punch goal a minute into time added on.
A little over five minutes into the second half, however, the Kingdom had drawn back level – Ryan Kelliher muscling Bohs keeper Kacper Chorazka off the ball and finishing to the back of the net. Thereafter Bohs grew increasingly assertive, but the breakthrough just wouldn’t come, not in the regulation ninety and not in the additional thirty. Even in defeat, a famous day for the Kingdom.
Kerry FC: A O’Sullivan, F Barrett, E Kos, A Spain, S O’Connell, O Crowe, R Teahan, C Barrett, N Gleeson, R Kelliher, S McGrath. Subs: K Amechi for S McGrath, 69, D Okwute for R Kelliher, 83, C Brosnan for R Teahan, 95, S Aladesanusi for N Gleeson, 114. Bohemians: K Chorazka, L Smith, J Mills, L Kevanagh, B McManus, D Devoy, A McDonnell, J Clarke, R Tierney, D Rooney, A Greive.
Subs: Akintunde for A Greive, 58, D Grant for J Clarke, 66, D McDaid for D Rooney, 95, F Piszczek for B McManus, 107. Referee: N Doyle (Dublin)..
