Fabulous FAI Ford Cup Final

Bohemian 2-2 Derry City [aet] - Sunday 23 November 2008
[Bohemian win penalty shoot-out 4-2]

The 2008 FAI Ford Cup Final produced an enthralling encounter in front of an attendance of 10,281 at a rain soaked and windswept RDS, Ballsbridge this afternoon.

League Champions Bohemian FC faced cup specialists Derry City who earlier this season lifted the League Cup. The side from the North West also held something of an indian sign on the Dublin club, having defeated them en route to the League Cup and also in the League this season.

What proved to be a hugely eventful encounter had it's first moment of real drama after four minutes when Derry striker Sammy Morrow went down in the penalty area following a poor challenge from Bohemian skipper Owen Heary. The referee waved play on, for what television replays suggest should have been a penalty.

There followed a period of some fifteen minutes when Derry, playing with the advantage of the wind, dominated proceedings without creating any real goalscoring opportunities. Just after the twentieth minute mark, Bohemian full back Owen Heary went on a storming run forward which ended on the edge of the penalty area when he went to ground. An erroneous free kick was awarded for what was a late dive and Derry were very fortunate that Killian Brennan's free kick struck the crossbar and went behind for a goalkick.

There were a number of hefty challenges which went without caution until eventually Neale Fenn was cautioned for a bad foul on Derry skipper Peter Hutton, which on another day may well have resulted in a red card.

Derry continued to be the more dominant side and a Mark Farren header from Kevin Deery's cross produced a fine save from Brian Murphy. As half time approached, Derry midfielder Barry Molloy found his way into the referee's notebook for a late challenge on former colleague Killian Brennan. On the stroke of half-time the yellow card was again shown, this time to Derry striker Mark Farren, for an alleged foul on goalkeeper Murphy. Television replays confirmed the decision, advised by the linesman, to be incorrect.

The second half saw the Dublin side, with the advantage of the wind, open with greater purpose and Hutton should have been penalised for a kick on Brennan, but escaped without even the concession of a free-kick. The stalemate was finally broken after fifty nine minutes when a foul by Gary Deegan on Farren, just outside the penalty area, produced a free kick which Sammy Morrow blasted straight through the wall and into the net.

Stung by this rerversal, Bohemian manager Pat Fenlon made his first substitution, introducing Lithuanian international Mindaugus Kalones for Fenn. Reward was swift, as from a corner on the left the low cross was undefended and came back off the post to Glenn Crowe who thumped it to the net. Five minutes later, more drama unfolded as another left wing corner, driven into the Derry penalty area was headed down by Morrow and then bounced up to strike his hand. The referee pointed to the penalty spot, a hugely contentious decision, and Jason Byrne converted the kick with ease.

Derry reacted in a positive manner and six minutes later the game was again level. The dynamic Niall McGinn delivered a fine cross from the left and Morrow was again on hand to thump home the equaliser from the edge of the six yard box.

The remainder of the regulation ninety minutes, saw Derry in command but they were unable to convert their domination into a winning goal. Man of the Match McGinn came closest with a right foot shot which went just wide. Four minutes from time, Bohemian midfielder Gary Deegan was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a horrible two footed lunge.

Derry manager Stephen Kenny introduced Ruari Higgins and Thomas Stewart for McGlynn and Molloy at the start of extra-time but Bohemian were first to threaten when a Heary cross found it's way to Brennan well inside the area but goalkeeper Gerard Doherty made a brave save. At the other end, the dynamic McGinn outpaced the defence but shot wide. As the first period of extra-time drew to a close, a Stephen O'Donnell pass found the unmarked Kalones inside the penalty area, but his blistering shot was brilliantly saved by Doherty.

The second period of extra-time again saw Derry looking the more dominant side, but save for an excellent run and shot fom McGinn which produced another fine save from Brian Murphy, they were unable to convert their pressure into a winning goal and so after two hours the match ended at two goals each.

The resultant penalty shoot-out produced, as ever, it's heroes and villians,with 'Gypsies' netminder Murphy topping the bill with two penalty saves which saw Bohemian FC lift the Trophy and complete a fabulous League and Cup double.