St. Patrick's Athletic 4 Bohemians 3
(After extra-time, 2-2 after 90 mins)
Bohemians scored six goals in tonight's thrilling FAI Cup semi-final replay against St. Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park - but somehow ended up on the losing side.
Three Bohemians own goals - one in the very first minute from defender Ken Oman, a second off Robbie Doyle and a Colin Hawkins deflection in extra-time - put St. Patrick's on the road to Lansdowne where they will meet Longford Town in the final at the end of the month.
St. Patrick's flew out of the blocks when Keith Fahey's pacey free kick was deflected into the Bohemians net by Oman in the first minute. But credit the Phibsboro side as they remained composed and equalised soon after with a spectacular long range effort from Thomas Heary.
St. Patrick's keeper Chris Adamson needed to be at his athletic best to make two reflex saves midway through the half to deny Dave Morrison from close range. The netminder's heroics spurred on the home side and their supporters alike but both sides finished level going in at the break.
Bohemians went ahead 23 minutes into the second half when Robbie Doyle latched onto Colin Foley's backwards header to beat Adamson with a left foot effort. Defender Clive Delaney, who was closing down on the Bohemains striker, appealed against handball but his efforts were in vein and Doyle turned away to celebrate.
Delaney, though, would soon have reason to cheer as it was his downward header 13 minutes from time that cannoned off Doyle in the Bohemians box to beat visiting keeper Shay Kelly. Sides level once again. Neither side found a breakthrough in the closing minutes as extra-time loomed.
St. Patrick's made a blistering start to the extra-time and recorded a third when striker Tony Bird drilled a low cross into the centre of the visitors box. The pace of the ball deceived Hawkins who couldn't pull his leg out of the ball's path in time before it crossed the line for another Bohemians own goal.
The home side looked to have put the game beyond doubt when Fahey netted a wonderful free kick late in the first extra-time period. His spectacular effort, from distance, carried the wall and steered away from Kelly despite the Offaly keeper's best efforts. But Bohemians forced a tense finish by pulling one back straight from the kick-off when right-back Damien Lynch headed home a close range ball that should have been cleared to safety seconds earlier.
That score would prove the last although both sides went close in the dying minutes. St. Patrick's, on the back of this thrilling victory, go on to meet Longford Town in the final a fortnight this Sunday, bidding for their first Cup title in 44 years.