SETANTA SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINAL:Linfield 0 Bohemians1
THE CUP is staying south of the Border and will return to Dublin next month as Bohemians did enough to book a date with St Patrick’s Athletic, to be confirmed for Tallaght.
Taking a 2-1 lead into last night’s second leg at Windsor Park, Bohemians struck early through Paddy Madden and soaked up everything Linfield could throw at them in a defensive second half.
After conceding three goals to Galway United, it was no surprise to see Pat Fenlon change half of his backline, with Mark Rossiter and Jason McGuinness replacing Conor Powell and captain Owen Heary.
The visitors got a good start as Madden got the lone goal within five minutes. Paul Keegan’s ball sprung the offside trap and, with Alan Blayney sticking on his line, the young striker took a touch, held off Steven Douglas and picked his spot.
Bohemians kept their shape and looked to break when possible and looked the more likely to score.
A Rossiter mistake gave striker Paul Munster an eye at goal, but Barry Murphy snuffed it out.
Jason Byrne spurned an excellent opportunity when picked out by Killian Brennan at the back post but his header was straight at Blayney.
Raffaele Cretaro made the former Bohemians stopper work harder when he met Rossiter’s deep cross sweetly, but the former Northern Ireland international tipped the ball wide.
Ken Oman headed over from Keegan’s corner and, as the home crowd grew restless, Munster had two opportunities blocked after Stevens’ long throw had caused some unease in the defence.
Linfield midfielder Damien Curran had two attempts from the same free-kick, but, after the first was saved and referee David Malcolm ordered a retake and booked Madden for breaking from the wall, Curran fired the second over.
David Jeffries’ men came out with renewed vigour after the break, and Bohemians had to ride out an onslaught. Madden cleared Michael Gault’s header off the line, Murphy saved from Michael Carvill and Paul Thompson and Munster missed good chances.
Fenlon introduced Anto Murphy, Mark Quigley and Powell and their fresh legs helped see Bohemians through.
LINFIELD:Blayney; BJ Burns (Bailie 85), Gault, Murphy, Douglas; A Burns (Allen 69); Carvill (Lowry 63), Garrett, Curran; Thompson, Munster.
BOHEMIANS:B Murphy; Shelley, McGuinness, Oman (A Murphy 63), Rossiter (Powell 77); Cretaro (A Murphy 63), Keegan, Cronin, Brennan; Madden, Byrne (Quigley 71).
Referee:D Malcolm (Bangor).
(Bohemians win 3-1 on aggregate)
