FAI Cup Report: Bohemians 1 - 0 Galway

Bohemians progressed in their FAI Cup first round encounter when they ran out 1-0 winners over Galway at Dalymount Park on Saturday evening.

It was an incredibly even encounter with neither side able to find an opening goal within the ninety minutes, it took a late penalty from Erica Burke in extra time to separate the sides.

Galway had possibly the best chances early in this contest and their key opportunity came when Lynsey McKey was played in on the left in the sixth minute, but the striker flashed the ball just wide of Rachael Kelly’s goal with her shot coming from a tight angle.

The game settled and both sides were certainly evenly matched for much of the first half, Abbie Brophy did manage to get a shot off for the home side in the 24^th minute though, although her effort floated wide of Abbiegayle Ronayne’s goal.

Kira Bates Crosbie’s shot in the 28^th minute caused a bit of trouble after some good play by the Gypsies. Her effort took a deflection on its way to the Galway goal, but Ronayne judged it correctly and claimed the ball.

Galway went very close shortly after the interval when Shauna Brennan sent a great ball in from a corner-kick, Bryce Reynolds had a free header in the box but she just couldn’t keep it down and nodded the ball just over the bar.

Rachael Kelly made a big save in the 52^nd minute when McKey played Chloe Singleton through on goal, the goalkeeper got a foot to the midfielder’s shot to keep the side level.

The Tribeswomen should have been in front on the hour mark when another Brennan corner-kick was headed back in from the far post, a Bohs defender managed to clear the ball off the line and Galway had another chance as the ball remained live but they nicked the crossbar.

Galway’s Elle O’Flaherty went close ten minutes later when she got to a long ball from Jamie Erickson, the forward was just off with her run however and couldn’t connect with a strong enough shot to properly trouble Kelly.

Jenna Slattery was introduced in the second half, and she went very close with a long range effort in the 77^th minute, the striker’s effort sent Kelly into the net as she tried to cover the goal but the ball went just over the crossbar.

A flick on by Slattery in the first period of extra time allowed Singleton race through on goal, she took aim and rattled a shot off with the ball beating Kelly but smashing the crossbar and coming back out.

Bohemians’ goal midway through the second period of extra time had some controversy about it with Abbiegayle Ronayne being judged to have fouled Aoife Robinson when she came to punch a high ball.

Erica Burke stepped up to take the spot kick and she duly fired the ball into the net to give the home side the victory and a place in the quarter finals of the FAI Cup.

Bohemians WFC: Rachael Kelly; Isobel Finnegan, Ann Marie Byrne (Abbie O'Hara 99), Abbie Brophy, Lisa Murphy; Katie Lovely, Chloe Darby (Lara Phipps 56), Rebecca Cooke (Hannah Tobin-Jones 108), Kira Bates-Crosbie; Bronagh Kane (Aoife Robinson 56), Erica Burke.

Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Katie Burdis, Eimear Quinn.

Booked: None.

Galway WFC: Abbiegayle Ronayne; Shauna Brennan, Jamie Erickson, Bryce Reynolds, Becky Walsh; Aoibheann Costello, Therese Kinnevey, Elle O'Flaherty (Jenna Slattery 72), Julie-Ann Russell, Chloe Singleton (Abbie Callanan 108); Lynsey McKey.

Subs not used: Eve Dossen, Roisin Jacob, Saoirse Healey.

Booked: Abbiegayle Ronayne (105).