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Ten man Bohs see off Saints to advance

Monday 24th September 2007, 9:47 pm

Darren Mansaram celebrates after scoring his second of the night.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Two goals from Darren Mansaram saw Bohemians advance to the semi-finals of this season's FAI Cup - seeing off Saint Patrick's Athletic 2-1 at Richmond Park in tonight's quarter-final.

The Saints took to the pitch led by Dave Rogers - at least their fifth different captain in competitive games this year. Bohs were without their skipper Kevin Hunt for personal reasons with the always inspirational Owen Heary taking the armband.

Referee Alan Kelly wasn't shy about brandishing yellow cards and Bohs' Stephen O'Donnell was booked inside the opening couple of minutes. Goalkeeper Alan Blayney, John-Paul Kelly, Dessie Byrne and Chris Turner all found themselves in Kelly's note-book before Byrne's 44th minute sending off.

Darren Mansaram controls under pressure from Billy Gibson.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Another reckless tackle on Keith Fahey prompted the referee to reach for yellow again and this time red too as the former Saints player walked early.

Bohs had taken a lead into half-time having shaded proceedings in the first forty-five minutes. Turner had forced a save down low from Barry Ryan while JP Kelly and Glen Crowe got in one another's way inside the Saints box.

Having just returned to the pitch having changed his footwear, Mansaram controlled in the box and fired past Ryan for the lead goal in the 25th minute.

Alan Kirby hooked a volley over from the edge of the Bohs box but the Gypsies defence was rock solid on most occasions it was tested.

Dessie Byrne looks on at the grounded Keith Fahey. Byrne was red carded after the challenge.

Photo by Tom Carey.

In the circumstances, Joseph Ndo was fortunate to avoid a booking following a poor challenge on Kelly. Later on the former Cameroon international dinked a dangerous ball into the box but good defending and far from sharp attacking saw the chance evaporate.

A goal up but a man down at the break, Bohs boss Sean Connor opted to replace the already booked Kelly - before he got himself in more trouble - with under-21 international Conor Powell. The Saints swapped striker Keith Barker in for striker Mark Quigley in a disappointly unadventurous move.

The changes did bring some excitement to the game and Liam Burns had to hook off the line after Billy Gibson looked set to slot home from an acute angle.

Gary O'Neill holds up play under pressure from Ryan McCann.

Photo by Tom Carey.

The Saints were threatening mainly from set-pieces and so it proved on 57 minutes as Fahey drilled a low free-kick past goalkeeper Alan Blayney from just outside the box for the leveller.

Burns joined his colleagues in the referee's notebook for dragging back Gary O'Neill with the home side's Alan Kirby having already earned a yellow - apparently for diving. Despite a great driven free kick from Michael Keane, Blayney pulled off a super save to tip the ball around his upright.

O'Neill saw his header drift just wide from John Frost as the home side at last showed some desire to attack.

Bohs were ahead again though on 64 minutes with Mansaram grabbing his second of the night.

The former Sligo Rovers striker took control of the ball midway through the Saints half after a helpful touch off Crowe. Unchallenged, Mansaram marched on towards the box and unleashed a low drive past Ryan from just outside the area to make it 2-1.

Alan Blayney saved superbly from Michael Keane's (10) free kick.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Heary made a typically robust and crucial block from Kirby as Pats attempted to keep their hopes of silverware alive.

Blayney tipped over well from another free kick and Fahey clipped the top of the bar before the Saints' FAI Cup hopes faded for another year.

Bohs will now be looking to corner the market in the cup competitions and given the stumbles they've had this year, two cup wins for Bohs and manager Connor would be a tremendous achievement.

St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Gibson (Brennan 70), Frost (Guy 80), Rogers, Paisley, Kirby, Ndo, Keane, Fahey, O'Neill, Quigley (Barker 46).
Bohemians : Blayney, O Heary, Byrne, Burns, McGuinness, McCann, O'Donnell (Rice 64), Turner, Kelly (Powell 46), Crowe (Rossiter 76), Mansaram.