Candystripes defeat Bohs to make FAI Cup decider
Patrick McEleney celebrates after Michael Duffy (right) scores Derry's second goal [Inpho]
Michael Duffy helped himself to a magnificent double as Derry City booked their place in the FAI Cup final with a 2-0 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
The first cam on 39 minutes with a beautifully curled free-kick from just outside the corner of the box.
Duffy then settled proceedings with just under a quarter of the game remaining when he let fly from range with a fearsome drive, leaving Kacper Chorazka beaten in the Bohemians net.
It’s a 12th FAI Cup final appearance for the Candystripes to look forward to and with a wide-open Premier Division title race, a double is very much on the cards.
Looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat to Drogheda United last Friday night, Derry travelled to a venue that has served them well in recent times.
The north-west club arrived at Dalymount Park having only lost once in their previous eight visits and winning 2-1 back in June.
In the opening 45 minutes both sides had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty. First, Derry’s Patrick McEleney went down under a challenge while Alex Grieve felt he was bundled over moments before the break.
Around the half-hour mark City’s Adam O’Reilly and Duffy saw strikes from outside the area fly over.
Michael Duffy fires past Bohs goalkeeper Kacper Chorążka for Derry's opener [Inpho]
Derry did eventually take the lead through a terrific set-piece. Duffy set the ball down before bending the ball beyond Chorazka and into the top right-hand corner.
Early in the second period Paul McMullan passed up a golden opportunity to increase City's lead. He received a piercing throughball from McEleney and charged towards goal, but fired wide.
Minutes later, Dayle Rooney hammered a shot towards goal as Bohemians sought an equaliser, but it was always curling away from goal.
The visitors had only scored two or more goals in one of their previous eight fixtures prior to the game but on 72 minutes Ruaidhri Higgins’ men got their breathing space with a superb solo effort from Duffy.
He wove his way between challenges before letting fly and the venomous strike seemed to take a bounce off the turf leaving Chorazka beaten all ends up.
At the other end Bohs, now managed by Higgins' former Derry assistant Alan Reynolds, threatened to respond but Filip Piszczek’s left-footed volley flew harmlessly wide.
Duffy might have added a third late on but his attempt was smothered by Chorazka.
Nonetheless, a date with either Drogheda or Wexford now awaits the Foylesiders in the showpiece.
