Emma Hansberry made history for Sligo Rovers as her strike in the 77th minute booked the Western side a ticket to the FAI Women’s Cup Semi-Finals for the first time in the club's history.

A year on from their inaugural season as a Senior side, the dream to make the last four of the cup campaign has come true, Hansberry was the hero but it was Jodie Loughrey who looked to have netted the winner, her shot deflected off the Sligo skipper into the net.

No more than the Bit O’Red deserved, much the better of the two sides for the 90 minutes, having had numerous chances they looked the better as Bohemians dry streak at home in front of goal continued.

Yet to score at home since their Avenir Sports All Island Cup tie with Cliftonville in June, Bohemians were left frustrated as a stunning save from Bonnie McKiernan denied them an opener in the first half.

Chances were few and far between as Sligo really played like a quality side, despite where these two are positioned in the league table, Rovers looked sharper for the 90 minutes and their hunger and desire ensured that we saw some cup magic this weekend.

Sligo certainly controlled the opening half of play, despite both sides playing the ball around and Bohs getting possession to attack the Sligo goal, the Bit O’Red had the better of the chances.

Emma Hansberry floated in a free kick after seven minutes of play that Emma Doherty just headed wide of Rachael Kelly’s far post, the net minder looked beaten had Doherty been on target with the effort. Hansberry turned from almost provider to almost goalscorer seconds later, unleashing a shot inside the area that Fiona Donnelly did brilliantly well to block out for a corner.

Having almost gone behind on two occasions, Bohs had their first chance 12 minutes into the contest, Katie Malone with space on the right wing crossed towards the centre of the box, Rachel Doyle shooting on the half volley but the effort was saved well by Bonnie McKiernan in the Sligo goal.

Bohemians threatened very little for the remainder of the opening half, McKiernan with little to do, her defence ahead of the goal were able to sheapared any chances away, while at the other end the Bohs goal proved the busier.

Just before the half hour mark Sligo had two further chances, Kelly had to be alert to parry away an inswinging corner by Sarah Kieran, before Lisa Murphy and Casey Howe were in a foot race, the Bohemians player able to get a foot in to clear away the danger before another chance occurred.

Into the second half and again it was finger on the pulse from Rovers, Kelly came out of her goal to punch away a cross but the effort fell to Lauren Boles outside the area, the effort however was hit in frustration and over the bar.

Pressure was still on the hosts, Hansberry raced onto a loose ball and struck at goal but that went left and wide, less than a minute later a great delivery from Leah Kelly almost brought an opener, cross to the area where Doherty manages to get a head on it, looked to have surprised the Bohs players including Kelly in the goal but she managed to get hands on to keep it out.

Just before the hour mark Bohemians showed signs of life to come close to breaking the deadlock, Malone again operating on the right channel, aimed a cross for Lynn Craven, the defenders strike wide of the Sligo net.

Sligo had kept pressing and in the 77th minute the dream looked to be coming true, a corner on the left wing floated into the area was knocked down and not cleared, the ball landing to Jodie Loughrey who struck low and hard, the effort striking off Hansberry, enough to go past Kelly into the bottom corner of the goal.