Details

Date Time League Season
7 October 2023 2:40 pm FAI Cup 2023

Match Report

Connolly Strike Sends Bohs To Cup Final

Dylan Connolly’s goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to send the 10 men of Bohemians through to the FAI Cup final, securing a 1-0 victory over Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

The Gypsies overcame the challenge of the Tribesmen with 10 players for most of the second half after Kaspar Radkowski was dismissed after relatively soft fouls in either half.

Bohemians make it to the FAI Cup final for the second time in three seasons after losing out to St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2021 and for the first time during Declan Devine's tenure

There was a real cup-tie atmosphere at the beginning of this game as Galway looked to put their impressive home advantage to full use, and looked the better team for the vast majority of the first half.

However, it was Bohemians who created the first big chance of the game through good work from Jonathan Afolabi and Keith Buckley. The pair exchanged lofted passes outside the penalty area allowing the Bohemians striker to find space in the box to poke a shot past Brenden Clarke off the woodwork.

Although the game was competitive right from the off, there were very few badly timed or cynical tackles in the match. However, by looking at the number of yellow cards issued by referee Neil Doyle, you would be forgiven for thinking this was a bloodbath.

Bohemians received four yellow cards in the first half compared to Galway’s two bookings, with a number of the yellows forced due to the precedent set by Doyle early in the match.

Galway were playing the better of the two sides but it was mostly down to Bohemians’ inability to keep possession for more than a few passes under the pressure applied by the home team.

Long-ranged efforts from David Hurley and Stephen Walsh gave James Talbot a bit of a scare midway through the opening 45 minutes, but Bohemians would get the best chances of the half after the 40th minute.

Dylan Connolly was instrumental in setting up James Clarke as the half-time break drew closer, finding the young midfielder in the box, who then fired a shot against the post from a tight angle.

Although this looked like the final chance of the first half, the Gypsies would create one more opportunity before the interval and this time they made it count.

Afolabi chased down a long ball and outmuscled Maurice Nugent in the Galway penalty area. The angle was too tight for the 23-year-old to get a shot off so he calmly squared the ball across to Connolly who couldn’t miss from point-blank range.

After the restart, Afolabi had a great chance to make it 2-0 as he again latched onto a clearance from out of the Bohemians defence, but good goalkeeping by Clarke kept his side within one goal.

With the number of yellow cards being brandished in the first half, it looked inevitable that someone would be sent for an early bath - and after another soft foul on Wassim Aouachira, Kaspar Radkowski was harshly given his marching orders.

United were dominating possession with the extra man advantage but were unable to create many chances against a resolute Bohemians side who were content to sit back and hit the home side on the counter.

The clock ticked into the seven minutes of added time as the home side frantically searched for an equaliser, but Declan Devine’s side stood strong to make it to the FAI Cup final for the second time in three years.

Galway Utd

1Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
3Regan Donelon 2 Defender 57'
5Killian Brouder Defender
6Maurice Nugent 4 Defender
7Stephen Walsh Forward 73'
10David Hurley Midfielder
12Aodh Dervin Midfielder 31'
17Vincent Borden 19 Defender
22Conor McCormack Midfielder
24Edward McCarthy 23 Midfielder 42'
31Wassim Aouachria 9 Forward
16Alex Rutter Goalkeeper
2Conor O’Keeffe 3 Defender
4Rob Slevin 6 Defender
9Rob Manley 31 Forward
14Ronan Manning Midfielder
19Francely Lomboto 17 Forward
21Colm Horgan Defender
23Darren Clarke 24 Midfielder
29Oisin O’Reilly Defender

Bohemians

1James Talbot Goalkeeper 65'
2Bartlomiej Kukulowicz 7 Defender 36'
3Paddy Kirk Defender
4Krystian Nowak Defender
6Jordan Flores 17 Midfielder
8Ali Coote 24 Midfielder 21'
9Jonathan Afolabi Forward
10Dylan Connolly 12 Forward 45'
13Kacper Radkowski Defender 14'
58'
15James Clarke 18 Midfielder 19'
16Keith Buckley Midfielder 51'
25Luke Dennison Goalkeeper
7Declan McDaid 2 Midfielder
11James Akintunde Forward
12Danny Grant 10 Midfielder
14James McManus Midfielder
17Adam McDonnell 6 Midfielder
18John O’Sullivan 15 Midfielder
23Kris Twardek Midfielder
24Cian Byrne 8 Defender
  • 102'

    FULL-TIME: Galway United 0-1 Bohemians

  • 97'

    The initial free-kick hits the wall but the ball comes back to McCormack he cuts across his shot and spins wide of the post.

  • 95'

    McDonnell is booked after clattering into Dervin outside the penalty area. This is David Hurley territory.

  • 93'

    Buckley and Walsh go down in the Bohemians box and the Galway faithful want a penalty, but the ref ignores the noise.

  • 91'

    David Hurley picks up a yellow for dissent.

  • 90'

    There will be SEVEN minutes of added time.

  • 87'

    Declan McDaid and Adam McDonnell come on for Kukulowicz and Flores. McCarthy is replaced by Darren Clarke.

  • 74'

    Connolly comes off for Grant. Galway make a triple change - Lomboto, Manley and O\'Keeffe on for Aouachira, Borden and Donelon.

  • 73'

    Stephen Walsh receives a yellow card.

  • 69'

    Donelon takes Connolly down cynically but somehow the Galway full-back escapes without a second booking

  • 68'

    Tidy feet by Clarke creates space for him and fires a shot just over the bar.

  • 65'

    James Talbot is booked for time-wasting.

  • 60'

    Cian Byrne replaces Ali Coote to fill the gap at the heart of the Bohs defence.

  • 58'

    Radkowski picks up his second yellow card of the game and is sent for an early bath. Both seem quite harsh but with the amount of yellow cards in the game, this was inevitable.

  • 57'

    Donelan is booked after clipping the heels of Connolly

  • 55'

    Maurice Nugent is replaced by Rob Slevin

  • 51'

    Booking number seven in the game goes to Buckley who takes Walsh down who was charging into the Bohemians half.

  • 49'

    Afolabi gets on the end of a clearance from his defence but Clarke closes out and saves well.

  • 47'

    Walsh gets behind the defence and shoots at the Bohemians' goal but is eventually flagged for offside.

  • 46'

    Galway get the second half underway.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: Galway United 0-1 Bohemians

  • 45'

    Two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

  • 45'

    BOHEMIANS TAKE THE LEAD! Jonathan Afolabi chases down a long ball from the back and outmuscles Nugent. The angle is too tight to take a shot himself but he squares it to Dylan Connolly who can't miss from point-blank range.

  • 44'

    OFF THE POST! Connolly gets down the right and finds Clarke in the box who smashes the ball against the post from a tight angle.

  • 42'

    McCarthy gets booking number six (6) in the first half of the match and Galway\'s second booking for a late closeout on Connolly. I sound like a broken record but it is another harsh one.

  • 41'

    Afolabi creates a half chance out of nothing but drags his shot well wide. Bohs have not fed Afolabi enough in this game as he has looked by far their most threatening player.

  • 38'

    The game is stopped for a head injury to Walsh. A number of the Bohemians players go across to Devine to get some info for the final seven minutes of the half.

  • 36'

    Kukulowicz picks up the fourth yellow card for Bohemians by trying to block down Hurley by the Galway corner flag. Again, seems like a harsh one.

  • 31'

    Aodh Dervin gets the first booking for Galway United for a late tackle on Radkowski. Doesn't seem to be a lot of contact but a reckless tackle nevertheless.

  • 26'

    Stephen Walsh tries his luck from range and had Talbot looking nervously at the venomous strike but like the shot from Hurley its goes wide of the post.

  • 23'

    A short corner kick routine for Galway gives Hurley a chance to come in from the right and whip a shot towards goal but it flies just past the post.

  • 21'

    Coote picks up the third yellow of the game an off the ball coming together between himself and McCormack. Very soft yellow card. Neil Doyle might be making a problem for himself with all these early yellow cards.

  • 19'

    James Clarke catches Aodh Dervin late well inside the Bohemians half and picks up his side's second yellow card of the game. Big chance for Galway to get the ball into the box.

  • 14'

    Radkowski receives the first yellow card of the game for a pull back on Aouachria but it seems like a slightly harsh one as the two players have been giving as good as they've got early on.

  • 11'

    OFF THE POST! Afolabi and Buckley exchange lifted passes which allows the Bohemians striker to find space in the box to poke a shot past Clarke in the Galway goal. The shot dribbles into the post and the sides remain level.

  • 9'

    Galway break forward quickly through Walsh who crosses into the box. Radkowski heads the ball clear as far a Donelan who has a rush of blood to the head and drags a long-ranged shot well wide.

  • 7'

    Nugent gets two bits of the cherry from a corner kick with his second effort deflected out for another corner kick for Galway.

  • 5'

    Donelan leaves a bit on Connolly midway into the Galway half and concedes a free-kick. Coote takes but the delivery is very poor.

  • 3'

    Galway are trying to find Aouachria at every given opportunity in the early stages of this game and looks likely to be a thorn in the side of Radkowski throughout.

  • 1'

    Bohemians get the game started in their all-white kit, Galway wearing their standard maroon and gold colours

Past Meetings

(Round 16)
0 - 0
LOI Women's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Galway United FC

(Round 3)
0 - 1
LOI Women's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC 0-1 Bohemian FC

8 - 3
eLOI Group A
Online Event

Bohemian FC v Galway United

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Galway United FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bohemian FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Galway United FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bohemian FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Galway United FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bohemian FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Galway United FC

5 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bohemian FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC v Galway United FC

Ground

Eamonn Deacy Park
Eamonn Deacy Park, Dyke Road, Terryland, Menlough, Galway City, County Galway, Connacht, H91 ET6N, Ireland

Conor Cantwell is a freelance sports journalist based in Co. Meath. Conor has been covering club football in Ireland and England since 2022. Conor has a keen interest in soccer, Gaelic games, rugby, tennis and basketball and has been writing blogs about the Premier League and the NBA since 2022.