In one of the most open and entertaining games at Dalymount this year, the Gypsies got off to an absolute flyer, and were two up within the opening 15 minutes.

The returning Stephen Traynor got the lead goal, and it was a cracker. He collected a half-hit clearance 25 yards from goal, skipped through two lunging Bray defenders, steadied himself, and let fly with an unstoppable right-footed strike from the edge of the 18-yard box. Sean Homes in the Seagulls’ goal could only watch as the ball flew past him into the net. A great way for Traynor to celebrate his inclusion in the World Student Games squad. He’ll travel to Russia in July along with Andy Mulligan and the rest of the Ireland team.

Just five minutes later, Bohs doubled their advantage. Good interplay between Karl Moore and Nangle down the left fed Lyons just on the edge of the box. The striker squeezed past Peter Thomson, who went to ground, sending Lyons sprawling and the Bohs fans appealing. Referee Paul McLaughlin must have been watching on Friday night, and gave Bohs what looked to be a soft decision. It seemed like Thomson got at least a toe on the ball. Bray were understandably miffed, and Lyons made no mistake from 12 yards – sending Holmes the wrong way.

After a superb opening 20 minutes for the Gypsies, Bray started to get a foothold on the game. Pat Devlin made seven changes from the team that beat Cork impressively in Turner’s Cross on Friday, but they still had some quality on the field – most notably 19-year-old Ishmail Akinade. The powerful Nigerian striker forced a corner on the half-hour mark and with it, Bray got back in the game. The near-post cross was flicked toward the back post where centre-half Danny O’Connor bundled it home. Bohs keeper Greg Murray appealed that the ball hadn’t crossed the line, but the goal stood and the tie was back on.

If Murray, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Monk’, was unhappy with his role in the first goal, he could safely say he had no chance with the Bray equaliser, which came on 38 minutes. Sean Hurley whipped in a beautiful cross from the left wing and Akinade was in the right place to power a header in from eight yards. Luke Byrne, impressive again at centre-back, could do nothing to prevent the towering header from the big man, which squared things up at the break.

After the flurry of first-half goals, it was plain to see that both managers had instructed the teams to tighten up in the second half. Chances were at a premium as both sides seemed wary of making a mistake that could send their team out. As Callaghan said before the game, this is a competition Bohs can win, and it showed in the intensity of their defensive concentration in the second half. Neither side created any clear cut openings, with Murray perhaps being the more active keeper, having to claw away a number of threatening crosses. It was no surprise to see the game finish 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Amazingly, Bohs started extra-time in almost the exact fashion as the regulation 90, with two quickfire goals in the opening 15 minutes. The introduction of Dave Scully was key to this, with the cult hero moving up front and Lyons retreating into a midfield role. Scully’s strike partner Kevin O’Leary forced a corner straight from the kick-off, and Bohs instantly retook the lead. Scully caused mayhem in the box and, after a scramble, the ball was cleared to the now deep-lying Lyons, whose shot deflected into the top corner.

With 97 minutes on the clock, Bohs’ place in the last eight was sealed. Sub Dwayne Wilson fed O’Leary, who turned a Bray defender and fired a crisp shot that wrong-footed keeper Holmes to make it 4-2. The remaining 20 minutes of extra time was the Scully show, with the striker playing to the crowd with a series of slaloming runs, tricks, and flicks. There was even a ‘stand up for Dave Scully’ chant that had most of the small crowd on their feet! Boss Callaghan might be a little concerned at 120 minutes for Man of the Match Byrne with a crucial home game against St Pats on Friday, but Bohs are through to the quarter finals, and that’s the main thing.

Bohemians: Greg Murray, Michael Barker, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne, Ciaran Nangle, Karl Moore, Shane Murray (Darragh Reynor, 77), Stephen Traynor (Dave Scully, 91), Shane Fitzgerald (Dwayne Wilson, 59), Chris Lyons, Kevin O’Leary. Subs not used: Conor Little, Adam Kelly, Michael Scott, Saniago Miguel Falbo.

Bray Wanderers: Sean Holmes, Kevin Knight, Danny O’Connor (Dave Webster, 46), Conor Earley, John Mulroy, Peter Thomas (Kieran “Marty” Waters, 81), Paul Malone, Sean Hurley, Danny Joyce (Dean Zambra, 74), Daire Doyle, Ismahil Akinade. Subs not used: Stephen McGuinness, Paul Moffatt, Ger Pender, Ed McDonagh.

Bohs Man of the Match: Luke Byrne

Despite suspensions for Chris Lyons and Roberto Lopes and an injury to Owen Heary, Bohs dominated in midfield areas, restricted the Hoops to long-range efforts, and looked extremely dangerous on the counter attack. Andy Mulligan was a constant threat, Dave Scully held the ball up brilliantly, and Dave Mulcahy was a rock at centre back. Only a dreadfully poor refereeing performance from Neil Doyle denied Bohs what would have been a deserved 3-points.

The visitors had the first chance after a fine break down the left. The returning Ciaran Nangle cut the ball back to Mulligan whose whipped cross was inches from Scully’s head. Bohs continued to control the game and after a scrambled corner, Dave Mulcahy nodded to Derek Pender who flashed a left-footed volley just wide of the post.  The excellent Mulcahy released Mulligan again down the left on 25 minutes, and the Carlow man was caught in two minds whether to cross or shoot. In the end he did neither, and his effort didn’t trouble Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Rovers’ only first half chance came predictably from a set piece. Billy Dennehy’s whipped corner found the head of Ciaran Kilduff. His header from six yards had goal written all over it, but Dean Delany somehow managed to claw it onto the crossbar and over. The Bohs net minder has come in for a fair amount of criticism this season, but showed here why he’s been playing at the top level in the country for so long.

Rovers started to come into the game just before half time, and the whistle probably came at a good time for Aaron Callaghan’s men. After regrouping at the break, Bohs took control of the second half. The midfield trio of Ryan McEvoy, Keith Buckley and Shane Murray were bossing the game, finding spaces in between the lethargic Rovers duo of Finn and Robinson. Ten minutes into the second half, Buckley released Mulligan – who haunted Conor McCormack all night. Mulligan’s cutback found Scully, but the forward’s shot was rather weak and David Elebert blocked on the line.

Bohs were constantly creating half-chances, with long range efforts from Buckley and Scully flashing wide of Barry Murphy’s goal. At the other end it was a similar story. Ronan Finn had Rovers’ best long ranger, but Dean Delany didn’t have to make any saves in the second period.

A theme running throughout this pulsating Derby was the truly awful refereeing performance from Neil Doyle. A host of 50-50 calls went the wrong way for both sides, players were fooling him with exaggerated falls, and he dished out amazing yellow cards to Mulcahy and Scully. The icing on the cake came in the 80th minute when he gave Rovers a penalty with a decision that would have almost been comical if it wasn’t so important. Sean O’Connor’s cross fell to Andy Mulligan who tried to hook the ball over his head. Instead, he clumsily kicked it off his own face – but Doyle thought otherwise and pointed to the spot. TV replays clearly showed the ball striking Mulligan in the mouth – he even had a bloody lip to show for it! Ronan Finn sent Delany the wrong way and it looked like the Hoops had stolen the points. Doyle had even managed to miss a shocking two-footed lunge from Shane Robinson on Dave Scully just a couple of minutes before that. Many managers and pundits have commented on the standard of refereeing in the league so far this year, and this was another exhibition of poor decision making.

Luckily for Bohs, sweet Karma was smiling down as the sun set over the Wicklow horizon. With two minutes of injury time played, a long throw from Luke Byrne was only partially cleared to Ryan McEvoy in the box. Time stood still as he kept his head, kept the shot low, and sent the travelling support into a delirious frenzy. It may have taken a deflection, but tell that to the Bohs fans who had backed the team all night in the ground where they have suffered so much heartbreak. They could easily be forgiven for the pitch invasion that followed, it was a classic moment in another classic game between these two great rivals.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Conor McCormack, Derek Foran (Ken Oman 68), Jason McGuinness, David Elebert; Gary McCabe (Karl Sheppard 79), Ronan Finn, Shane Robinson, Billy Dennehy (Sean O’Connor 59); Thomas Stewart, Ciaran Kilduff. Subs not used: Richard Brush, Alan Kehoe, Stephen Rice, James Chambers.

Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Luke Byrne, Ciaran Nangle (Michael Scott 87); Kevin Devaney (Michael Barker 67), Ryan McEvoy, Keith Buckley, Andy Mulligan; Shane Murray (Karl Moore 67); Dave Scully. Subs not used: Greg Murray, Kevin O’Leary, Shane Fitzgerald, Dwayne Wilson.

Bohs Man of the Match: Dave Mulcahy

After a run of games with a 3-5-2 formation, Bohs switched to an orthodox 4-4-2 with Dave Scully returning to partner Chris Lyons up front. Derek Pender looked much more comfortable at right back rather than right wing back, and his pinpoint cross set up the first chance of the game. Unfortunately for Bohs, Ryan McEvoy just couldn’t quite get enough on his header.

A first half of few chances exploded into life with 9 minutes to go. Good work from Andy Mulligan down the left forced a Bohs corner, which was whipped in by Stephen Traynor. With the ball about to reach Owen Heary at the back post, Colin Healy stretched out a leg but only managed to divert the ball into his own net.

Aaron Callaghan will be extremely frustrated not to hang onto the lead at least until half time. Denis Behan and Gearoid Morrissey played a simple one-two on the edge of the Bohs box before Morrissey skipped past Heary. The Bohs captain’s outstretched leg clearly caught the Cork forward, and referee Paul Tuite had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Denis Behan sent Dean Delany the wrong way in front of the disappointingly small away contingent in the Des Kelly Stand.

Bohs clearly stepped up their game in the second half, and should really have taken the lead on more than one occasion. Dave Scully had three chances in close succession. The first saw him caught for pace by Kalen Spillane when pretty much through on goal. His second chance came when his header was tipped around the post by Mark McNulty, while his third chance was a header that was wonderfully blocked by John Dunleavy.

A large contingent of the Bohs fans have been calling for Greg Murray to be given his chance in goal, and the Palmerstown man did make his season debut when Delany was forced off with what looked like a muscle strain on the hour mark. The sub keeper could do nothing as Cork got their winner totally against the run of play. Karl Moore, who had a wretched evening, was caught in possession down the Bohs right. Gearoid Morrissey raced away down the left and pulled it back for his namesake Danny, who blasted it in from six yards.

Bohs huffed and puffed for the final 10 minutes, and could have snatched an equaliser when Cork keeper McNulty miscontrolled and allowed Mulligan to square it. Kalen Spillane just got there ahead of the sluggish Chris Lyons and Bohs hopes of a point were snuffed out. With two difficult games against Shamrock Rovers and St Pats to come, things could get squeaky for Bohs before the mid-season break in June.

Bohemians: Dean Delany (Greg Murray, 59), Owen Heary, Derek Pender, Luke Byrne, Dave Mulcahy, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor (Michael Barker, 81), Andy Mulligan, Karl Moore (Kevin Devaney, 81), Dave Scully, Chris Lyons. Subs not used: Roberto Lopes, Darragh Reynor, Dwayne Wilson, Kevin O’Leary.

Cork City: Mark McNulty, Danny Murphy, Kalen Spillane, Neal Horgan, John Dunleavy (Gary Buckley, 87), Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Gearóid Morrissey, Daryl Horgan (Ian Turner, 65), Danny Morrissey, Denis Behan (Daryl Kavanagh, 74). Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Ian Turner, Daryl Kavanagh, Adam Rundle, Danny Furlong, Stephen Kenny, Garry Buckley.