Fenlon's Bohemians show full strength to succeed

EA SPORTS CUP FINAL: Bohemians 3 Waterford United 1:THOUGH HE might not care to thank them for it, a letter from the FAI last week outlining to Pat Fenlon his obligation to field his strongest available side all but won Bohemians the EA Sports sponsored League Cup by half-time at the RSC.

Angered by having to play three big away games in a week, and his assertion that the FAI reneged on an agreement to put back tomorrow night’s league match at Derry City (which Abbotstown refuted), the Bohemians manager had said that he may have to put out a weakened team.

“Yes,” replied Fenlon when asked if he’d have played a different team but for the correspondence from the FAI. “We got a letter during the week saying that we had to, so I’d no choice. I’m not getting into it, we picked up a third trophy in under two years, it’s a fantastic achievement.”

It was Bohemians’ first win in the competition in 30 years and, perhaps more remarkably, the first time Fenlon and captain Owen Heary had won it in their medal-laden careers.

Killian Brennan scored twice inside half an hour before a mistake by Waterford goalkeeper Michael Devine gifted Neale Fenn the third goal to end the game as a contest by the 42nd minute.

A nervous start by the home side was punished by the eighth minute. Referee’s assistant Mark Gavin flagged for a free-kick on the edge of the area for a handball by John Kearney. Brennan nonchalantly dinked the dead ball over the wall to beat Devine.

Brennan doubled the lead on 30 minutes when sending Devine the wrong way from the penalty spot after Marc Hughes was pushed in the back by defender Kevin Murray as he latched onto Joseph Ndo’s pass.

Devine’s unfortunate howler brought the third goal. Former Waterford striker Fenn was given time and space to let fly from over 30 yards. Devine, despite getting two hands behind the ball, fumbled it in.

Admirably, Waterford attacked in the second half and scored a consolation goal on 79 minutes when Bohemians’ goalkeeper Brian Murphy failed to grasp Kearney’s deep free-kick and Graham Cummins set-up defender Kenny Browne to tap home.

Suitably roused, Waterford pressed over the remaining minutes and substitute Paul Walsh should have done better than shoot straight at Murphy before Cummins was narrowly wide with a 30-yard effort.

BOHEMIANS: B Murphy; Heary, Shelley, Oman, Powell; Brennan, Cronin, Keegan (McEvoy, 78 mins), Ndo (A Murphy, 71 mins); Hughes, Fenn (Crowe, 86 mins).

WATERFORD UNITED: Devine; Carey, Murray, Browne, Long (Waters, 69 mins); Warren (Walsh, 69 mins), Grant, Kearney; Sullivan, Cummins, Kiely.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).