O'Neill leaves Bohemians stunned

FAI Cup third round/ Bohemians 2; Wayside Celtic 2: A dramatic 91st minute equaliser from Damian O'Neill earned Wayside Celtic a most unlikely replay at the Carlisle Grounds on Tuesday night to leave Bohemians utterly stunned.

Seemingly cushioned by Stephen Ward's first half brace of goals, Bohemians contrived to allowed the Leinster Senior League side back into this match as an inspired Robbie O'Dowd in the Wayside goal prevented a rout.

Back in the game following Wayne Callaghan's 67yh minute goal, Alan McHugh flicked on a corner and central defender O'Neill blasted the ball home off a post to ecstatic celebrations.

Bohemians have only themselves to blame as they blew a 2-0 half-time lead. Having wasted a glut of other chances, Bohemians allowed Wayside back into the match with a super goal from Wayne Callaghan on 67 minutes.

As with the equaliser, Bohemians failed to clear a corner and Ian Callaghan worked the ball back into the box for brother Wayne to turn and rifle to the roof of the net.

The result belied much of the opening hour of the game as any notion of a shock appeared to be quickly dispelled as Bohemians overwhelmed Wayside - whose season has just begun - from the start and should have been several goals further ahead than their 2-0 lead at half time.

The lead came four minutes in when the Wayside's defence was marked absent as Des Byrne's ball threaded through to Ward who swept his shot past O'Dowd.

Duggan had Harkin in on goal six minutes later with O'Dowd having to save with his feet before the Bohemians winger's eventful start to the game saw him shave the Wayside crossbar with a free-kick from long range a further two minutes in.

Ironically, Wayside almost levelled on 21 minutes in their first attack of the game as Gary Smith was denied by Matt Gregg.

Normal service resumed at the other end, but Bohemians were again guilty of another bad miss by Grant. However, the hosts were guilty of a lack of concentration at the back as Wayside wasted a second chance to equalise on 34 minutes. Smith's clever back heel gave Kavanagh a clear sight of goal. The hurried shot was blazed over the bar.

The game was then surely over for Wayside within a minute as they conceded a soft second goal. Harkin's corner wasn't dealt with and Ward pounced to volley powerfully to the roof of the net.

O'Dowd rescued Celtic to make terrific saves from Harkin and John Paul Kelly before the break. Duggan might have made it 3-0 almost 10 minutes into the second half, shaving the Celtic bar again with a close range volley.

Wayside didn't lie down and the burly Smith shot wide before substitute Chai Thain curled narrowly over.

With Callaghan having got Waysdie back into the match, O'Dowd made a stunning one-handed stop to deprive Ward of his hat-trick on 76 minutes before regg had to make a vital stop with his feet from Wayside substitute Collie Emmett a minute later.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Palmer, Oman, Byrne; Harkin, Kelly, Hunt, Duggan (Farrelly, 72 mins); Grant, Ward.

WAYSIDE CELTIC: O'Dowd; Simpson, Sharkey, O'Neill, Gill (Flynn, 55 mins); Kavanagh, Hyland (Thain, half-time), I Callaghan, W Callaghan; McHugh, Smith (Emmett, 76 mins).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).