Bohemians booked their place in the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup Final with an impressive win over an excellent Treaty United side as 1,102 inside Dalymount were treated to an enthralling encounter.
A first-half double from Leiagh Glennon and Katie Lovely was enough to give their fans yet another Cup final day out.
But with their own first ever Cup final within tantalising reach, the in-form visitors, unbeaten in their last seven stretching back to July, made a hugely impressive start keeping the ball for long spells in a bid to quieten the raucous flare wielding home support.
The hosts had tremendous patience, holding their shape and waited for the right moments to spring a number of counter-attacks through the pacey attacking trio of Glennon, Sarah McKevitt and Alannah McEvoy as a finely-balanced chess match developed.
With little in the way of goalmouth action it took until the 20th minute for the home side to draw first blood when the exciting Glennon burst down the left, showing food feet to cut inside Clodagh Daly and saw her low drive squirm under the unfortunate LiisaTuomi in the Treaty goal.
Looking to get to their second showpiece final of the season, Alban Hysa's young guns were looking to make amends for the penalty shoot-out defeat in Wexford and go one further in this competition and deservedly doubled their lead just after the half hour mark.
A short corner routine saw Hannah Healy tee up McKevitt who, in turn swung in a low cross from the right. Ayaka Ikeza swung to clear but didn’t connect properly, allowing Katie Lovely to spin and volley home expertly from inside the area.
The game was almost out of sight for the visitors and their sizeable travelling support when Healy raced through on goal but just as she got inside the area, Tuomi was brave as she smothered the Irish under-19 international in the nick of time.
Half-time brought a formation change as Sean Russell went to four at the back but more noticeable saw his side shift much further up the pitch and almost paid immediate dividends when in, almost identical fashion to her last minute winner in Dalymount back in June, Katie Lawlee struck a thunderous effort from 25 yards out but saw the effort come crashing off the post and away to safety.
Pressure was ramping up as the Limerick side threw everything to halve the deficit, but there was some good news for the home side as Katie McCarn, feared to be out for the season, made a quicker than expected return for the last 20 minutes.
Alban Hysa’s cleverly-timed substitutes took the sting out of the Treaty resurgence as his fresh legs almost added a third when Savannah Kane’s looping header was athletically tipped over by Tuomi
But Bohs saw out the remaining minutes in professional manner to ensure their fans get another day out, this time in Tallaght on 19 October.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly; Sarah Power, Lisa Murphy, Roisin McGovern, Katie Lovely; Aoibhe Brennan, Fiona Donnelly; Sarah McKevitt (Katie McCarn, 68’), Hannah Healy (Katie Malone, 75’), Leiagh Glennon (Hannah O’Brien, 58’); Alannah McEvoy (Savannah Kane, 58’)
Subs not used: Jenna Willoughby, Robin Baird, Lillian Rusher, Emma Gaughran, Michelle Muddiman
Treaty United: Liisa Maria Tuomi; Clodagh Daly, Mara McCleary, Aibhlinn Cotter (Gillian Keenan, 46’); Kate Jones, Madison McGuane, Jillian O’Toole, Ayaka Ikeza; Katie Lawlee, Isabella Flocchini; Madelyn Robins
Subs not used: Ruby Linnane, Grace McInerney, Anna Rockett, Kate O’Donovan, Cara Griffin, Amy Tierney, Ciara Breslin, Laura O’Neill, Gillian Keenan
Referee: Darragh White
