Bohemians set to face Waterford in final four
A trip to Galway United stands between Derry City and the Aviva Stadium as two goals from Michael Duffy helped the Candystripes to come from behind to beat Dundalk at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Of all the players to step up to the plate in the aftermath of Tiernan Lynch’s departure, Duffy has undoubtedly stood out, with the double taking him to 12 goals for the season, including six of which have come in the last four games alone.
Dundalk started strongly in this FAI Cup quarter-final and took the lead in just 12 minutes when Shane Tracey latched onto a loose ball in the area from Bobby Burns’ corner to sweep the ball into the net.
City responded emphatically when Patrick McClean headed in from Duffy’s cross and the home side had the lead before half-time, when Ronan Tehan was penalised for handball after a slip in the area. Duffy’s successful penalty gave his team something to hold onto heading into the break.
Ciarán Kilduff made several changes to help his team gain temporary charge in the second-half, but it was a City substitute who made the real difference, as Kevin Dos Santos’s deflected effort beat Enda Minogue to make it 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining.
The win was then sealed by talisman Duffy with five minutes remaining, when the captain slammed in his second of the game to seal City’s first FAI Cup win over Dundalk since 1999.
Dundalk substitute Trevor Clarke almost pulled back a spectacular consolation, when his fiercely-hit volley from 20 yards smashed off the crossbar, but a second goal did follow when he set up Leo Gaxha for a tap in on 90 minutes.
In the other semi-final Bohemians were drawn at home against an in-form Waterford.
FAI Cup semi-finals
Bohemians v Waterford
Galway United v Derry City
Ties to take place on the weekend of October 9-11