Bohemian Football Club Crest

@bfcdublin The Leinster Senior Cup is the oldest competition in Irish football, writes Cillian Shields. It returned last year after a 10-year absence, with Shelbourne taking the glory after beating Bray Wanderers in the final. 

This year’s final will take place on Monday in Dalymount Park, when St Patrick’s Athletic travel across town to take on Bohemians.

Bohs have won the competition more than any other team; a total of 31 occasions. Shels are second in that list, winning it 19 times. Between the 1893/94 and 1916/17 seasons, nobody bar Dublin's two oldest clubs won the competition.

The first round that the Gypsies were involved in in this edition was a home quarter-final against arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers. This fixture was originally scheduled for April, but was postponed several times before eventually taking place on July 4th.

The first-team line-ups of Bohs and Rovers this season show massive differences in the clubs' respective resources and finances; the Hoops' squad is widely considered by far the best in the country. But the starting XIs for this last-eight tie were even more contrasting.

Bohemians have been playing their 'A-team' in this cup; a reserve team, with an emphasis on blooding youth and against Rovers, the team playing for A-team boss Owen Heary had an average age of just 19. Many of those playing that day had just finished secondary school the previous month.

In contrast, the Rovers team included many big names. First team players like Dan Murray, Chris Turner, Paddy Kavanagh and Stephen O’Donnell – scorer of the winning penalty in Rovers' Europa League victory over Partizan Belgrade – all started for the visitors.

Even the David who defeated Goliath didn’t fancy Bohs’ chances.

The first half ended with Rovers leading 1-0 through a goal from Dean Kelly. Yet 20-year-old Ryan McEvoy volleyed home to level the score in the second half to bring the game to extra time.

The balance of play was relatively even in the last nail-biting 30 minutes, but one would have expected the professionalism and experience of Rovers to shine through against the young Bohemians. 

But Trinity College student Kevin Feely had other ideas. The centre-back smashed the ball into the back of the net four minutes before the end of the 120 minutes. Despite the odds, the young, inexperienced and almost entirely amateur Bohs team had beaten the pros.

After the game, the emotions on the faces of Chris Forrester and McEvoy - both Bohs fans as well as players - and their team-mates showed that they all played with their hearts on their sleeves. They were a team with a lot of spirit and pride in the jersey, all playing for one another.

Bohs’ semi-final was also played in Dalymount Park; another Dublin derby, this time against a Shelbourne side flying high in the First Division.

Once again, the A-team took to the field but this time around, first-team players Christy Fagan and Mark Rossiter started the game for Heary’s side.

Shels started the game with a predominantly first-choice team. Striker Philip Hughes was the main notable absentee from the side that still included the likes of Stephen Paisley, Ian Ryan and David Cassidy.

Bohs overcame the Reds 2-0, with both goals coming late in a drab affair. However, what was worth the admission price alone was the first goal for Bohs; Forrester collected a pass outside the box, shifted his body and had a look up at the goal.

Without much else to think about, Forrester let loose a fantastic shot that hit off the side of the post before hitting the back of the net. The creative winger provided a wonderful moment of inspiration to send his team to the final, before Fagan made sure of the result moments later.

The decider will also be held in Dalyer; Bohs' third Dublin derby in a row in the competition. It will be the A-team that will feature again and for the effort that they have put in so far, they really deserve a cup final at the end of their season.

There’s also a chance that some senior players returning from injury could feature. Fagan and Rossi have been bereft of first-team minutes of late, so they could play again like they did against Shels last time out.

For St Pat’s, they lined out with a full strength side against non-league side Killester on two occasions. First, they played in Killester’s home pitch and could only draw 2-2. There had to be a replay due to fading light and Killester's lack of floodlights. 

In the Richmond Park replay, Sean O’Connor scored twice to go with goals from Danny North and Dave Mulcahy to ease St Pat's past the amateur side and into the final.

Pete Mahon has complained about the timing of this fixture, coming four days before the Saints are scheduled to play Shelbourne in the semi-final of the FAI Cup. The FAI Cup tie will take priority over the Leinster Senior Cup, so the Pat’s team is expected to feature reserve and Under-20 team players.

So far, a team averaging an age of 19 have beaten the League of Ireland champions, an 18-year-old scored a goal of the season contender and now the Gypsies are entering into a third Dublin derby in a row; this year’s Leinster Senior Cup is packed with that “Cup Romance” feeling. Make sure you don't miss it.