Bohemian Football Club Crest

@bfcdublin It was a tale of two Christophers as Forrester and Fagan dismissed Shelbourne from the Leinster Senior Cup on Tuesday, Brian Trench reports.

The goals came late but they were just reward for the patient and mature play of a youthful Bohemians side.

Having resisted Shelbourne's second-half efforts to raise the pace and force of their game, Bohemians scored on 87 minutes when Fagan laid off to Forrester on the edge of the penalty area. Forrester turned and put the ball beyond the Shelbourne goalkeeper's reach, low to his right.

Not content with this, Bohemians continued to press forward and, well into injury time, Fagan once again tormented the Shelbourne defence with a twisting, turning run along the end line. He drew the foul from Mathews and put away the resulting penalty.

Shelbourne, the runaway First Division leaders, came into this semi-final stung by FAI Cup defeat to AUL side Sherriff YC. Bohemians stuck with an A Championship side managed by ex-Shels stalwart Owen Heary.

The young team showed no deference to larger physique or longer experience as they ran at the Shels back line.

Gary Burke was sometimes dispossessed but came back for more, contriving to hold the ball and lay it off to Fagan when surrounded by two or more defenders.

Keith Buckley was winning ball in midfield and getting in threatening crosses from the right, Forrester showed his usual high work-rate and skill and Kevin Feely marked his 19th birthday with a magnificent display at the back.

There were few serious goal opportunities for either side in the first half, though Shelbourne hit the bar with a Lorcan Fitzgerald free midway through the half. Fagan finished the first period with a left-footed shot that was deflected wide of the post.

Bohemians had been building midfield moves of five, six and more passes while Shelbourne relied more on quick release forward but they were very largely restricted to shots from distance.

The second half was played at a higher tempo and the play moved from end to end. Burke was replaced after an hour's hard shift by Lee Dixon who drove strongly towards Shels' penalty area, creating openings for Buckley or himself to cross.

Fagan had several shots and one header on or near target, keeping the pressure on Shels at the back while they tried to strengthen their attack through substitution.

Shelbourne became increasingly unsettled as Bohemians continued to move the ball around, eventually unlocking the opponents' defence.

Heary has fashioned a side playing attractive football at a high level. They fully deserve their tilt at a trophy when they play the LSC final against St Patrick's Athletic or Killester United.

BOHEMIANS: Sexton; O'Reilly, Lopes, Feely, Rossiter; Buckley, McEvoy, Hurley (Traynor, 92), Forrester; Burke (Dixon, 62), Fagan. Subs not used: Chambers, Fowler, Seery, Mahon, Brady.

SHELBOURNE: Skinner; Mathews, Boyle, Paisley, Fitzgerald; Conan Byrne (Mulhall, 78), Ryan, Cassidy, Clancy; Sullivan (Da Silva, 89), Bermingham. Subs not used: McGill, James, Sean Byrne, Hughes, Delaney.