Shelbourne hold off Bohs to return to FAI Cup final

Shelbourne withstood a late barrage of Bohemians pressure to book their place in a second successive EVOKE.ie FAI Cup final in November.

Noelle Murray's first-half penalty proved the difference in a closely-fought contest in front of a club-record 796 attendance at Tolka Park.

The striker hit the bottom corner from 12 yards after Niamh Prior had clipped Abbie Larkin in the box just before the half-hour.

It was the spark the game needed as there had been little goalmouth action early on as the two teams cancelled one another out.

Abbie Brophy called Shels’ ’keeper Amanda Budden into action with a speculative effort inside the first minute, while Bohs’ stopper Rachael Kelly denied Murray from close range.

There was nothing the former Reds 'keeper could do about Murray’s penalty, however, planted firmly in the corner after Prior inadvertently trod on Larkin’s foot.

Shels' captain Pearl Slattery - who became the second Reds player to reach 150 appearances for the club - headed over from a Murray corner nine minutes from the break.

And Emma Starr went close with a shot from range in injury time following neat touches from Murray and Leah Doyle.

Shels - while far from their slick-passing best - continued to create the clearer chances in the second half.

16-year-old Lia O’Leary burst through on the left from Starr’s pass and looked to pull back for Murray, only for Katie Lovely to make a vital interception.

Bohs began to bear their teeth in the final quarter and sounded a warning when Lisa Murphy drove a 30-yard free kick inches past the post.

Ann-Marie Byrne, who replaced Prior on the left wing at half time, showed neat footwork to dance between two tackles before flashing a shot over.

And another sub, Aoife Robinson, couldn’t keep her