Graham Coughlan works his magic again as Waterford dump Bohemians out of FAI Cup

FAI Cup semi-final Bohemians 0 - 2 Waterford A game of two halves and, for a bunch of footballers from Waterford, the game of their lives. The club's drama-filled season saw another plot twist, with the dismissal of Bohemians putting the Blues into the FAI Cup final for only the second time in 46 years. Having endured a torrid first half, where they could have been at least 4-0 down at the break had Bohs been even a tad more clinical in front of goal, Graham Coughlan's side turned the tie around. A two-goal blast in seven minutes early in the second half was a salvo Bohs had no answer to. The Waterford squad deserved every bit of applause from the away fans. Given that his mission when he took over a flailing side from Jon Daly in May was to just keep the team in the top division, Coughlan made another case for his coronation as manager of the year. Coughlan and team captain Pádraig Amond enjoyed many good days in the FA Cup in their time across the water, but they've taken that into the FAI Cup and combined to leave Blues supporters (whisper it) thinking of Europe. With Bohs staying quiet as a squad this week due to a bizarre self-imposed media ban, Waterford did their talking on the pitch and had all the right words. Waterford fans had travelled to Dublin in numbers, hoping their impressive attack of Amond and Ireland U-21 hero Tommy Lonergan could cause more havoc against a Dublin club. But for a long spell, those supporters in blue were as starved of good moments as the Lonergan/Amond axis was of the ball. The Bohs back line snuffed out any hint of a threat in that first half. In fact, Bohs keeper Paul Walters was a spectator for long spells, while Waterford's Stephen McMullan, back on club duty after a successful international window with Northern Ireland's U-21s, was a busy man. McMullan was called on as early as the fourth minute when Douglas James-Taylor got a clear sight of goal but had his shot saved, with McMullan on hand to clear the danger soon after when an insightful ball from Dawson Devoy sent Connor Parsons clear. Noah Mawene of Waterford, right, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal © Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile The Blues keeper saved again on 11 minutes from a long-range Jordan Flores shot, while on 22 minutes Flores was the creator, putting in a cross that Cian Byrne headed wide. On 34 minutes Bohs upped the tempo and James-Taylor should really have scored in a one-on-one situation but McMullan came out on top. Soon after that Waterford had defender John Mahon to thank for clearing off the line from a Pat Hickey effort. Bohs had one more go before the Blues had the relief of the half-time break. Ross Tierney's header was on target but saved by McMullan. The second half had a different script as Waterford raced into a 2-0 lead in seven minutes, both from dismal defending by the home side. On 50 minutes, the danger seemed limited when Benny Couto put in a long throw, but the clearance by James-Taylor only went as far as Noah Mawene, who fired the ball through a forest of bodies and past Walters. It was his first goal for the club. Home fans demanded a response, but Waterford were sharper. Bohs asleep at the back as Amond on the break played a deft pass to Lonergan. Hickey was off balance, and Lonergan was not going to waste the chances that the profligate James-Taylor had done earlier. The U-21 cap delivered a third goal in four days following his role in sending the Ireland side into the Euro play-offs. And the rest of the night followed the same pattern. An utterly unconvincing Bohs were wasteful when they had chances like those for Devoy and Hickey, while remaining wide open at the back. Only the upright denied sub Jonas Voilas a third goal on 84 minutes, and he went close again in injury time. Their double dream now over, Bohs regroup to face Shamrock Rovers on Monday to try and stay in the title race. With Premier Division safety secured, Waterford can sit back and enjoy the build-up to their first Cup final since 2004.