Bohemians 2 Derry City 2 (aet, Bohs won 4-2 on penalties):Bohemians wrapped up the double in exhilarating fashion at the RDS as Pat Fenlon's side won the Ford FAI Cup in a penalty shoot-out after 120 incident-packed minutes failed to separate the two sides.
It was the first time in the 88 years of the Cup that it was decided by spot kicks, with Bohs goalkeeper Brian Murphy saving two from Kevin Deery and Ruaidhri Higgins before Lithuanian substitute Mindaugas Kalonas smashed home the winner for the Dublin side.
After a goalless first half, the game exploded to life after an hour, with all four goals coming in a frenetic 16 minute period.
Sammy Morrow put the Candystripes ahead when he smashed a free-kick through a poor Bohs wall and past a stranded Murphy.
Glen Crowe levelled four minutes later when a Jason Byrne corner avoided everyone to hit the post and present the big striker with the simplest of tap-ins.
Bohemians took the lead in controversial circumstances when Morrow was adjudged to have handled by referee Anthony Buttimer on 70 minutes. It was a harsh decision as the player stood little chance of getting his hand out of the way after heading into the ground from another corner.
With man of the match Niall McGinn is stunning form, Derry came back to claim the equaliser six minutes later, when Morrow shot home on the half-volley after making space at the far post.
A delighted Fenlon claimed the quality of football in the game was a great tonic after a year when the game has taken a pounding off the pitch.
"It was a fantastic game of football, it's been a hard season but I think the players today showed what this league is all about today. It was a hard way to lose it for Derry but I'm chuffed for my players. It's fantastic to win a double in the first year at the club.
Fenlon took time out to priase Murphy's performance between the posts. "He's different class, he's been like that all season and he made a couple of great saves in the penalties and a couple during the game."
