JASON McGUINESS booked Sligo Rovers’ place in the FAI Cup final as the Bit O’ Red defeated Bohs at Dalymount Park.

And when the pressure came on strongest in this game, they upped the tempo and played their best football in the second half, deservedly taking a 73rd minute lead, which ultimately proved decisive.

While McGuinness, rightly, deserves the accolades for turning the ball in from a tight angle, praise too must be directed towards Richie Ryan, whose deep cross created the chance in the first place.

And therein lay the difference between these sides. In Ryan and Joesph Ndo, Sligo had a creative edge whereas it is significant that Bohs’ best player was a defender, Ger O’Brien.

Still, on reflection, Bohs can be proud of their performance, indeed their season – especially considering how young their team is – five of them being aged 21 or younger.

However it wasn’t nerves which outdid them. It was quality – Sligo simply having marginally more than it.

And in truth they could have won be more. There was Aaron Greene's superb low cross from the left which just eluded the stretching leg of sub, Mathew Blinkhorn, in the 63rd minute.

McGuinness too came close to scoring after a free kick from Ndo. Then there was John Russell’s disallowed goal in the first half – when he got a touch to Aaron Greene’s superb low strike.

From Bohs’ perspective, the disappointment of defeat was compounded by the fact they created so few chances. Ollie Cahill had one which went just wide. Otherwise there was little to note – leaving Sligo to clinch the deal, and their third successive FAI Cup final.

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Rossiter, O’Brien, Heary, Cahill; Hurley, Cronin, Brennan, Traynor (Burke 90), Forrester; Downes.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness,  Davoren; Ndo, Ryan, Russell (Blinkhorn 64), Ventre (Dillon 66), Greene (Cretaro 88), Doyle.

REFEREE: D Hancock (Dublin)