WELL then, two happy managers. It's not often that you get that after a cup match. On this occasion, though, that's exactly what was being claimed with Alfie Hale apparently content just to get on with steering his side back into the Premier Division and Turlough O'Connor, a little more predictably, pleased that his team had made it through a potentially tricky tie in Kilkenny.

As it happened both men might easily have had their plans for the weeks ahead turned, upside down by yesterday's game which, after a first half that Bohemians entirely dominated, defended with the home side completely on top and deserving on the run of play to edge the contest into extra time and towards a possible replay.

Bohemians, though, who had led by two at the break, held on, through some nail biting moments towards the end to progress. That, on the day, was enough for O Connors who was more anxious to point to his side's supremacy in the first period than to dwell on their shortcomings in the second.

"I thought that the first half was super, we ed exceptionally well and could have been three or, four up. In the second, we made it difficult for ourselves and they got a goal. But our back four always looked good," he said.

At the break, sure enough, it, seemed that the entire home team could be left out there for the rest of the afternoon with just Robbie Best, and James Coll to beat without ever, getting anywhere. Dave Henderson had barely one stop to make before the break as his side enjoyed the great majority of possession, and they had little difficulty keeping the ball well inside the home side's half.

City also tended to cause themselves considerable problems by defending so deeply, and it was, generally only by weight of numbers around their box that they managed to break down the majority of Bohemians attacks.

With a goalkeeper who tended to stand a little too far forward of his, line, however the always looked vulnerable, and after Peter Hanrahan shad overhit his attempt to lob Ashley, Richardson in the seven minute it only seemed to be a matter of time before somebody would try it again.

Sure enough, Paul Doolin managed interchange with John Ryan on the edge of the area, and after 25 more minutes of near constant pressure, in which Richardson had done well more than once, the visitors doubled their advantage through a close range Derek McGrath goal that, ended a neat passing move down the right.

At that point there only seemed, one side capable of adding to the score, but as soon as they returned for the second half it was clear that Kilkenny were determined to play their way back into the game. Within 90 seconds they had made a food start with a wonderfully weighted, angled cross from Brian Arrigan which dropped behind the Dubliners defence for Aidan Cooney who dived headlong to guide it into the net.

From then on there was little let up in the pressure on the Premier Division outfit. But, while City's two wide players who linked up for the goal caused a lot of problems, Best and Coil held up well. As Kilkenny struggled to create any really clear cut chances, at the other end Brian Mooney and Swan both went close on the break.

Despite the prospect of repeating yesterday's attendance of 4,000 in the course of a Cup run, Hale declared.

"I'm happy, we didn't get into a draw situation. I'd usually be the first one, to say that's crazy, but the league is the main thing for us and I'm happy to be able to concentrate on it.

Bohemians, meanwhile, maintain their interest in both competitions although many more naps like this against sides with more cutting strike forces and that is not a situation, that will last for too long.