The Seagulls come to Friday’s game with just one win in the league in 14 matches. But that victory came last week against UCD and Heary knows Bray will give them a fight.

“They’ll be looking at this game and saying, if they win, they’re only a couple of points off us, though we have games in hand.

“We have to keep our heads on. Bray will be missing a few players but we mustn’t start to think, ‘This will be easy’.”

Games against Bray have marked important turning points for Bohemians this season and last. Heary started his tenure as Bohemian manager with a 3-1 victory in Bray in July 2013.

A 5-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds in June was Bohs’ best result of this season and started a run of seven leagues matches unbeaten in nine.

Dinny Corcoran scored a hat-trick in that match and last week he kept up his impressive strike record with a “another cracking goal” against league leaders Dundalk.

“Facing Dundalk with some key players missing, the lads put in a tremendous performance. We just got a bit tired in the last 15 minutes,” said Heary.

“We have shown we’re capable of giving anyone a good game on the day. If we lose and we have given it everything, like last week, we’ll hold up our hands say, ‘Fair enough’.

“The pleasing thing for me is that the players came off disappointed, and that shows you how far we have come. They’re coming off saying they should have got something from the game.”

Dave Mulcahy returns for Friday but Steven Beattie (suspension) must sit out one more match. Anto Murphy (ankle) and Dan Byrne (cruciate) remain on the long-term injury list.

After three matches in eight days, Bohemians face into seven games over a month but Heary is proud of how his squad have faced the rigours of league and cup campaigns. “It’s a tough schedule but the lads have stood up well to it.”

Former Bray icon Jason Byrne has played consecutive games and “he’s enjoying it”, according to his long-time associate, Heary. “He’s playing with a smile on his face and I’m sure he’ll start hitting the net again.”

With the glut of matches Heary expects to use his full squad. But the younger players who are also in the senior squad now have a new under-19 campaign starting this week.

Former Drogheda United manager Robbie Horgan took over this week from Bobby Browne as under-19 manager. “I want to thank Bobby for everything he has done for the club and to wish Robbie and the under-19s the very best of luck for this season,” said Heary.

Pic by Eddie Lennon – eddielennonsportingimages.com