SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Monday June 5 2023
Turner’s Cross, 5pm
Match tickets can be purchased here

Declan Devine said Bohemians did not have time to celebrate Friday’s win against Sligo Rovers as focus immediately turned to another tough game away to Cork City at Turner’s Cross.

After a frustrating four-game run without a win – defeats against Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, and draws against Dundalk and Shelbourne – Bohs got back to winning ways in style against the Bit O’Red at Dalymount.

Goals from James Clarke and Declan McDaid were enough to secure all three points in what was a dominant display by the home side, which sees them three points off the top of table with a game in hand.

Devine said: “I was delighted with the performance and delighted with the intensity of our game. It was a really positive performance. I think we’ve been playing a lot like that in games previously but without the cutting edge that we saw on Friday.

“If anything, I was slightly disappointed that we didn’t add more goals. We’ve had two great chances from headers. We’ve entered into the final third on many occasions and, again, we were just missing that final shot or final ball in at times.

“But I am absolutely delighted with the application of the players. We asked them to be right at it from the start. That was something we knew we had to improve on, and we certainly did that. I think we scared our opponents early on.

“I knew that it was gonna be a tough night if we didn’t start right. Sligo are a good side who play a really good brand of football and it was just important for us to put on a display for our fans and for ourselves, and just to get back on that horse of winning games.”

James Akintunde showed once more what a loss he was during his nine-game lay-off with a hamstring injury.

He gave supporters a taste of what they were missing during his cameo appearance off the bench the previous week against Shels, but really stamped his authority against Sligo when he started up front in the absence of Johnny Afolabi and Dean Williams.

Having dropped back, it was Akintunde’s stunning cross-field ball, having cut inside his marker, to Kris Twardek that eventually set up Clarke for Bohs’ opener.

Devine said: “James Akintunde is a special person and a special player. He plays in two or three different positions and, wherever he plays, he’s a brilliant team-mate and a brilliant player to coach.

“He’s very strong and he’s very team-oriented. He puts his body on the line for others around him. Not only can he be a cutting edge but he’s also very creative, in terms of how he plays, but his general play and his ability to lift the group and hurt opposition has certainly been missed.

“Again, we had to take him off after 60 minutes – we couldn’t take a risk.

“But he is a player that I was absolutely delighted to bring to the club and hopefully people can see why. I think he can be part of the furniture of this club for a very long time and somebody that the fans can really hold in high esteem.”

And Devine was similarly pleased to see Clarke on the scoresheet, and praised the 22-year-old for responding in the right way to the disappointment of not playing as regularly so far this season as he might have hoped for.

Devine said: “James has come in and he’s done really well. We have to understand the competition for the midfield places we have here. You can only pick three or four at any given time.

“But, by God, he took to it on Friday and he certainly deserved his goal.

“I love him, I think he’s such a class lad and you know what, he’s taken his disappointment at not starting and channeled that in the right way. He came in on Friday and has certainly given everybody something to think about.”

So too has supersub McDaid, who, with Williams ruled out and Afolabi carrying a knock, played in an unfamiliar role leading the line when he replaced Akintunde on the hour-mark.

He looked at ease in the position though and, much to the delight of his family who traveled over from Scotland for the game, got on the scoresheet once more to put the victory beyond doubt.

Devine said: “I said to him before the game, ‘your family’s come over and are in the stand – make sure you go and get a goal!’

“And he deserves it so much because he has worked so hard. Again, we have so much competition for places but he is a player who gives everything he’s got in training and gives everything he’s got when he comes into the team.

“It’s very much a team game. I’m delighted that we have the opportunity to bring players off the bench in many different positions. I’m delighted for John O’Sullivan coming on for a cameo role as well because everybody’s working so hard.”

Neither Devine or his players had time to dwell on Friday’s win though – they were straight back in over the weekend to do their homework ahead of the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Turner’s Cross to face Cork City.

Bohs kicked off their 2023 league campaign with a 2-1 victory on Leeside and followed it up with a 5-0 win when the sides met at Dalymount Park in April. But Devine conceded that Cork being reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes when the sides were level contributed to the eventual lopsided scoreline.

City have rallied in recent weeks too – enjoying victory at home to Shamrock Rovers last week and away to Drogheda United on Friday.

Devine added: “It’s all about dusting down and making sure you don’t go overboard on celebrations because we have a huge game now in Turner’s Cross.

“Cork have certainly stepped up a little gears over the last couple of weeks. They gave us a tough game down there, and when we played them in Dalymount, up until the sending-off, there wasn’t much in the game.

“If you go to Cork with any other mindset than knowing it will be difficult to win in Turner’s Cross, then you are in for a long night.

“We know we have to be absolutely at our best. We have to be ruthless in our approach, and we have to give a real high level of performance to come away from Turner’s Cross with a result.’’

TEAM NEWS

James McManus returns from suspension, but Dean Williams (ankle) and Dylan Connolly (ribs) remain out, while Johnny Afolabi (ankle) remains a doubt.