SSE Airtricity League
Friday April 8 2022
Head In The Game Park, 7.45pm

Bohemians showed what they are capable of with a resilient team display in their victory out west away to Sligo Rovers on Tuesday night.

Now manager Keith Long has challenged his side to match those performance levels when they travel north to face Drogheda United this evening.

A brilliant run by Promise Omochere from inside his own half resulted in Liam Burt scoring the only goal of the game with a well-executed finish.

But that classy move was backed up by a resilient and determined defensive performance throughout, while Long’s side might have been disappointed not to have scored more having created chances to do so.

Long said: “Keeping clean sheets gives you a platform to win games and that is what we needed on Tuesday.

“We could have won by more – we had some great chances and their keeper did well against us in one v one situations too.

“But it was a resilient team performance, particularly in the second half.

“They showed great character and played really, really well in difficult conditions and on what is currently a difficult pitch to play on.

“The challenge now is that we have to follow that up with another good display but that performance will lift everyone’s confidence – they have shown themselves what they are capable of.”

They now face another away game in quick succession as Kevin Doherty’s Drogs provide the opposition at Head in the Game Park.

Long said: “It is another quick turnaround, Drogheda are very tough opponents and it is always a difficult place to go.

“They don’t give teams an inch on what is a tight pitch.

“But we are determined to continue where we left off on Tuesday night and the team are looking forward to trying to build on that performance.”

After an indifferent run of form in previous weeks, Long’s side were helped over the line at the Showgrounds by a big and vocal travelling support, who were noticeably audible from start to finish to those unable to travel who were watching the game on LOITV.

Long is hoping for more of the same tonight, adding: “We had brilliant travelling numbers behind us from the first whistle, which was especially appreciated by the players given Tuesday is a difficult time for people to travel to away games.

“That support is never taken for granted – those who travelled showed great commitment to the team and the players want to repay that faith.

“We know our allocation for Drogheda is sold out, so such a large travelling support will again give the players a big boost.”

TEAM NEWS

James Finnerty (knee), Stephen Mallon (ankle) and Ryan Cassidy (ankle) remain doubts, as is Rory Feely, who was forced off after just ten minutes on Tuesday.

SSE Airtricity League
Tuesday April 5 2022
The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
Live on LOITV

Keith Long has challenged his Bohemians side to sustain the performance levels he believes they are capable of right until the final whistle tonight when they travel to take on Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

On Friday night, Bohs’ first-half performance saw them deliver some of their best attacking football of the season when they hosted league leaders Derry City at Dalymount Park.

They bossed much of the first half, with Liam Burt giving them the lead on 25 minutes after some brilliant team play in the build-up.

But they were left cursing themselves that they went in at the break having failed to add to that goal when they had chances to extend their advantage.

Failure to convert those opportunities cost them in the second half when individual errors came back to haunt Bohs once more as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, with the visitors scoring in the 93rd minute.

It was a cruel way to lose a game, but Long said his side must dust themselves down, refocus, and recreate that first-half performance – except this time right until the full-time whistle blows.

Long said: “We need to repeat the first-half performance we had against Derry City over the entire 90 minutes.

“We were pleasing to watch in that first half. We showed what we are capable of and we made Derry, who are a really good side, look ordinary at times.

“We should have gone in at half-time further ahead but we then struggled in the second half.

“In the second half we didn’t keep the ball enough, retain possession enough, build attacks enough, and ultimately basic errors cost us the game.

“We weren’t a million miles off against a really good side – whoever finishes ahead of Derry City will win the league – but we know we have to deliver a consistent performance for the whole 90 minutes and cut out mistakes for results to improve.

“We work very hard to get ahead in games but it has been too easy for the opposition to get goals against us.

“But we are confident and determined in our ability to turn it around.”

TEAM NEWS

Jordan Doherty (illness), Stephen Mallon (ankle) and Ryan Cassidy (ankle) remain doubts.

James Mullins (ankle) is available once more, while Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe got his first runout for the club as a second half substitute on Friday following ankle and Achilles injuries.

This game will come too soon for James Finnerty (knee), who returned to training this week.

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
Friday April 4 2022
Dalymount Park, 7.45pm

Keith Long believes the hard work his side are putting in on the training ground will translate to better performances and results on the pitch.

One win, four draws and one defeat is not the start of the season Bohemians would have hoped for, and it does not get any easier tonight as league leaders and expected title challengers Derry City provide the opposition at Dalymount Park.

Long has been frustrated that Bohs failed to turn some of those draws into victories, but believes that there is talent and potential in his squad, and that they are working hard to improve.

Long said: “Recent performances have been below the standards we expect from ourselves but it is important to understand at this early stage of the season that it takes time to develop consistency in terms of performance with so many players coming and going from the club.

“Competitive games are the main driver as we look to improve and get better as a team.

“The players are invested in trying to get better and training since our last game has been very competitive and intense.

“We hope that will translate onto the pitch as I believe we are better than recent performances have suggested.

“We have a strong belief in what we are doing and how we operate. We come to work every day with passion, togetherness and with an aptitude and drive to learn and improve.

“We cannot predict everything but we will stick to our principles and work with the players with the understanding of knowing what makes players fulfil their potential.

“Tonight’s game will be a great challenge for us and how we want to play.

“Derry City are a well organised, disciplined team with high quality players in every position and have proved already this season they can win games in different ways.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohemians are without James Finnerty (knee), Jamie Mullins (ankle), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Achilles), Ryan Cassidy (ankle). Stephen Mallon (ankle) is a doubt. Forward Nickson Okosun is promoted to the first team.

SSE Airtricity Women’s National League
Saturday March 19 2022
Dalymount Park, 6pm

Bohemians’ first home game of the 2022 WNL season at Dalymount Park last week was a total washout.
But the team were still grateful to finally be playing in front of a real home crowd for the first time as 350 Bohs fans braved absolutely deplorable conditions to see them draw 1-1 with Athlone Town.

Erica Burke gave Bohs the lead in the first half, with Roisin Molloy equalising for the visitors just four minutes into the second half.

Manager Pat Trehy is hoping that the home support can be bettered later today when Bohs host Wexford Youths at 6pm on what is a fine spring evening.

He said: “It was impossible for either side to play how you would want to in that wind and rain last week.

“I think the 1-1 draw in such horrendous conditions was a fair result for both teams.

“But it was great to finally have a crowd behind the girls. They all really appreciated that so many made the effort to get down to the game in conditions like that.

“We hope that support can continue, it can give the team a real lift.

“It’s a much better evening for football for tonight’s game so we hope people can come out in numbers and get behind the team.”

This evening’s opponents are a club of real pedigree having won both the Women’s National League and FAI Women’s Cup four times in the past seven years.

Trehy added: “Wexford are a really talented side and have been for a number of years now.

“They’ve won trophies and have represented the country a number of times in the Champions League. So this is another big test for us against a talented and physical side.

“But it is one we are looking forward to. We have had a really good week’s training and the girls are in great form going into this evening’s game.”

• A reminder that members, season ticket holders and U12s can attend home WNL games for free. General admission is just €5. WNL games are also streamed free on LOITV. Please also note that Members’ Bar is open and that all drinks purchased can be consumed in the stand once in plastic glasses.

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
Friday April 18 2022
UCD Bowl, 5pm
Live on LOITV

Bohemians travel to Belfield this evening determined to get back to winning ways after disappointing results in two Dublin derbies.

Bohs first lost 1-0 away to Shamrock Rovers last Friday before salvaging a 1-1 draw at home to Shelbourne on Monday having fallen behind and gone down to 10 men.

While manager Keith Long has been disappointed with those performances and results, the hard graft he is seeing on the training ground and the resilience his side showed, despite being down a man, to claim a point against Shels give him confidence that form will improve.

Long said: “We had two disappointing results and the players are all working extremely hard – on the pitch, in the training ground and in our analysis of games – to improve performances.

“Shelbourne make things difficult for teams to break them down the way they set up to defend but it was a very poor goal for us to concede. But the players showed great resilience to bounce back from that and from going down to 10 men as well.

“We haven’t performed to our ability yet and drawing games is not where we want to be. Pitches across the league are very heavy at the moment, which affects the way we want to play but we know we can and have to play better regardless of that.

“We have kept a lot of possession in games but we need to be creating more in the box, and we need to be hitting the target.

“There has been plenty of effort but we haven’t shown the quality we are capable of yet – the execution of that final pass, working the opposition keeper.

“But I believe we will get stronger. The players are committed to improving performances. They want to play better and are training very well.

“They care about playing for Bohs, they are really up for it, and they are looking forward to the challenge.

“We are looking forward to playing UCD who are a young team but they try to play football the right way.

“We expect another big travelling crowd behind us in Belfield this evening – the support has been brilliant again this year – and it is up to us to excite those supporters and to bring them with us.”

TEAM NEWS

Rory Feely is suspended following his red card against Shelbourne on Monday, which sees Cian Byrne promoted to the first-team squad from the U19s as a result.

James Finnerty (knee) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (ankle) remain out but the latter returned to training this week.