“We know them, they know us. So the knowledge probably cancels each other out.”

BOHEMIANS v SHELBOURNE
Extra.ie FAI Cup, Friday August 8 2019, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Match sponsor: AW Ennis.
Matchball sponsor: Celtic Whiskey Shop and Wines on the Green

It has been six years since Dublin’s oldest rivals faced each other in a game of note.

But despite that void, there will be many faces familiar to Dalymount Park lining out for Shelbourne tonight.

A far cry from the ding-dong title-deciding derbies of the noughties, Bohemians and Shels last faced off in a game that really mattered in 2013 when both were fighting relegation.

Shels’ 3-0 win at Dalymount in June of that year was the beginning of the end for then Bohs boss Aaron Callaghan.

That result was reversed three months later when the Gypsies, then under the guidance of Owen Heary, made amends at Tolka Park.

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Bohs fans in Tolka Park in 2013. Pic: Paul Reynolds

Bohs fans in Tolka Park in 2013. Pic: Paul Reynolds

Bohs went on to beat the drop, while Heary’s former side slid out of the division once more. Both clubs were at a low ebb at the time with multi-million debts and uncertain futures.

But with those debts largely cleared now and with a groundshare at a redeveloped Dalymount on the horizon, there is renewed belief and optimism in both camps.

Bohs, under the dedicated stewardship of Keith Long, are pushing for a place in Europe, while Shels, in former Gypsy Ian Morris’ first season in management, are on course to win promotion back to the Premier Division.

There have been insignificant meetings in the EA Sports and Leinster Senior cups in the intervening years, but tonight sees Dublin’s oldest derby elevated to top billing once more.

Bohs had the bragging rights the last time the sides met in this competition – Paddy Madden scoring the only goal of the game at Dalymount Park in 2010.

But Shels had the more significant victory a decade earlier in 2000, with Pat Fenlon – a Bohs cup winner as a player in 1992 and as a manager in 2008 – scoring the winner in Dalymount Park the last time a cup final replay was used to determine the winners of the competition.

Bohs vice-captain Keith Buckley is a veteran of those relegation six-pointers in 2013 and so too are some of the players likely to line out for Shels tonight – albeit they donned the red and black of Bohs six years ago.

Dean Delany, Dan Byrne, Luke Byrne and Karl Moore all played their part in keeping Bohs in the top flight that season.

But tonight they and a total of nine ex-Bohs men in the Shels first-team squad – Colin McCabe, Lorcan Fitzgerald, John Ross Wilson, Derek Prendergast and Oscar Brennan being the others – will come to Dalymount with a point to prove against their former employers.

Throw in the fact Shels manager Morris and his assistant Jason McGuinness are also formerly of this parish, you could field an entire Shels XI made up of former Bohemians.

Bar his one season with Bray Wanderers in 2017, Bucko has been with Bohs since 2010 and has played alongside most of them during that time.

He said: “There are a lot of familiar faces. More than half their squad have been with us at some point.

“We know them, they know us. So the knowledge probably cancels each other out. There’s no advantage there for either side.

“I haven’t been talking to any of them, even lads I’d be close to like Luke Byrne. Once the draw was made you want to focus on the game, you don’t want distractions.

“But I know both sets of fans were delighted to draw each other, it has the makings of a good cup tie.

“It should be a great atmosphere. It’s been a long time since the clubs played each other in a big game like this so hopefully the place is hopping.

“Going back through the years when I was growing up, Bohs v Shels was a huge fixture but it’s been a long time since it was this big.

“It’s a one-off game. They’ve a lot of ex-Bohs lads who might feel they have a point to prove so we have to be at our best.

“And it’s not just that. They’re a good side too. They’ve players who have won leagues and cups, the likes of Ciaran Kilduff, Conan Byrne and Lorcan, so we expect a tough game.”

Shels come into the game five points clear at the top of the First Division. Confidence will be high, despite stuttering with a 1-0 defeat away to Cobh Ramblers last week.

But Bohs have faltered themselves. Having occupied third spot for 15 weeks, they were leapfrogged by Derry City having come undone away to Finn Harps last Friday.

Manager Long described the defeat as ‘not good enough’ and Buckley, who missed the game with a hamstring injury, agrees.

He said: “We’ve had a bad result ourselves so we have to prove a point ourselves too. It wasn’t an acceptable result. Harps are a very good side at home to be fair but we have to step up in those kind of games.

“We all need to step up, every one of us, no matter who is playing.”

Bucko celebrates magical quarter-final in the Brandywell last season. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Bucko celebrates magical quarter-final in the Brandywell last season. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Bohs had a memorable run to the semi-finals of this competition last term.

They were 1-0 up against Cork City and moments from reaching the final until a controversial penalty decision forced a replay.

But they didn’t have enough against the then reigning league champions in Turner’s Cross, despite a wonder goal from the man sitting in the hotseat in the opposition dugout tonight.

Fans are still dreaming of ending an 11-year wait to win the competition once more. But Bucko says the players won’t fall into the trap of thinking that far ahead.

He added: “Every year you want to get to the final but this is only the first round.

“If you look too far ahead, you’ll end up on your arse. It’s the first round – one game – and that’s all we are thinking about right now.”

TEAM NEWS

Skipper Derek Pender remains suspended but Paddy Kirk returns from his one-match ban.

Keith Buckley returns from a hamstring injury, while Rob Cornwall (also hamstring) is available for selection also having been named on the bench against Harps last week after a lengthy lay-off.

Ryan Swan (hamstring) and Kevin Devaney (hip) are sidelined.

Long-term absentees Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out.

Keith Buckley visited his local Pearse Area Recreation Centre for the launch of the #ThisIsMyDublin campaign this week promoting Dublin City Sportsfest 2019 – a week-long celebration of sport & physical activity from September 23-29: dublincity.ie/sportsfest 

“We’ve got ourselves into a good position and we want to stay there”

FINN HARPS v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Friday August 2 2019, Finn Park, 8pm

Keith Long says Bohemians will focus on getting their own results right as they begin the final series of league games tonight.

Bohs have been in third position for 15 weeks and are determined to further consolidate that when they travel to face Finn Harps.

They face a dogged Harps side who under the guidance of Ollie Horgan have caused Long’s men plenty of problems at Ballybofey in seasons past.

Second from bottom Harps come into the game resurgent and on the back of 1-0 wins against Waterford and rivals Derry City, who in fourth place are breathing down Bohs’ necks.

Long said: “Harps are a well organised and honest bunch of players who are fighting for everything at the moment.

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“They work extremely hard for one another but we have our own ambitions so our own performance level has got to be right

“We have to look after our own results first. We’ve got ourselves into a good position and we want to stay there.

“We’ve nine games left, there will be plenty of ups and downs between now and the end of the season but we need to win games to stay where we are.”

Bohs come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers.

Long said: “A draw was a probably a fair result. They haven’t lost at the Showgrounds since we beat them earlier in the season, so it was a good point but we could have won it in the second half.”

TEAM NEWS

Captain Derek Pender begins his three-match additional suspension tonight for the part he played in post-match flare-ups against UCD last month, which were instigated by the Students’ goalkeeper Conor Kearns.

Pender is likely to be replaced at right-back by Andy Lyons, who returns to the squad after being away on international duty with Ireland at the Uefa European U19 Championships.

Long added: “Andy had a great tournament and the feedback from Tom Mohan has been top notch. He’s coped well with any challenges he’s come up against so far and now is another opportunity for him.”

Paddy Kirk is suspended for accumulative yellow cards, Keith Buckley (hamstring) is a doubt, Rob Cornwall (Achilles) remains a doubt, while Ryan Swan, a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury ahead of the Sligo game, also remains a doubt.

Long-term absentees Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out.

“I didn’t want to come off with just a sore foot!”

SLIGO ROVERS v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League

Saturday July 27 2019, The Showgrounds, 8pm, live on eir

Rob Cornwall’s determination to play for Bohemians ended up contributing to a longer spell on the sidelines.

But back in training and ready for selection once more, he is ready to redouble his efforts to win back his place in the team.

Unusually, the famous story of Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann playing through the 1956 FA Cup final with a broken neck drove Cornwall on to play through the pain barrier.

Cornwall was a mainstay in the heart of the Bohs defence alongside James Finnerty at the start of the season, playing 11 games of which he contributed greatly to James Talbot keeping a clean sheet in eight of those.

After a somewhat stop-start and injury-interrupted 2018 compared to the high standards he had set a year previously in his debut season for the club, Cornwall was determined to keep that run going.

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That drive ended up costing him, however.

An Achilles injury has kept him out of action since the end of April and with Talbot keeping three clean sheets in his last four games, those who have come into the team in his place have fared pretty well of late.

Cornwall, 24, admits: “I had tendinitis in my Achilles. It just felt a bit sore, so I played on with it.

“I felt it about ten days before the Derry game away in April. Then I felt it again playing against Derry but I didn’t want to come off, I just wanted to keep playing.

“I kept thinking ‘what’s wrong with me?’ It’s just a bit sore.’

“I don’t know why this went through my head but all I could think about was that goalkeeper who played on in the cup final with a broken neck, so I didn’t want to come off with just a sore foot!

Bert Trautmann

Bert Trautmann

“I just wanted to get on with it and that probably made it worse.

“The staff have been great at the club. Our physios Paul Kirwan – Paul is an expert in this particular area – and Robbie Murray have been first class with me, so I have to thank them, Cathal Murtagh (strength and conditioning coach) and Remy Tang (club sport scientist).

“I’m back training now and my objective is to get fit and back into the team when an opportunity comes. I’m back training since last week and fully back this week.”

But winning back his place in the team now will be trickier than one would have expected earlier in the year.

His form then was such that he was probably one of the first names on Keith Long’s teamsheet each week.

His absence was felt too – Bohs went on a run of six league games without keeping a clean sheet. But they’ve shored up since with those tasked with filling his place in the side stepping up to the plate.

Cornwall admits: “The lads have done really well. I’ll have to bide my time to get an opportunity.

“We’ve some very good defenders at the club. With myself and Aaron Barry being injured, Michael Barker has come into the team and has done really well.

“He’s one of the most underrated players in the league in my opinion but he’s done so well people are starting to realise just how good he is now.

“Barks was unlucky at the start of the season getting injured himself but he’s got into the side now and has done really well. I’ve seen it in training, so it’s no surprise to me.

“Then you’ve had Darragh Leahy play centre-half recently. To move from left-full to centre-half and do so well is impressive.

“He was brilliant against St Pat’s… I was cursing him. I might have to change position to get in the team they’ve done so well.. maybe there’s room in midfield.”

Bohs travel to Sligo buoyed by 3-0 Dublin derby win against St Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday.

It was an encouraging performance from Bohs, particularly in the second half, but certainly not as emphatic a performance as the scoreline suggested.

Sligo beat the Gypsies in their last meeting with a sucker-punch in the 89th minute to win 2-1 in Dalymount Park back in May, so they too are not a side that Bohs will underestimate.

The previous meeting between the sides at The Showgrounds in April saw Bohs travel home happy with three points and a 2-0 win in a game that Cornwall was sent off in for a clumsy last-man challenge.

“We still kept a clean sheet though,” he is at pains to point out and adds: “Every game for us from now until the end of the season is a tough one. We’ve got ourselves into a good position but we have to be at it every game to stay there.”

“Sligo have already beaten us this season. Liam Buckley has won everything there is to win as a manager in this league so we know we are in for another tough game.”

TEAM NEWS

Derek Pender and Danny Mandroiu return from suspension.

Aaron Barry (hamstring), Rob Cornwall (Achilles) and Danny Grant (hamstring) all returned to full training last week, with Grant coming off the bench against St Pat’s on Sunday, and all are in contention against Sligo.

Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out.

Andre Wright could be included in squad for first time after international clearance came through on Thursday.

Andy Lyons has returned following Ireland’s exit from the Uefa U19 European Championships but is likely to be rested.

“We need to show our character now – on and off the pitch”

BOHEMIANS v ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
SSE Airtricity League
Sunday July 21, Dalymount Park, 3pm

Match sponsor: Bonobo Bar

Keith Long has told Bohemians to go out and show their real character in this afternoon’s Dublin derby against St Patrick’s Athletic at Dalymount Park.

Bohs are still licking their wounds after a frustrating few days.

An uncharacteristic performance saw them beaten 1-0 away to UCD on Monday, a defeat that was compounded by regrettable post-match scenes between both sets of players and the result being overturned with Collie O’Neill’s side instead being awarded a 3-0 walkover after it emerged the Gypsies fielded a suspended player, Danny Mandroiu.

Mandroiu will instead serve that suspension today alongside skipper Derek Pender, who received a ban for his part in the unnecessary post-match scuffles, which were initiated by UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns goading and deliberately inciting Bohs fans.

Long was visibly and understandably angry by those scenes and conceded: “Monday wasn’t good enough. We need to show our character now – on and off the pitch. We need to improve our discipline, it has to be better than that. What went on after the game wasn’t good enough, that wasn’t us.

“It was a bad week for all of us in the club. UCD deserved to win. We struggled to break them down. They were well organised and got men behind the ball but our performance was lacking.

“It was to me our worst performance in 12 months, going back to when we lost to Sligo at home last season. We didn’t play to our strengths but perhaps there were some warning signs in previous weeks since the break.

“Maybe this was coming. We needed at last-minute goal to beat Waterford a few weeks ago and our performances in the draws against Derry City and Cork City weren’t where we want them to be.”

But Long is never one to dwell on the past. He had his side knuckle down in training the following day and determined to make amends against St Pat’s who by all accounts impressed in their 2-1 defeat away Norrkoping on Thursday night.

While Long will be without key men in the suspended duo of Pender and Mandroiu, there was some good news with Danny Grant, Rob Cornwall and Aaron Barry all taking part in full training this week and all now available for selection.

Long said: “We have to take our medicine and get on with what we do. We have refocused since Tuesday on St Pat’s, who are a good side and have good players.

“We are missing Derek and Danny but have options elsewhere coming back with the three lads training this week, which is a positive. They’ve had a frustrating time coming back, with a few set-backs along the way, so it’s great we finally have them back and in contention.”

TEAM NEWS

Derek Pender and Danny Mandroiu are suspended.

Aaron Barry (hamstring), Rob Cornwall (Achilles) and Danny Grant (hamstring) all returned to full training this week.

Whether all three will be risked remains to be seen, but all are likely to return to the matchday squad.

Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out.

“We showed people there is quality in our league”

UCD v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Monday July 15 2019, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm

Keith Ward hopes newcomers to League of Ireland grounds in recent days will have been suitably impressed to make a return trip.

Bohemians and St Patrick’s both entertained Europa League winners Chelsea this week.

First they came to Dalymount Park on Wednesday in Frank Lampard’s first game in the charge of the visitors.

Keith Long’s side found themselves a goal down inside ten minutes.

But the assured response perhaps caught the Londoners somewhat off-guard and Bohs’ endeavours eventually paid off with an equalising goal a minute from time, scored by trialist Eric Molloy, which 14-year-old debutant Evan Ferguson helped to set up.

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Wardy, 28, said: “It was a great night on Wednesday for the club. As a team I think we gave a very good account of ourselves.

“The way we played, I think outsiders to the league at the game will have been impressed.

“We kept the ball and we went at them when we could. We know it was only a friendly but hopefully we showed people there is quality in our league and that we can play.”

Eric Molloy celebrates equaliser v Chelsea – Thomas McCormack

Bohs emptied their bench on Wednesday – it was very much an exhibition game. But it is back to real business tomorrow when they face a resurgent UCD in Belfield.

Collie O’Neill has seen key men Conor Davis, Neil Farrugia and Gary O’Neill leave the club in recent weeks but has also seen his team move off the foot of the table in the same period.

First they beat Finn Harps in a relegation six-pointer. And on Friday they both helped Bohs’ bid to stay in third but also provided Long’s men a reminder – if one was needed – that they are capable of getting results as they drew 0-0 away to fourth-placed Derry City.

Ward said: “You can’t underestimate UCD, they’ve got good young players. We know they’ve lost some players but they still have quality and they’ve brought in Jack Keaney from Sligo too.

“They’ve got a win and a draw in their last two games and we are in for a tricky game. We’ve done our homework and we know it will be difficult.”

To get a result, Bohs will need to be more potent in front of goal than they have in recent weeks. James Talbot has claimed three clean sheets from four but up front, Bohs have fired blanks in recent 0-0 draws against Derry City and Cork City.

Ward concedes they are missing key man Dinny Corcoran, out with an ankle injury. But he has backed Bohs’ attacking players, himself included, to come up with the goods.

He said: “When any team loses their main striker it can be difficult. It’s up to us as attacking players to step up.

“When we don’t keep clean sheets, we’re at our defenders so as attacking players we know we need to chip in at the other end too.

“We’re working hard in training to do that and I know we can improve.”

One man in midfield who has chipped in at various stages this season is Danny Mandroiu.

Up until this season, Ward tended to occupy the role of attacking midfielder sitting in behind the lone striker.

But Mandroiu’s form in that position has seen Ward moved out to the left wing, while they both also vie for set-piece duties.

Ward laughs: “I nearly scored a free-kick against Derry! Our rivalry is a healthy one, but I’m older and better looking.

“The fans have taken to him, he’s been great for us. Obviously, everyone was talking about the goal against Rovers and he deserved to win Player of the Month.

“But he’s been one of the standout players in the league and they’re the kind of players you want to play with. I don’t mind playing on the wing, the main thing is I’m playing and contributing to the team.”

TEAM NEWS

Aaron Barry (hamstring), Rob Cornwall (Achilles), Danny Grant (hamstring), Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out. Andy Lyons is away with the Ireland U19s.

Michael Barker and Kevin Devaney (both concussion) returned to the fray against Chelsea.

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