The former Derry City stalwart helped the Leesiders to a second-placed league finish last season but it is Bohs who currently occupy that position as the division begins the second series of league fixtures.

The experienced central defender would have expected to have started for the first team in a league game by now.

James Finnerty arrived to the league from Aston Villa via Rochdale unproven at this level, while last year Rob Cornwall struggled to rediscover the form he displayed in 2017 due to a persistent niggling hamstring injury that affected his game-time and performance levels.

But such has been the form of Cornwall and Finnerty’s partnership in the heart of the Bohs defence this season that it has taken a suspension to the former – sent off in last Saturday’s 2-0 win away to Sligo Rovers – to put Barry in contention to make his first league start for the Gypsies.

Barry said: “It’s unfortunate for Rob to be missing out. Himself and James have been very solid at the back.

“In fairness, I arrived the day before the season started and the two lads haven’t put a foot wrong.

“I know how football works, I can’t have any complaints given how well they have played.

“It’s important to have strength in depth at any club and that’s what you want. But obviously I want to play. Rob’s suspension will hopefully give me an opportunity.”

Barry’s involvement thus far has been reduced to two substitute appearances in the league and starts in the Leinster Senior Cup and most recently the EA Sports Cup.

He gave a glimpse of what he is capable of in the former – netting twice in a 4-1 win against Shelbourne.

He said: “I’ve scored a couple of goals. We’ve been a threat at set-pieces this season – as you saw with James’ overhead kick that went in off his head!

“We all need to chip in with goals to take the pressure of Dinny.”

Barry is coming into a side that have belied mid-season predictions, but he is repeating the mantra of everyone keeping their feet on the ground.

They face a tricky trip to Ballybofey tomorrow – a venue that hasn’t always been kind to Keith Long’s teams in recent seasons.

He added: “I wasn’t paying too much attention to pre-season predictions but I guess people were thinking Bohs would be aiming for mid-table.

“But as soon as I came in, I could see the quality that is around the squad.

“It’s obviously been difficult for Bohs losing three or four good players every closed season but they’ve recruited well and replaced them with more quality.

“There is a good mix of young players but experience too with the likes of Derek Pender, Dinny Corcoran and Rob Cornwall.

“We’re going well at the moment and we are winning games but that can change quickly.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. There is a long season ahead and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.”

As for his own future, Barry admits that is still up in the air. His loan deal from Cork City ends in July.

He added: “I don’t look too far ahead. At the moment I’m a Bohs player and I’m determined to make the most of any opportunities I get.”

TEAM NEWS

Rob Cornwall is suspended having been sent off against Sligo Rovers last week.

Scott Allardice (facial injury) returns to the fold. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains suspended.

The Gorey man said: “We’ve had a really positive start. In the games we’ve played so far we’ve gelled quickly. But we’ve had bumps in the road too so we’re not getting carried away. We’re disappointed to lose down in Cork City and drop points against Waterford and Derry too.

“We’ve put a level of expectation on ourselves that we want to win every game. We’re disappointed when we lose and when we drop points.”

Much was made of the close-knit bond in the Bohs dressing room in recent seasons. With the loss of some senior pros and some strong characters, maintaining that atmosphere was going to be a challenge.

But leadership from the top and new recruits’ willingness to learn in pre-season has brought this squad even closer.

Levingston said: “There is great talent in the group. The togetherness within the squad is strong too.

“A lot of that comes down to the good pre-season we had and the work that Keith and Trevor Croly put in with us. The sessions were intense, we crammed a lot into them and we learned a lot.

“We weren’t ran into the ground as you might be at some clubs. Our focus was on our ball work.”

Like many of Bohs’ young guns, 21-year-old Levingston is a player looking to push on once more having returned to Ireland after four years learning his trade in England.

Many of his team-mates are in a similar position. Levingston joined from Wolves, Talbot returned to football after taking the guts of a year out having returned to Finglas after three years with Sunderland, James Finnerty returned to Skryne via Rochdale from Aston Villa, Danny Mandroiu to Ballymun from Brighton, Luke Wade-Slater to Dunshaughlin from Stevenage.

The difference in expectation and physicality between playing U23s development football in England compared to the demanding nature of League of Ireland football was a source of concern highlighted in pre-season.

Both Long and captain Derek Pender pleaded for patience as players would need time to adapt. But seven games in, it is a case of so far, so good.

Levingston said:”It’s my first experience of men’s football as it is for a lot of the lads. It is a big step up with a lot at stake. You have to be first to every ball and to every second ball.

“With so many young lads, it was a case or sink or swim for us all. Detser (Derek Pender) is our captain and he shows you tough love!

“He’s been around the block and knows the league inside out. If you’re not doing your job, he will let you know.

“I’ve learnt so much from him and so much from Bucko (Keith Buckley) too. It’s been a very welcoming dressing room.

“The lads already at the club said at the start that it was the best dressing room group they’ve ever had, so we were encouraged from the start.”
Bohs vice-captain Keith Buckley celebrates his winner v St Pat’s with team-mates Kevin Devaney and Rob Cornwall. Photo: Stephen Burke

Another factor in Bohs’ positive start has been the competition for places all over the pitch and with eight fixtures in April, the strength in depth of the squad is likely to be tested.

The first of those eight games took place on Monday as Bohs came from behind to beat Cabinteely 2-1 in the EA Sports Cup at Dalymount Park.

Bohs started sluggishly. But with 11 changes from the team that took to the field in last Friday’s 1-0 derby win against St Patrick’s Athletic, it was always going to take time to gel.

A much-improved second-half performance saw Bohs progress and Levingston admits players are looking over their shoulders with a queue of team-mates ready and willing to take their place in the starting line-up – especially in a congested month of fixtures where durability and tiredness will come into play more than ever.

Levingston added: “It’s important to have strength in depth. Training has been really competitive. The players not playing, none of them are sulking.

“They’re pushing everyone in training every night. Training is so competitive, which is a testament to the attitude of the players who are unlucky not to have been playing.

“There are lads bursting to play. You know if you’ve a bad game that there are lads who will jump at the chance to take your spot. You need that as a team if you want to be successful.”

Against Sligo, Bohs face a team eighth in the table who will be disappointed with their start to the season and determined to make amends.

Levingston added: “It’s a competitive league and there are no easy games. It’s my first time to play there obviously but the lads say it’s a hard place to go.

“But we’ll go down with a good attitude determined to get three points.”

TEAM NEWS

Scott Allardice is a doubt having suffered a facial injury against Cabinteely. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains out.

“That means we will have to mix things up a bit with our team selection. But we are in a position where we can trust the strength in depth of our squad.”

Fixture pile-ups have been a bone of contention for many league managers in recent seasons, no more so than Long whose part-time players perhaps feel the strain more than their full-time rivals.

But he is looking at tonight’s game in a positive light and as a chance for players on the fringes of the first team to prove their worth.

They did so the last time Long made wholesale changes to his line-up when Bohs beat Shelbourne 4-1 in the Leinster Senior Cup last month in a team that contained just one started from the side that drew with Derry in the league three days previously.

He said: “Despite the congestion, a game like this is actually probably a good one for us to have as it allows us to give much-needed games to lads who might feel a bit disappointed that they haven’t been involved as much as they would have liked to have been so far.

“It allows lads a chance to step up and remind us what they have to offer and it will be a reward for some our U19s, who have started their season very well once again, and a chance for them to get to experience first-team football too.”

Bohs last won this competition a decade ago with a 3-1 win over Waterford in the RSC. Having come so close to reaching an FAI Cup final last season, Long’s men would love to progress and bring silverware back to Dalymount once more.

He added: “It’s a competition we want to progress in and to win. It would be fantastic to go all the way.

“But it will be a much-changed team who aren’t used to playing with each other coming up against a side who have made a strong start to the season in the First Division, so I wouldn’t be taking them lightly.”

Former Bohemian Eoghan Stokes gave the Candystripes the lead from the spot but Bohs rallied well with James Finnerty’s first goal from the club getting them back on level terms and they were unlucky not to go on and seal all three points.

Long said: “We responded to the goal well and I have to credit the players for that. We came back very strong.”

Games against Cork City produced some memorable battles last year. Bohs humbled the then defending champions 4-2 in Dalymount Park in the league.

But the Leesiders got the last laugh – winning an FAI Cup semi-final replay in Turner’s Cross 2-1 after Bohs had victory snatched away with a controversial penalty decision in the original tie.

Long added: “This is a different challenge again. Cork will be up near the top of the table at the end of the season. They will come good.

“The profile of John Caulfield’s team has changed a bit, they’re a bit younger this season and they are still gelling.

“They had a brilliant win up in Finn Harps last week and going down to Turner’s Cross has traditionally been one of the toughest tasks in the league.

“They’ve a huge crowd who come out to support them.

“But we’re going there with confidence and we want to maintain our unbeaten start to the season.

“Hopefully we’ll have another good vocal away crowd – we did in Belfield and down in Waterford – as that can give us a big lift when you come out on to the pitch.”

TEAM NEWS

Keith Buckley (groin) returns but Dinny Corcoran (groin) remains a doubt. Michael Barker (hamstring) played 45 minutes in LSC on Monday and also comes back into contention. Kevin Devaney (knee) has returned to training but will not be risked. Aaron Barry unavailable against parent club.