He went from strength to strength, becoming the first Bohemians player to win a SSE Airtricity Player of the Month Award in seven years before earning a closed season transfer to Barnet.

This year, Danny Grant has been the standout beneficiary of being tested in the EA Sports Cup.

He – alongside Ryan Graydon and Dylan Thornton – was one of three members of the Graham Lawlor’s U19 team who made their first-team debuts in the 5-1 win against Cabinteely in the first round.

In total, eight of the 14 players used in that game came through Bohs’ youth ranks. In the following round against UCD when Bohs came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and win on penalties, it was seven from 14.

Grant, who joined the U19s from Leinster Senior League Bangor Celtic last summer, scored a long-range stunner in that win against Cabinteely in a performance that propelled him into the reckoning for league action.

The Leaving Cert student, 18, made his league debut off the bench against tonight’s opposition at the end of March and has come to prominence in crucial wins in the last month.

First, he set up the 99th-minute winner for Darragh Leahy in the 2-1 over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght and on Saturday, he scored his first two league goals as the Gypsies claimed a crucial 2-0 victory away to Sligo Rovers.

The step-up from the U19s to the first team is a big one but Long has been delighted with Grant’s progress, which he hopes can provide inspiration for others.

He said: “Danny was rewarded for his performances for both the U19s and for the first team in the EA Sports Cup.

“He’s delivered for us now in big games and his two goals on Saturday were excellent finishes.

“We want young players to aspire to be in our first team and look at that and think ‘I can do that’.”

While the performances of young and fringe players in previous round has been lauded, it must be noted that they did come against First Division opposition in the form of Cabinteely and UCD.

Tonight is a whole lot different as they’re getting towards the business end of the competition and facing the holders.

Against Stephen Kenny, Bohs are up against a manager who has won this competition a record six times – four times with Derry City and twice with his current club.

There is a place in the semi-finals at stake so this is a game Long wants to win but with injuries mounting – Darragh Leahy the latest prominent addition to the absentee list – his options are limited and the odds stacked against his side.

He said: “Dundalk’s strength in depth is such that they will have a strong side regardless of what XI they put out.

“My hand is forced tonight because of how many players we have ruled out.

“Our squad is really stretched. We have no option but to mix it up like we have done in previous years and in previous rounds.

“But that will allow players come in and stake their claim. But coming up against players of that quality can be a valuable experience for the younger players who do feature.”

Against Sligo, Long was relieved to see his side put a halt to what had become a frustrating habit of conceding first, playing lovely football but often having no points to show for it.

They have played better in games this season and ended up with nothing on the board.

But on Saturday, they were resolute in defence when under pressure, claimed what was only their second clean sheet of the season, took the lead somewhat against the run of play before seeing the game out with a confident performance that yielded a deserved second goal.

Long added: “The first half, Sligo made it very difficult for us. They didn’t allow us to play.

“They were very direct in their approach and we were loaded with set play after set play in the box.

“But we improved after the break and once we got the goal, we looked comfortable and could have scored more so it was a pleasing result and performance.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs suffered a blow when left-back Leahy was carried off on a stretcher in visible discomfort during Saturday’s 2-0 win against Sligo Rovers.

The club is awaiting scan results on his knee but it is feared that the 20-year-old could be ruled out for eight to 12 weeks.

16-year-old goalkeeper Jamie Cleary is included in the squad once more with Colin McCabe (shoulder), who had started both previous rounds of this competition, and Seán Bohan (international duty with Ireland U17s) unavailable.

Rob Cornwall (back), Derek Pender (calf) and Karl Moore (knee) remain out alongside long-term absentees Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal).

Dinny Corcoran (hip) and Dan Casey (calf) have minor niggles and will not be risked ahead of Friday’s league game against Bray Wanderers.

With Dylan Watts, who was today nominated for the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association April Player of the Month Award, pulling the strings in midfield, the Gypsies created enough chances to win any game.

But between an inability to find that killer touch in front of goal and some contentious refereeing decisions, the Gypsies failed to overturn that one-goal deficit.

Long was sent to the stands for contesting one of those calls but is not suspended for tomorrow’s game.

He said: “The energy and effort of the players on Monday, you couldn’t have asked for much more from them. They were outstanding.

“We conceded a bad goal, which has happened too often for us this season.

“But they ran themselves into the ground trying to get a goal back and it’s hard to fault the performance.”

Against Sligo Rovers, Bohs face a team one place and two points ahead of them in eighth position.

The sides cancelled each other out when they met earlier in the season in Dalymount Park in a match that finished 2-2.

He said: “The last time we played, there wasn’t a lot between us but we felt we should have won the game.

“Sligo on a Saturday is a difficult place to go but we are going there to get a result: to win.

“We are not going to feel sorry for ourselves. We believe in ourselves and we will stay strong as a group.

“Let’s go get a result.”

TEAM NEWS

Rob Cornwall (back), Derek Pender (calf) and Karl Moore (knee) are out alongside long-term absentees Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal).

Dan Byrne (groin) a doubt.

Paddy Kavanagh returns from suspension.

Bohs do not lack perseverance, however.

Eight of the team’s 13 league points this season have been won thanks to goals in injury-time: 1-1 v Limerick (Stokes 90), 2-1 v Bray (Corcoran 91), 2-1 Rovers (Leahy 99) and 2-2 St Pat’s (Devaney 93).

Long said: “We were off the pace in the first half. St Pat’s were first to everything at times.

“It sounds like I’m hitting pause, rewind and repeat every week but we simply have to cut out these errors.

“We need to tighten up. We’ve fallen behind in too many games.

“We conceded early in both halves and again that gave us another uphill struggle.”

Bohs were given a lifeline when St Pat’s were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Ryan Brennan on 52 minutes.

Long said: “The sending-off definitely changed the game. It helped us gain a foothold but the lads persevered to get the second goal.”

And the manager was delighted too to see Dinny Corcoran hitting the net once more.

He pulled one back on 73 minutes and while most match reports attributed the injury-time equaliser to Kevin Devaney, Long is adamant it was Corcoran’s.

He said: “Dinny got both goals – he got the final touch on the second. It’s important for him and will hopefully give him a confidence boost.

“He struggled with injuries in pre-season but he’s looking a lot sharper in training lately and hopefully this will do him no end of good.”

But against high-flying Waterford, they face a side who have already beaten them this season.

He said: “This is a different challenge tomorrow.

“Waterford will be very tough opponents. They’re third in the league for a reason.

“They’ve beaten us down in the RSC already. We felt we should have got something out of that game but we know we have to be at our very best.”

TEAM NEWS

Paddy Kavanagh serves an additional one-match ban for his red card against Derry a fortnight ago.

Captain Derek Pender (calf) and Karl Moore (knee) remain out alongside long-term absentees Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal).

Shane Supple (knee) and Rob Cornwall (back) are considered doubtful but Danny Grant (hamstring) returns.

But Long won’t entertain any notion of his team feeling sorry for themselves – and has once again challenged them to address their shortcomings.

He said: “Yes, the football we’ve been playing has at times been exciting and pleasing to watch.

“We were good enough on the night to get something out of that game. We created a lot in the first half and had most of the possession in the second.

“But we have to cut out those basic errors if we are to climb up the table. You need to keep clean sheets to give yourself the best chance of getting a result.

“It is a results business and it’s results that people will remember.

“You could say we were unlucky on occasion but that’s down to us not being ruthless enough in attack and at the back.

“The players fully understand that. There’s resolution in this team as to how we want to play.

“We are improving and evolving. I’m confident that we will turn performances into results.

“But we need to believe in ourselves more, be more clinical in front of goal and stronger at the back to give ourselves a chance.”

Long is among a number of managers who have voiced frustrations with the scheduling of fixtures this year.

The Gypsies have played 15 games in all competitions since the season kicked off on February 16.

And they face five in 15 days starting tomorrow evening against St Pat’s at Richmond Park.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, the durability of Long’s squad has been tested to the max.

This week, however, has provided a breather of sorts – it is only the fourth time this season that the team has had a full week to prepare for a game.

Long said: “We’ve had a week to prepare and that will help bodies to recover. I expect our players to be fresher than they have been.

“As I’ve said before, the number of fixtures being front-loaded at the start of the season has affected teams’ ability to recover and preparations before games.

“It’s something that needs to be looked at next season.”

Against sixth-place St Pat’s, Bohs face a side just one place but five points ahead of them in the table.

Bohs are desperate to close that gap, but that won’t be easy.

Long added: “St Pat’s are a different proposition for teams than they were last season.

“They’re not conceding many and have been in every game. They’ve drawn with Dundalk and knocked them out of the EA Sports Cup.

“They’ve gone up to Derry and down to Cork and were very unlucky in both, losing by the odd goal. So they’re serious opponents for any team.

“They’ve already beaten us 1-0 this season in another game where we failed to take our chances.

“So it’s the same message again – we have to be ruthless in both boxes.

“But Richmond Park is usually a good surface to play on and it’s somewhere we tend to a bring a vocal travelling support. We’re really looking forward to it.”

TEAM NEWS

Paddy Kavanagh returns from suspension but will miss Monday’s visit of Waterford to Dalymount Park after receiving an additional one-match ban for his red card against Derry City.

Danny Grant (hamstring) and Karl Moore (knee) will sit this one out. They join Derek Pender (calf), Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) on the absentee list.

Oscar Brennan (ankle) returns.

Long is keen to emphasise how the support his players receive from the stands can also play a huge part in helping them over the line when a game is in the balance.

He said: “Our crowd out in Tallaght last week was excellent. The scenes at the end between players and fans were beautiful.

“You close your eyes at the end when the winner went in and listen to the noise. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what you want from football.

“But you can’t dwell on that. The challenge for us all is to reproduce that intensity and create more nights like those.

“We need our fans behind us, particularly when it’s 0-0, if you’re a goal down or if the game is in the balance. That’s when we need our fans the most.

“That’s what we had out in Tallaght and that encouragement helped us get over the line at the very end.

“We need that again at Dalymount tomorrow night.”

The Gypsies come into this game on the back of yet another hectic schedule.

Last Friday, they claimed Dublin Derby bragging rights with a 99th-minute winner to beat Shamrock Rovers 2-1 in Tallaght.

The intensity of that battle took its toll on Long’s men who faced a daunting trip to face a bullish Derry City in the Brandywell three nights later.

The Candystripes have had Bohs’ number in recent seasons, winning the previous eight meetings between the sides.

And Kenny Shiels’ in-form side made it five wins from five at the refurbished Brandywell this season with a 3-1 win.

Long said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game from the outset.

“We felt we needed to make five changes from the side played in Tallaght as the intensity of that game is hard to recover from in three days.

“That’s why you have a squad – you have to change things around as it’s a hectic schedule this season – as it is for all teams – and players don’t always have the time to recover.

“And Derry have some excellent players. They’re on a good run of form and have used the return to the Brandywell to their advantage.

“We conceded a bad goal and then conceded straight after the red card for Paddy Kavanagh.

“We created chances ourselves too though – Dinny Corcoran had two good opportunities to score at 2-1 and Eoghan Stokes had one also.

“Then when you’re chasing the equaliser, especially with ten men, you’re vulnerable at the back and Derry get the third in injury time.

“That’s the third time that’s happened to us this season, conceding after 90 minutes when chasing an equaliser.”

TEAM NEWS

Skipper Derek Pender (calf) is still a doubt, while Paddy Kavanagh is suspended after being sent off against Derry City.

Oscar Brennan (ankle) remains out alongside long-term absentees Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) and Ryan Swan (cruciate).