“THIS IS A GREAT TEST FOR US”
October 19, 2017
DUNDALK v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Friday October 20 2017, 7.45pm, Oriel Park
Bohemians are down to the bare bones but manager Keith Long has challenged his side to rise to the occasion once more against the form team in the country.
Long must plan without six first-team players but his team are in a confident mood ahead of tomorrow’s trip to face Dundalk.
Having halted Cork City’s title party last week, they are now looking forward to challenging themselves against a side who were top dogs for the previous three seasons.
But Fuad Sule and Keith Ward are both suspended, Lorcan Fitzgerald (knee) and Warren O’Hora (hamstring) remain out, while Georgie Poynton and Ciarán O’Connor, both on loan from Dundalk, are unable to play against their parent club.
Long said: “We’re down to the bare bones but it’s a great test for those who will play.
“You should want to play against the best in the league and Dundalk are the form team at present.
“They’re unbeaten in 15 games so this will be a good challenge for our players to see what level we’re at.”
Having been the first team in the league to beat Cork City this season back in July, Bohs once again showed last week that they can, on their day, give anyone in the division a run for their money.
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The 0-0 draw was enough to ensure that the Leesiders did not clinch the title at Dalymount Park but the Gypsies felt they were perhaps unlucky not to claim all three points.
Long said: “We were excellent in the second half and created a lot of chances.
“I don’t think there would have been any arguments had we gone on to win the game.
“But Dundalk present a fresh challenge. They’ve been champions the previous three years for a reason.
“Players they brought in at the start of the season have settled in now and they’ve been putting teams to the sword lately – they have the best front five in the country.
“We have to be ready for them.”
Bohs’ absentee list has made that challenge all the more difficult but has, however, provided an opportunity for stars of the club’s U19 team to make the step up to the first-team squad.
Eoghan Morgan, Jamie Hamilton and Andy Lyons did just that against Cork last week and took their place on the bench.
Graham Lawlor’s Bohemians U19s topped the Northern Elite Division and last night beat Limerick 2-1 in the league quarter-finals to set up a last-four tie against Sligo Rovers at Dalymount this Sunday.
And Long in keen to reward and nurture Bohs’ rising stars with involvement in the first team.
He said: “We’re missing bodies so it’s an opportunity for them. We had the three lads on the bench last week and they will travel with us again tomorrow.
“There are others in Graham’s team in our thoughts too. The likes of Ryan Graydon, Cian McMullen and John Ross Wilson, they are all on our radar.”
Another man who will be relishing travelling with the first team tomorrow night is Eoin Wearen.
The midfielder, 25, ruptured his cruciate in pre-season and has been on the long road to recovery ever since.
Tomorrow will be the first time he has been included in a matchday squad this year and Long has backed the former West Ham man to bounce back stronger than ever.
He added: “This set-back has matured Eoin. He’s been top class.
“He’s volunteered to do opposition scouting reports for us and his analysis has been excellent.
“Being out for that length of time isn’t easy, but his attitude around the place has been superb.
“He’s been training hard and he is in the best shape I’ve seen him. He will come back a better player.”
