“This could be the last cup final at Dalymount in its current form so we’re mindful of that too.

“The Leinster Senior Cup is not on the top of your priorities but we’re in the final now.

“We would love to deliver some silverware and hopefully that can whet the appetite for next season.”

Long was happy with how his side bounced back from last week’s demoralising 2-0 FAI Cup exit at the hands of Derry City.

Bohs now sit in seventh but are just a point off the top half and five points off fifth – the club’s final position last season.

He added: “We showed a lot of courage on Friday. It was gutsy – the lads stood up.

“Going out of the FAI Cup was deflating for everyone, so it was important for us to pick ourselves up.

“We started the game brightly and we created a lot of chances and finished strongly.

“It was our 10th clean sheet in the league this season too, which was pleasing too and probably goes a bit unnoticed.

“We want to have a strong finish to the season now. There’s not all that much between a lot of the sides and we can push on into the top half.”

Bohs are once again without Stephen Best (ankle), Derek Pender (thigh) and Mark Quigley (hamstring). Izzy Akinade (illness) remains a doubt.

“In a game of small margins, when the 12th man is behind you from the start, the players value that. It gives them that little bit of extra confidence.

“We are at home, so we want to take the game to Derry City and give it a right go. The fans can help us do that.”

After an excellent 0-0 draw away to title-chasing Cork City last Friday, Bohs almost undid all that hard work as they went 2-0 down to Sligo Rovers in the first half on Monday.

Long said: “We were really good value for the point down in Cork. We kept the ball well and defended well.

“But you couldn’t have had a more contrasting performance to that than in the first half against Sligo. We had tired bodies playing two games in quick succession.

“You can sometimes forget we’re part-time and don’t have the luxury of recovery times between games that some teams do – Derry will be our third game in eight days.

“That said, we know we didn’t defend well in the first half. Sligo caused us problems but they were problems of our own making.

“But we showed great character to fight back – Izzy Akinade got a crucial goal just before half-time and our second-half performance deserved the two late goals to win it in the end.

“It was a great result. Sligo were unbeaten in nine games before that so the lads deserve a bit of credit for turning it around.”

Friday’s opposition Derry have frustrated Bohs in the sides’ two league meetings this season, winning 1-0 on both occasions, most recently at Dalymount Park last month.

Long added: “We were unlucky in the game in the Brandywell but when they came down here we didn’t do enough to win the game.

“There wasn’t all that much between the teams but they’re an organised team and we have to be a bit smarter.

“If we perform like we did against Cork City and in the second half against Sligo, we can progress against Derry.”

TEAM NEWS

Shane Supple and Marco Chindea are cup-tied having represented Crumlin United and Athlone Town respectively earlier in the competition.

Supple, however, is recovering well from an ankle injury he sustained against Cork City last week, which ruled him out of Monday’s game against Sligo Rovers.

“It’s not a good time to be playing them but it’s never easy against Cork anyway. We have to be ready for them and concentrate on our own game.”

After defeats against Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, Bohs got back to winning ways last Friday with a hard-earned 2-0 victory against a stubborn Finn Harps side.

Long said: “We’ve played better and lost this season. It wasn’t a a great game but the attitude of the players was spot on throughout and I thought we deserved to win the game.

“We had players struggling with match fitness – Stephen Best and Lorcan Fitzgerald hadn’t played in a month so we were pleased to have them available again and to get all three points.

“They were two very well-worked goals by us. The substitutes we made were crucial in breaking them down. Jake Kelly came on after the break and Eoin Wearen then added that bit of spark and creativity that we needed.”

TEAM NEWS

New signing Dean O’Halloran is expected to feature in Friday’s squad, subject to international clearance for the 20-year-old former Fulham player arriving on Friday.

Long said: “Dean’s very quick. He’s not overly physical – but his pace will stretch the opposition and we needed that.

“He’s not 100% fit yet and hasn’t played in the League of Ireland before but I think he’ll prove to be a good addition to the team.

“He can play out wide or as a No 10 and will offer support up front, running off the likes of Izzy and bringing players into it.”

Bohs also welcome back Dan Byrne and Keith Buckley from suspension.

But Dylan Hayes (ankle), who returned to training this week, remains a doubt, while Stephen Best is a doubt again after suffering a fresh knee injury in last week’s game against Finn Harps.

“They’ve really improved. You only have to look at their league position to know they’re a different prospect for any side this season compared to last season.

“But we’re at home so it’s up to us to go out and give a performance.”

Six places and 12 points separate the sides going into Friday’s game. But despite the gulf, there wasn’t all that much in it when the sides met at The Brandywell in April.

A first-half Rory Patterson gave Shiels’ men a 1-0 victory. But as has often been the case this season, the Gypsies were frustrated, feeling they should have got something out of the game.

Long said: “There wasn’t a huge amount in the game. Kurtis Byrne had a great a chance and really should have scored.

“Both teams were very competitive and I expect it will be the same on Friday.”

Bohs come into this game after a bruising Dublin derby defeat to Shamrock Rovers.

Having saved an early penalty and taken the lead with only ten men, Bohs’ luck ran out as they eventually went down 3-1 – a scoreline that arguably flattered the hosts.

Long said: “The timing of Keith Buckley’s sending-off was unfortunate. We had started the game poorly and Dean Delany got us out of jail with the penalty save. But we were starting to get into it.

“We still managed to get ahead despite being a man down and it was a great finish by Kurtis Byrne.

“But defensively we were too easy to play against. Ultimately Rovers didn’t have to work too hard for their goals and that’s very disappointing.

“Up front we were culpable too – we missed some great opportunities and could have gone in level at half-time.

“We came back into it in the second half but we had to take Izzy Akinade off as a precaution when he took a knock to the head.

“He was making life difficult for Rovers and we lost some of our attacking threat when he had to come off.”

Long’s options are severely hampered by suspension and injury concerns.

Buckley serves a one-game ban after his dismissal against Rovers.

But there are big doubts over the fitness of Ayman Ben Mohamed, who has been limited to a bit-part role in recent weeks due to an ongoing niggling groin injury, Eoin Wearen (hamstring), Dylan Hayes (ankle) and Derek Pender (quad).

Definitely still out is Stephen Best (knee), while Lorcan Fitzgerald (ankle) looks set to miss out again too.

Better news for Bohs, however, is the return of Paddy Kavanagh (ankle).