Defenders Dan Byrne (cruciate) and Anto Murphy (ankle) are likely to miss the rest of the season. Steven Beattie is suspended and captain Dave Mulcahy has personal commitments that keep him out.

So, four players who have played key roles in keeping Bohemians solid in defence and in midfield are missing. Heary notes that it is the platform that these and other players have built that has made it possible for forward players to shine in recent weeks.

“I’m delighted for Dinny [Corcoran] that he got the goals against Cork because he has had shots off the crossbar and he has kept going and got his just rewards over the weekend.

“But it’s not just about the forward players, it’s also about the defensive line and the keeper who keep us in the game. The whole lot, they work as a unit. You can see our forwards and our wingers chasing back and tackling, our full-backs getting forward, our central midfield being strong and aggressive.”

Heary is full of his admiration for his players and how they are taking on each battle in full solidarity with each other, filling in wherever they are needed.

“Against Cork last Friday we had Keith Buckley at right full and Steven Beattie at left full, and they were both excellent.

“If you look at the team as a whole, they have got better and they have worked for each other, and all we can ask is that they do this, week in and week out.

“Dan Byrne came to Monday’s game after working a night shift, Derek Pender had a child sick, Dean Delany is working early as a postman. They all still put in a shift for us.

“They have created this themselves, that they work so hard for each other. I admire them for how they go out and put a performance in, week after week, with so much else happening in their lives.”

With his forces depleted Heary is looking for yet another strong performance on Friday and for others in the squad to step up. Ryan McEvoy, who has featured little this season and has recently had a back injury, may be called on.

“I know what he’s capable of doing. When he came on in a couple of games he’s shown he is back to where he was. He is one with a point to prove and he may get to do that on Friday.”

“We were down bodies but the lads who came in did very well. Steven Beattie came in at left-back and Keith Buckley at right-back. Both of them put in really good shifts.

“We created a lot of chances and went close to extending our lead several times but Dinny took both of his goals very well.

“We should have won the game but we live to fight another day.”

With Dalymount Park passing an FAI pitch inspection this morning, Heary is expecting another cup classic and hopes his team can build upon recent improvements in home form.

“It was a great game on Friday, a typical cup tie with really good passing football from both teams,” he said.

“Both sides know each other well now, so hopefully we’ll see more of the same. There are tired legs but it’s the same for both teams.

“We’ve done well in our home games recently, so it’s up to the lads to turn good performances into victories.”

Bohemians welcome Roberto Lopes (suspension) and Derek Pender (work commitments) back into the squad, but Ryan McEvoy is a doubt with a back strain. Anto Murphy (ankle) remains out. Steven Beattie is suspended.

Heary insists his side is not one to play for a draw and a replay – not least because Bohemians face a very busy league programme with two postponed matches to be rescheduled.

“We’re part-time, with a lot of lads who work night-times or early mornings. It’s going to be Friday and Monday games for a while and we’ve a lot of tough games coming up.”

The postponement of Monday’s league match brought no gain to Bohemians, said Heary.

“We were looking forward to the game. The players were ready to go, particularly after the result on Friday [2-1 against Drogheda United]. They were well set up for the game.

“I’m sure we would have given them a good game and possibly come away with the points.”

However, the extra days without a match have given defender Derek Pender more time to recover from a bout of flu, and striker Dinny Corcoran more time to recover from a knock received last Friday.

Steven Beattie is available for the Cork cup-tie, although his sending-off against Drogheda United rules him out of the next two league games. He will return to right-back in the absence of Anto Murphy (ankle injury), while Pender moves to left back. Roberto Lopes is suspended (yellow cards) and Jack Memery is still tied up with college exams.

Heary says his squad is training like a group of players who sense they can get something tangible from the season, whether it’s qualification for the Setanta Cup or an FAI Cup winner’s medal, or even both.

“The cup is important for us. We got beaten in the semi-final of another competition. If we can finish on a cup final this year, it will be a tremendous achievement.

“But we don’t want to be just a cup team. If we win our two league games in hand, we will shoot up the table.

“If we do get to the cup final, it could be a passage to Europe and it’s a medal for the players. That has to be an incentive for the players, that they have something in the hand at the end of the season to show for their hard work.”

Pic by Eddie Lennon – eddielennonsportingimages.com

The goal-scorers, Karl Moore and Jason Byrne (pictured), had been on the bench more often than starting in recent weeks, and Heary is delighted how they and Dave Mulcahy took their responsibilities when they were called up.

“They’re three experienced players and it was great to see how they stepped up to the plate.”

The EA Sports Cup tie two weeks ago, when Shamrock Rovers beat Bohemians 2-0 at Dalymount, has little bearing on Monday’s match, Heary believes.

“It will be a totally different game, with different teams out. We’ll put that earlier result out of our minds. That was a cup game, a one-off, and we’ll concentrate on trying to get the three points.”

Those points would help bring Bohemians towards a finishing position in the top half of the league. “If we win and other results go for us we’re right back in the hunt for a Setanta Cup spot, and that’s the aim for us for the rest of the season,” said Heary.

But Bohemians are struggling with injuries and suspensions, particularly affecting their defence. Anto Murphy (ankle) is likely to be out for 6-7 weeks. Derek Pender was battling flu when he played on Friday and Steven Beattie, who was drafted into the back line on Friday, is suspended following his sending-off. Left-back Jack Memery is ruled out due to exams.

Roberto Lopes is suspended for accumulated yellow cards. However, his midfield partner of recent weeks, Eoin Wearen, returns from his one-match suspension. Dinny Corcoran took a knock against Drogheda United, but should be fit for selection.

Pic by Eddie Lennon – eddielennonsportingimages.com

Heary said: “We dominated the game up there in May, had loads of chances, but they got the goal. Obviously with Eoin Wearen and Anto Murphy out, other players have a chance to step up and fight for a place in the team.”

After doing all-but score against UCD last Friday, Heary believes the team just need a bit of luck as they strive for a second home league win of the season. “We played very well, but just didn’t take our chances. The longer the game went on, the more frustrated we got in front of goal.

“These things happen in games – the positive thing is we kept a clean sheet – but we were still disappointed that we didn’t take our chances and win the game comfortably. ”

The Bohs manager is hoping his side can find confidence in front of goal after a difficult period in which his side drew blanks against Derry (0-4), Shamrock Rovers (0-2), and the Students (0-0).

“We’ll keep plugging away. We’ve proved earlier in the season that we can score goals. The good thing is that we are creating chances (as against UCD), so hopefully we can take a few and come away with the three points on Friday.”

Despite the difficult run, Heary has been pleased with the support from the fans, who have been extremely positive throughout the season. “The fans have been great. Although it’s a totally different atmosphere (away to UCD), they saw we were dominating the game and I think they were happy that we were just unfortunate in front of goal and that was it.”

Bohs will have to plan without in-form midfielder Eoin Wearen, who is suspended after picking up four yellow cards. Also unavailable is Anto Murphy, who dislocated his ankle against UCD. Heary is hopeful that a scan today (Thursday) will reveal no ligament damage, and clear Anto to return in six weeks.

Pic by Eddie Lennon – eddielennonsportingimages.com