Heary hopes the players can keep that intensity for the visit of title-chasing Cork City, who arrive in a wonderful vein of form under John Caulfield. Unfortunately, the spectre of no home wins is still lurking over the Phibsborough side. “It’s unfortunate that we haven’t got that little bit of luck at home – lots of people who watched the Pat’s game said we deserved to win, you think about the penalty against Athlone, one or two sendings off, we’ve been unlucky. But at least we’ve been picking up some points as well as getting good results away from home, and hopefully we can rectify that home form this week.”

Cork City have been a revelation in the league this season (joint top with Dundalk going into Friday’s game), but Heary isn’t surprised by the Leesiders’ fortunes. “They’re like the Cork teams of old – they’re strong, physical, they can mix it if they want. But they’ve also got some very good young players. The squad they’ve put together is excellent, I said it at the start of the season and they’ve proved it”.

Bohs were excellent on a wet night in Turners Cross in April, and Heary is looking to take the positives from that 1-1 draw into tomorrow’s fixture. “We should’ve won that game, we had three or four great chances to win it in the second half. We matched them all over the pitch, and going down to Cork and playing like that means that it shows – mentality wise – that we can go and give the bigger teams a game.”

Heary was disappointed not to be able continue on from the Pat’s game, but hopes his side can keep up the good work against Cork City this Friday. “I would have liked to have played the game (against Sligo), it would have been a good time to get them after playing in Europe,” he added. “Unfortunately it means we’ll have to play them on a Monday or a Tuesday, which will be difficult. Sligo are a full-time team, so it’s tough on our lads who have to take time off work. But we know we can mix it with the teams ahead of us, so hopefully we can push on, get a few more wins, and get a top-half finish.”

Heary may have to plan without midfielder Craig Walsh, who is doubtful after a bout of tonsillitis during the week, while former Ballymena United goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan has been brought in to provide competition for Dean Delany for the No 1 jersey.

“We are coming into this one on a high and we will take the game to them. We’re not going to sit back and see what Pat’s have, because if you sit off them they will punish you.”

Heary was happy that Bohemians started last week’s game in Limerick at the level of intensity he wanted. They were unlucky to concede a goal against the run of play, from failing to deal with a long throw.

“We deserved the three points down there. We created most of the chances in the first half and in the second half we took two of the late chances. It was positive that we kept going till the 90 minutes. That win proved that the earlier one in the cup wasn’t a fluke,” said the Bohemian manager.

The win was secured despite Dinny Corcoran having a penalty saved for the second match in succession. Heary commended his striker for having the confidence to step up again, when the experience of the World Cup shows that the very best players can miss penalties.

“I wasn’t one for taking penalties and I have full respect for anyone that does. I didn’t see anyone else last week rushing to take the penalty.”

Stuart Taylor quit as Limerick manager in the days after that defeat, joining Ian Barraclough and Robbie Horgan among the recent managerial casualties. Clubs that are putting bigger investments into their facilities and squads have higher expectations, observed Heary.

“If you have a full-time squad like Limerick you expect to be doing a lot better than where they are at present. Drogheda too have put a lot of money in.

“That increases the pressure on the manager. Thankfully, I don’t think I’m under too much pressure of that kind.”

Eoin Wearen put in another solid performance last Friday in midfield, having impressed both there and in defence since he joined ten weeks ago. His first goal for Bohemians was just reward for his efforts, according to Heary.

The manager will reshuffle his midfield this week with captain Dave Mulcahy’s return from hamstring injury. Defender Aidan Price also comes back from ankle injury but left-back Jack Memery will have a late fitness test for a knock to the knee.

Heary will take the opportunity of friendlies against Dundee United (Saturday, 12 July, 3pm) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wednesday, 16 July, 7.45pm) to give ‘fringe’ players and some under-19s a test at higher levels.

Pic: Eoin Wearen in action against St Pat’s in the EA Sports Cup (Eddie Lennon, eddielennonsportingimages.com)

Heary’s team came back last week from two goals down to secure a draw against Athlone Town, putting victory within their grasp.

“We only really came alive in the last 40 minutes of the game. We seemed to be in holiday mode before that,” said Heary. “When Kevin [Devaney] came on, it changed the game. From him making that run and getting that goal, it lifted everyone’s intensity.”

Dinny Corcoran left the field distraught having missed a late penalty. But Heary points to Corcoran’s earlier equaliser from play and his two penalties converted two weeks earlier against Bray.

“I have no problem with Dinny stepping up to take another penalty. The Athlone goal-keeper made a good save, but it was a killer that we couldn’t take the chance to win the game. The pleasing thing is that we showed the character and bottle to come back from two-nil down.”

With the opening of the transfer window, Heary has another option in attack, as Adam Evans, most recently with Inverness Caledonian, comes into the reckoning.

But the manager’s preference is to see Evans improve his match fitness and ease him into competitive appearances with a start in one or both of the forthcoming friendlies (v Dundee United, 12 July; v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 16 July).

Derek Pender returns from quad injury for the Limerick game but captain Dave Mulcahy (hamstring) remains out. Aidan Price (ankle) faces a late fitness test.

Stephen Traynor has left the squad as he prepares to return to university for a Masters programme.

“Stephen has been brilliant for the club in his four years here. He was devastated at having to go but he has to think of his career ahead,” said Heary.

“He has worked hard and when he’s got a chance he has taken it well. We’re sorry to see him go but we wish him the best of luck.”

Five players* have left the squad in recent weeks for various reasons. All were on amateur terms, meaning that Heary has very few resources to add to the squad. However, he expects to conclude a deal with an experienced goal-keeper by the end of this week.

He will use this month’s friendlies to give a taste of senior team action to some under-19 players, including a few of the recent recruits from Crumlin United.

Heary is looking to one of these, 17-year-old Stephen Best, a centre-half, to step up quickly. He has been training with the senior team and “hasn’t looked at all out of place”.

*Philly McCabe, Andy Mulligan, Lee Murphy, Darragh Reynor, Stephen Traynor.

Pic by Eddie Lennon – eddielennonsportingimages.com

“So, it’s important that we are well tuned in, and that we do our job and aren’t relying on things happening elsewhere.”

Heary took almost as much satisfaction from the clean sheet as from the five goals against Bray two weeks ago. That decisive victory was also achieved without three key players, captain and vice-captain Dave Mulcahy and Derek Pender, and Steven Beattie, Man of the Match in the previous week’s cup tie.

“We went into the Bray game very positive after the cup result against Limerick. We controlled the game from start to finish. We got into them high up the pitch. With some players out, others came in and stepped up to the plate.”

The manager commended his players’ performances from Kevin Devaney and hat-trick scorer Dinny Corcoran up front, to Eoin Wearen and Roberto Lopes who were “excellent in the middle”, to Jack Memery who returned to left back after a long time, and to Dean Delany who made a “tremendous save” at 2-0.

Heary is focused on securing and maintaining at least a mid-table position for Bohemians. He is not setting points targets for groups of matches but rather seeking to get maximum return from each match as it comes up.

“The target this week is to beat Athlone. We’ll take one game at a time. I know it’s a cliché but we have to do it this way, with the position we’re in. But if we can get a few wins, it could turn into a very good season for us.”

The break in the league campaign has brought its gains and losses, according to Heary. It allowed some players to take a holiday but, equally, it exposed them to renewed injury risks as they returned to intensive training after a week out.

Anto Murphy (hamstring) and Steven Beattie (ankle) face late fitness tests, as do Derek Pender (quad) and Dave Mulcahy (hamstring) who are still recovering from pre-break injuries.

Like other football fans, the players have been absorbed in the World Cup finals and discussing the various tactics and strategies applied. Heary has noted the shift from the preferred approach of recent years, holding the ball at length and building up slowly, to a more direct movement of the ball from back to front.

“There’s more emphasis on attack. They’re going the quickest route to goal and playing the pressure game. It’s interesting to watch and see the different scenarios,” he commented.

“Players are looking at these things and they can see, for example, how Chile are pressing high up the park.”

On a rest day in the World Cup Heary is hoping for Bohemian fans to turn out in big numbers to help the team secure that elusive home win and build new momentum for an improved second-half of the season.

“I hope we can take last week’s hard work into the Bray game. We’re not conceding many goals and, if we can take our scoring chances, we will move up the table.”

Bray will be “hurting” after their defeat last weekend in the FAI Cup, Heary believes. “It’s going to be a difficult game but, if we go there positive, we can get the points.”

Friday’s game brings Heary back to the scene of his first match as Bohemian manager in July 2013. Heary watched that game from the TV gantry, as he was banned from the touch-line. Bohemians won 3-1 to lay the foundations for their survival in the Premier Division.

“I’d happily sit in the gantry again as long as we come away with the three points,” said Heary.

His team beat Bray 5-1 early this season in the Leinster Senior Cup and drew 1-1 at Dalymount in the league playing 70 minutes with ten men.

Bohemians come to Friday’s game with doubts over the availability of Derek Pender (quad injury), who was substituted at half-time in Thomond Park, and of Dave Mulcahy (hamstring), who replaced him.

Jason Byrne (shoulder injury) has missed training since being an unused sub against Limerick but could face his old club if he completes a full training session on Thursday evening.

Steven Beattie misses Friday’s game due to a one-match suspension (yellow cards) following his goal-scoring and Man of the Match performance against Limerick, playing up-front alongside Dinny Corcoran.

Subject to Byrne being available, Heary may well opt again for a two-man strike force. Meanwhile, he has brought in another attacking option with the signing of Adam Evans (20), an ex-Belvedere player and under-19 international, who was most recently with Inverness Caledonian. He has been training with Bohemians and will be available when the transfer window opens.

Facing into the second half of the season Heary takes comfort from the adaptability of his players, knowing that they may be called on to cover for injuries or suspensions in various positions. Eoin Wearen and Roberto Lopes were effective in mid-field last week, though more usually featuring in the back four. Beattie has provided cover at right-back and proven himself a potent attacker.

“We don’t have a big squad and when we’re down one or two bodies it affects us more than other clubs. But we have good young lads who are fully committed and we need to keep them focused.”