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.”

“You can see how it is hurting them that we are not getting results. I can understand as well fans’ frustration, but they need to keep believing and getting behind the team. I have no doubt that things will turn for us.”

The Bohemian manager concedes his team were outplayed against Dundalk last Friday. This was no near-draw or near-win but the squad have picked themselves up from that defeat, he said.

“We didn’t have the intensity we need. We didn’t do enough to take something from the game. We had a game plan going out and we didn’t stick to it. After that early goal the game plan changed because we were chasing the game,” said Heary.

“This week’s preparations have been better because we had longer time. I have no doubt that the intensity will be there for the Limerick game. This and the Bray game before the break next week are two big cup games in my opinion. We have to go into every game as if it was a cup final.”

Making his side difficult to defeat was one of his targets and he takes some comfort from having let in less than half the number of goals conceded by three other sides around them in the league table. “That’s part of what we need to continue doing, but we need to dominate games and take our chances,” he insisted.

Bohemians’ two most senior players Dave Mulcahy (hamstring) and Jason Byrne (back strain) face late fitness tests. But Eoin Wearen (groin) has returned to training, meaning there is adequate cover at the back and Steven Beattie can again be played in attack.

Heary has identified some strikers as possible recruitment targets in the transfer window. “With our budget, they’re going to be young lads, not fellas looking for this and that, but with hunger.”

The memory of securing a draw against Dundalk two months ago when goalkeeper Dean Delany gave a man-of-the-match performance also puts Heary’s team in a positive frame of mind facing the league leaders.

“Their recent results show you the calibre of the team. I said at the start of the season I thought Dundalk were the most likely to win the league. They have that extra hunger after last year’s disappointment,” said Heary.

“This is another difficult game, but one the lads are looking forward to. We can’t go out thinking we’ll sit back because, if you do that, Dundalk will punish you. We have to take the game to them, without leaving gaps they can exploit.”

The Bohemian manager may have a near-full hand to deal from, depending on how some players recover from knocks received last Monday against Longford Town. Captain Dave Mulcahy was out for that match and faces a late fitness test for a tight hamstring.

Defender Eoin Wearen (groin) is still sidelined but, with the progressive return to full match fitness of Anto Murphy, Bohemians have several options across the back line. Left-back Jack Memery has returned to training following college exams.

Dan Byrne topped an outstanding performance in defence against Shamrock Rovers with a goal on Monday. “He has been excellent for us, and he’s there on merit. He has kept most of the top centre-forwards in the league at bay,” said Heary.

The Bohemian manager hopes to be able to move Stephen Beattie up front following his several weeks in the right-back position. “He offers us a bit more in attack with the pace he has.”

Striker Dinny Corcoran returned from suspension to score against Longford Town and his return allowed Jason Byrne to be rested and also to “take the pressure off him”.

Eighteen-year-old Gavin Moore will again be on the bench as substitute goalkeeper. Stepping into the senior Bohemian squad to replace the departed Lee Murphy means he missed a cup semi-final 4-1 victory on Monday with his under-19 team-mates and will now miss a final on Friday.