Bohs’ veteran captain made a long awaited return to the starting line-up against Sligo, and there was surely no coincidence that the Gypsies kept their first clean sheet in 14 games with the former Shelbourne man in the side. “He just gives us that extra bit of experience”, said Callaghan.

“It obviously improves the communication amongst the defenders, and allows us to push Dave Mulcahy into midfield. When you have that type of experience, and work rate to come in, it rubs off on the young players. Owen is a winner, and it just shows you how important it is to have that experience in key positions.”

Looking ahead to this Friday’s clash, Bohs can stretch their lead over bottom-side Shelbourne to 11 points at the mid-season break. While Callaghan knows the importance of the game, he isn’t too concerned about the visitors’ place in the table.

“It’s a cup final for both clubs. Shels have improved under Johnny (McDonnell, new Shelbourne boss), he has them more organized. Both clubs know the importance of the game. Realistically, we have to look at the chasing pack around us. We know that Shels are within touching distance, but we can’t control what others are going to do.”

Callaghan acknowledges a mixed set of performances as we move past the half-way mark in the Airtricity League Premier Division.

“We’ve had some poor performances, we’ve had some mediocre performances, and we’ve had some very good performances. One of the key areas we need to address is our home form. We seem to be picking up some good points on our travels – we’ve got some good draws away to Drogheda, Pats, Shamrock Rovers, and obviously last week against Sligo. We know we have to improve our home form in the second half of the season”.

With the mid-season break approaching, Callaghan says that he will be looking to strenghthen the Bohs squad during the transfer window. “Budgets dictate what we can and can’t do, but we’ll definintely be looking to bring 2 or 3 in and maybe move two or three on who havent been playing much. I think at this stage of the season most clubs will be looking to do something.”

No players are definitively ruled out through injury for the Shelbourne game, but doubts include Owen Heary (hip), and Luke Byrne (dead leg). Keith Buckley is also nursing a hamstring strain, but Callaghan is hopeful all three will make the game.

“Lack of experience has at times gone against us and that can affect confidence but it’s my job to pick the guys up, ” Callaghan added.

“I think sometimes they don’t realise they can become good players, if they can get that bit of self-belief.  They’ve been working their hearts out since the start of the season and I believe the confidence they need at the moment will come back.”

Bohemians’ defeat to Drogheda in the FAI Cup last weekend “was not a three-goal game”, Callaghan insisted. “When we make a mistake we get punished for it. The other side of that coin is, when you get a rub of the green, it can change things for us. Against Drogheda, we hit the bar twice and we had a one-on-one.”

The manager is committed to giving his young players an opportunity to prove themselves and to develop. “It’s a positive for us that Adam Kelly made his début for us at 17 years of age [against Drogheda]. Most of the other squads are settled, with just one or two young lads, while we have a plethora of younger players with one or two more experienced ones.”

Striker Kelly had a break after the under-19 campaign and is working towards the fitness levels required for league action. Callaghan expects him to feature again in the remainder of this season, but is mainly looking to him as a prospect for next season.

At the other end of the age scale, Bohemians have “definitely missed Owen’s presence and influence”, the manager said. With Heary back, Dave Mulcahy can be moved into the centre of the park to help provide the kind of leadership that comes from “these guys who have gone through the mill”.

Heary (hip injury) faces a late fitness test for the Sligo trip but, as he possibly returns to action, another experienced player, Derek Pender (illness) is likely to be out.

There will also be late fitness tests for Luke Byrne, injured in training, and Keith Buckley, who came off in the last match with a hamstring strain. Andy Mulligan will be missing this weekend due to a family commitment.

Sligo Rovers, who have Anthony Elding and Evan McMillan suspended, have had a dip in form, Callaghan noted. “But it’s not over from their point of view. The gap at the top could be closed with a couple of results going against Pat’s. And it’s certainly not over for us.”

“Sometimes in a league game you’re happy enough to get a single point out of it. But we want to win this one, particularly as it’s on our home turf.”

The Bohemian manager admitted he would prefer to be playing a league game following last week’s defeat. “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and we’re waiting two weeks to put things right. But this is another competition we’re hoping to do well in.

“It’s a tough ask as this is one of only two all-Premier Division ties in the round. The cup draw hasn’t been kind to either Drogheda or ourselves and it’s going to be difficult for both of us.”

Despite his team slipping down the league table, Callaghan insists they go into the cup tie confident. “I’m always confident going into a match, even when performances may not have matched the standards we set for ourselves,” he said.

“We had a good result against them up in Drogheda [2-2, four weeks ago]. They have had some problems with consistency themselves. They had a heavy defeat in the Setanta Cup final and they seem to be conceding more goals than they did last year.

“It’s probably going to be an open game and you’ll see goals. We just hope we get more than they do.”

The most recent cup encounter between the sides was in the EA Sports Cup last season (10 April 2012). That game was level, 1-1, after extra time and went to penalties, Drogheda winning the shoot-out.

For Friday, Bohs are without Dave Scully, suspended for one match with four yellow cards. Owen Heary remains out with a hip injury, though he has returned to training and may be fit for Bohemians’ next league match.

The absence of Scully and Heary, following the recent departure of Stephen Paisley, means Bohemians are short on bigger, stronger players.

“Drogheda are a strong, physical side and we may be a bit lightweight. To be missing Dave’s height and his battling qualities is disappointing,” said Callaghan.

Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne and Chris Lyons have returned to the squad after training with the Ireland under-21s. Callaghan is delighted with the opportunity these young players have had, “and it shows we must be doing something right when we supplied three of the 22 players in the squad”.

Last Friday’s late equaliser against Shamrock Rovers represented just reward for the players’ efforts, added Callaghan. “That was probably our best performance of the season. We passed the ball well and we had a great confidence and energy about us.”

Ryan McEvoy’s equaliser also cancelled out a deficit due to “as bad a referee’s decision as I’ve seen anywhere in the game”, according to the Bohemian manager.

“To come back from that and get a goal in injury time was brilliant. But it would have been one hell of an injustice if we hadn’t got something from that game.”

Friday’s match will be Bohemians’ second league game against St Patrick’s Athletic in less than a month. “We went over to them a few weeks back and we had a good performance. They’re a very good side and it will be a difficult game in Dalymount. We will have to be at our best to get a result,” said Callaghan.

Nine of the last ten league games between Bohemians and Pats have been drawn or decided by a single goal either way.

Captain Owen Heary (hip) and Conor O’Brien (illness) are out, as is Keith Buckley who serves out the second game of his two-match suspension.

Callaghan made eight changes from last Friday to Monday. “You take a big risk when you do that but you’ve got to give these guys game-time because you will need them before the end of the season.”

Against Shamrock Rovers he put on 19-year-old defender Michael Scott for his first league appearance, placing him up-front in the hope of taking advantage of his height and he was on the field when the equaliser was scored.

Callaghan’s faith in the other less-tested players was rewarded on Monday, as was his entrusting of the captaincy to Luke Byrne, the third 19-year-old to lead Bohemians’ senior team in the last three years.

“I saw leadership qualities in Luke the first week I trained with him. Asking him to skipper the side is just reward for Luke’s attitude, effort and dedication.”

“If you get the right draws and right results you find yourself all of a sudden in a semi-final. It’s a very important game from the club’s perspective,” he added.

Looking back to Friday’s Dublin derby, Callaghan believes a draw was the least his side deserved having proved more than a match for their more illustrious opponents for large periods of the game.

Callaghan added:  “It’s chalk and cheese in terms of the personnel at the moment. We put it up to them on Friday and we fully deserved our point if not the three.

“The group that we work with, every day in training they work their socks off. Their attitude for the cause has been absolutely superb all season.

“We’ve had some tough games and we’re still a work in progress. I keep telling people I’m not trying to build a team, I’m trying to build a club and you can’t build a club overnight.

“It takes a bit of time to develop those young kids. But they’re growing in stature. Lukey Byrne I thought was absolutely brilliant on Friday alongside Dave Mulcahy, who got man of the match. You could have given it to five or six of our lads.

“Michael Scott came on for his debut. You could see the difference with what Rovers were bringing off the bench.”

With a congested fixture list, Callaghan expects “to rotate one or two players”  and his squad is boosted by the return of defender Roberto Lyons and striker Chris Lyons, who both missed Friday’s game through suspension.

But Keith Buckley – one of the star performers in Tallaght – misses out as he serves the first of a two-match ban having been sent off in last week’s 1-0 defeat against UCD.

NOTE: Members can attend this game for the reduced price of €5.