Women’s National League
Saturday March 5 2022
Tolka Park, 2pm
Streaming free on LOITV

Bohemians face the toughest possible start to the 2022 WNL season away to champions Shelbourne this afternoon but they are not daunted by the challenge and are excited by what may lie ahead this year.

Ciara Maher is one of several new arrivals at Dalymount Park as Bohs look to build on last season’s sixth-placed finish.

A good passer of the ball and comfortable as both a defensive midfielder and as an attacking one, Maher, who arrived after three seasons with DLR Waves, says her team-mates are raring to go.

She said: “It is a tough start. We are facing the champions who have been a settled team now for a number of years. They haven’t brought many players in and haven’t lost many either.

“We on the other hand have a lot of new players, so naturally it will take us a while to gel fully. But pre-season has been great and we all can’t wait to get started.”

Another big step forward for women’s football at Bohemians was the confirmation over the closed season that all home WNL games will be hosted at Dalymount Park this year.

Maher said: “It is brilliant. You just cannot compare playing in the Oscar Traynor to playing at Dalymount.

“It is a sign of progression of women’s football in Ireland now that stadiums like Dalymount Park, Turner’s Cross and Tolka Park are hosting WNL games.

“It shows clubs are taking the women’s game seriously and it will mean a lot for young girls coming through that they can aspire to play in these stadiums just like the boys do.

“We can’t wait to play in Dalymount. You see the atmosphere at the men’s games and the crowds they bring in.

“We know we are not going to get crowds like that overnight but it is something we can aim for.

“There is definitely great support already from fans of the club. We’ve seen it on social media and on the messages we have received on social media too, so we hope that they get behind us in Dalymount too.”

Please note the following fixture/kick-off time updates:

• Sligo Rovers v Bohemians, originally scheduled for the opening day of the season, will now take place on Tuesday April 5 at 7.45pm.
• UCD v Bohemians on Friday March 18 (Bank Holiday) will now take place at the earlier time of 5pm.
• Shelbourne v Bohemians on Easter Monday April 18 (Bank Holiday) will now take place at the earlier time of 3pm.

SSE Airtricity League
Friday March 4 2022
Finn Park, 8pm
Live on LOITV

Ali Coote is happy with his new central role with Bohemians – even if those who have replaced him on the wings have been the centre of attention so far.

Bohs have amassed four points from their opening two games of the 2022 SSE Airtricity League season with a 2-2 draw against Dundalk last Friday and a 1-0 win against St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday.

Used mainly out wide on the right in 2021, Coote impressed in his debut season at Dalymount Park, so much so that he picked up the SSE Airtricity/SWI August Player of the Month Award following the starring role he played in Bohs’ European run.

This year so far, however, Coote has played in the central role behind the striker that was vacated by Ross Tierney following his closed season move to Motherwell.

And 23-year-old Coote is happy to be given an opportunity in a position that he feels comes more naturally to him.

The Scotsman, who lives with team-mates Liam Burt, Stephen Mallon and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, said: “I am really enjoying the role so far. It is more my position.

“Last season, when I was playing on the right, I was more plugging a hole.

“I think I did quite well there, but I am happy to show what I can do in a different role this season.”

The role Coote himself has vacated for now has seen Kris Twardek reclaim the right-wing berth he occupied in 2020 season before he departed for stints in Poland and Czech Republic, while Burt’s absence through injury has afforded fit-again Mallon an opportunity to impress on the opposite flank.

Twardek’s performances in the opening two games have earned great plaudits, while Mallon claimed the headlines on Monday with his Dublin derby winner.

Coote said: “We all knew what Stephen was capable of. We saw it in training last season and in the few minutes he got last season.

“We are delighted he finally has a chance to show that properly now, and that he got his first goal as well. Long may that continue.

“We all know what Kris is capable of as well from his time with Bohs and the league previously. He is a really quick and physical threat, and has come into the team and has done really well so far.”

While the season is only in its infancy, the attacking performances so far bode well for the time ahead, particularly when you consider the talent of Burt and Junior are yet to come into contention.

Coote said: “You need that element of healthy competition in the squad so that in every game and training session we keep returning a high level performance.

“I think we have been good so far. We built on our performance in the first game to get a good result against St Pat’s. To be honest, we felt we could have been more clinical in that game too, so there is plenty to work on.

“The whole team is young. It will take time to get exactly where we want to be but we seem to be clicking quickly so far.

“We are fully aware that we need to keep that going, and that we need to keep on improving now, but the signs are positive so far.”

Coote and Co will look to build on their opening two outings when they make the long trip to Donegal to face Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps.

Coote added: “Finn Harps is another big challenge for us to see where we are at – we all know how tough a place it is to go, and that they have a unique direct style. We will need to be at our very best.”

TEAM NEWS

Liam Burt (groin) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (ankle) remain unavailable.

Premier Property Group and Bohemian FC are proud to announce the start of a new partnership ahead of the 2022 season.

The new agreement will see Premier Property Group increase its involvement with Bohemian FC, which began in 2021 as a sector partner of the women’s national league team, to now become the main shirt partner.

Premier Property Group Managing Director John Powell said: “I am delighted to strengthen our relationship with Bohemians by becoming the main shirt partner of the women’s team.

“Bohemian FC, as one of Ireland’s most famous football clubs, are leading the way in their supports and promotion of the female game, and this is something we also feel strongly about.

READ MORE

Stephen Mallon’s first Bohemians goal was enough to seal all three points in a highly entertaining Dublin derby at Dalymount Park. Colm McDonnell and Dave Scully were on commentary.

Bohemians went some way towards avenging last season’s FAI Cup final defeat with a well-earned three points at home to St Patrick’s Athletic in front of a bumper crowd at Dalymount Park.

Stephen Mallon’s brilliantly-taken second-half goal was enough to earn victory in another high quality and, at times, feisty affair.

Both teams came flying out of the traps and it was the visitors who thought they made the dream start when Tunde Owalabi smashed home with just three minutes played, only to see the assistants flag raised.

The game was played at blistering pace with Kris Twardek a constant threat down the right wing, and had a snap-shot at the near post well saved just moments later.

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Bohemians finally got their season underway in an enthralling draw with Dundalk.

Having twice taken the lead through debutant and ex-Lilywhite Jordan Flores and Promise Omochere, the Gypsies let slip their advantage on both occasions as Pat Hoban and Steven Bradley conjured up equalisers.

It has been a long 89 days since the Bohemians faithful saw their heroes kick a competitive ball and, having seen last week’s encounter with Sligo Rovers called off, the excitement and anticipation from players and fans alike was a joy to behold

As has become the norm, there was a high turnover over playing staff, but plenty for the home fans to be positive about with the return of cult hero Kris Twardek and big name signings like Flores and Junior.

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Prodigal son Kris Twardek was one of the key performers on his return to Bohemians in last night’s 2-2 draw with Dundalk. Afterwards, he spoke with Colm McDonnell.

SSE Airtricity League
Friday February 25 2022
Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Live on LOITV.ie

Keith Long wants Bohemians to start as they mean to go on by making a good first impression and getting a sold-out Jodi Stand behind them from the off this evening.

Long said: “All clubs look forward to the beginning of the season every year with high hopes, great anticipation and expectations.

“We are no different as we seek to kick off our campaign with a positive performance and result at home in front of our fans.

“Dalymount is a special place to play football and it is important to try and make a good first impression, get the crowd behind us and play to our capacity.

“We know the importance of getting a good start and we hope to do that tonight with a positive display.

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