Bohs welcomed back a familiar face in the blue jerseys of Bray, with Keith Buckley making his first appearance against his beloved Gypsies. However, the midfielder was mostly anonymous as Bohs took hold of the game from the off, and produced a composed and controlling first half performance. Keith Ward and Dinny Corcoran seem to have formed a nice link on their return, and they strung together the first move of the game with a neat one-two followed by a Ward power drive from 20 yards that Peter Cherrie had to acrobatically beat away.

Bohs dominated the middle part of the half with a string of corners, 6 in total peppering the Seagulls’ box. Dan Byrne went closest from a Fitzgerald corner, but the defender couldn’t scramble the ball home after Cherrie missed a punch. Set pieces were a friend to the home side in the first half, and Ward almost gave them the lead when his free kick crashed off the crossbar just before half time. The Jodi Stand crowd gave the Bohs players a hearty ovation on their way off, and Keith Long would have been happy with what he saw. Five minutes after the break, his side were inexplicably two down.

Bray’s first was courtesy of a sloppily-defended corner – their first of the game. Gary McCabe swung the ball in low from the far side, and it squirted all the way across to the back post where John Sullivan had the simple task of side-footing home from four yards. Bohs barely had time to catch their breath before the second came. A hopeful cross-field ball from Aaron Greene was misjudged badly by Derek Pender, leaving Dylan Connolly through on goal. The Bray winger showed why Dundalk pursued him all winter by finishing clinically past Supple, and suddenly, Bray were cruising.

The next goal was obviously going to be crucial, and it was a huge moment when Bohs struck, just 4 minutes after Bray’s second goal. If the game had been allowed to settle down at 0-2, you sense the atmosphere could have turned quiet and despondent in the crowd. As it was, Dinny Corcoran pounced with a goal quite similar to the one he scored on the opening night against Derry City. A ball forward from Jamie Doyle was headed into Corcoran’s path by Bray full back and Domhnall Gleeson lookalike Hugh Douglas. Dinny took his time, and sent Cherrie the wrong way with a rolled finish into the corner.

The home crowd kept behind the team, and the deserved equaliser arrived with 20 minutes left on the clock. This time Corcoran was the provider – squaring the ball to Keith Ward after a fast counter attack. Ward still had work to do 25 yards from goal, but his first touch was excellent out of his feet, and the shot went through Cherrie’s legs into the net. After that, the momentum was all with Bohs, and the winner felt like it was a probability rather than a hopeful possibility.

The fifth and final goal was a simple but effective move – with a long ball from defence flicked on perfectly by Jamie Doyle to set Corcoran through. The striker displayed icy coolness to stare down Cherrie again, and slot the ball into the opposite corner. Both of his strikes were composed finishes, almost trickled into the net with poise and finesse. A striker with those instincts can be worth his weight in gold – and Dinny produced the goods to deliver the points for Bohs tonight – just as he did so often in the 2012 season when he was the last Bohs player to hit 20+ goals in a single campaign.

The games come thick and fast at the start of the season, with the Bohs bus rolling into Limerick on Monday night before a home tie against Galway United on St Patrick’s Day.

Bohemian FC: Shane Supple, Derek Pender, Dan Byrne, Rob Cornwall, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Paddy Kavanagh, Ian Morris, Georgie Poynton, Keith Ward (Philly Gannon, 61), Jamie Doyle, Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Greg Murray, Stephen Best, Kaleem Simon, Oscar Brennan, Dean Casey, Dylan Hayes.

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie, Hugh Douglas, Conor Kenna, Tim Clancy, Kevin Lynch, Keith Buckley (Ryan Brennan, 83), John Sullivan, Aaron Greene (Karl Moore, 71), Gary McCabe (Jamie Ahearne, 85), Dylan Connolly, Anthony ‘Bisto’ Flood. Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Jason Marks, Mark Salmon, Derek Foran.

BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Dinny Corcoran

“Bray had a strong second half of the season last year when Harry Kenny came in and they’ve continued that form into this season.

“They’ve invested heavily and will be aiming to break into the top four so it’s going to be another tricky game.

“But we have to concentrate on ourselves and our own performance. It’s important we start to pick up points.”

Long has seen enough from the opening two games to be confident his side’s fortunes will improve.

He said: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We are only two games in and we’ve played two of the best teams in the league.

“We showed in patches against both Derry and Rovers what we are capable of but we need to keep that up for 90 minutes.

“We know where we need to work on and improve. We’ve been our own worst enemy at times.

“But I don’t believe there’s been that much in the two games so far. We haven’t been carved up.

“It’s individual mistakes that have cost us, but we’re not that far away.”

It would be easy for heads to drop, but Long insists the squad remain confident and buoyed by the support they have received so far.

Long added: “The fans have been terrific. Against Derry, Bohs fans aren’t used to losing by that kind of scoreline – especially at home – but they still backed us right up to full-time and after the game.

“Bohs fans are fair. We all want results but they know the players are giving it everything and the supporters are all getting behind them.

“It was the same in Tallaght. We brought a huge crowd out there and they backed us throughout.

“We want to see those numbers out again and we will be striving to get our season up and running to send them home happy.”

TEAM NEWS

Long has bolstered his squad with the re-signing of right-back Dylan Hayes, who is expected to go straight into the matchday squad.

Dan Byrne and Dinny Corcoran were both forced off with injuries at half-time against Shamrock Rovers last week.

Byrne (ankle) will miss out but it is hoped Corcoran (back) will be fit to start.

Long-term absentees Izzy Akinade (recovering from surgery to have his spleen removed) and Eoin Wearen (cruciate) remain sidelined.

To achieve this potential, we need the support and input of all our fans and not just the members.

Therefore, the board has called an open meeting for Wednesday March 15th at 7pm in the Members’ Bar at Dalymount Park.

At the meeting, supporters will be updated on how the Club is operating and the plans we have for the future.

After the directors give their updates, Paddy Mullins, our new Volunteer Liaison Officer, will advise you of the help we need, the positions that need to be filled and the estimated time involved in each case.

If you are unable to attend this meeting, but wish to put yourself forward to volunteer for the Club, please contact Paddy directly at volunteer@bohemians.ie

I hope as many people as possible make it to the meeting as I have no doubt that together we will achieve all our goals.

Chris Brien
President
Bohemian FC

“Our players gave everything, even at 3-0 down. We got a goal back and then had a goal ruled out that should have been given in my opinion.

“That would have made it 3-2 and it’s a completely different dynamic then, so I was pleased with the players’ attitude and willingness to get back into the game.

“But the bottom line is we have to cut out basic errors. That’s what cost us.

“Derry are a good side, so you can’t make it easy for them. We’ve been working on that in training all week and the application of the players has been excellent.

“We’ll be going to Tallaght with confidence.”

The Dublin derby is the first game both sets of supporters look for when the fixture list comes out.

Long said: “The game has come early! It’s a big one for both clubs. Rovers have spent a lot of money assembling a squad that is expected to challenge, so there’s pressure there too.

“We’ve both started the season with a defeat. There’s pressure on both teams even though we’re only one game in.

“We can pretend it’s just another game but we all know that’s not true. But it’s a great game and occasion for us to go and try bounce back.

“We just have to go out, focus on our own game and deliver a performance.”

Long said his new squad were enthused and encouraged by the support they received last week and is counting on more of the same in Tallaght.

He added: “The supporters were brilliant. They were as disappointed as we were coming off the pitch but their support throughout gave us a big lift.

“They really got behind us. They were fantastic. We know that they will bring that to Tallaght on Friday too. There’s always a big atmosphere and the players feed off the energy and buzz of our fans.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs continue to be without the services of Eoin Wearen (cruciate) and Ismahil Akinade, who underwent surgery on Wednesday to remove his spleen in order to rectify a blood platelets count issue.

BARS OPEN AT DALYMOUNT PARK

For those not travelling to Tallaght, the Members’ Bar at Dalymount Park will be open from 7pm and will be showing the game. All pints €4.

Henry James Cannon was born on July 11, 1897, in Dungloe, the son of Thomas and Mary (nee Duffy) Cannon.

Thomas Cannon was a carpenter by trade and the family moved to Dublin shortly after the birth of Henry James, universally known as Harry.

Little is know about the family the Cannons left behind in Donegal.

However, it is known that Harry was a first cousin of Hugh Patrick O’Donnell, an Ardara man who died while a prisoner of war at in the hands of the Japanese in 1943. His brother, Harry O’Donnell, was also a wellknown Ardara and Donegal intercounty footballer.

In 1901, the Cannon family resided in Irishtown in Dublin. By 1911, they resided at the middle-class Herbert Place, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

Prior to joining the army of the Irish Free State on 26 August 1922, Harry Cannon worked as a solicitor’s assistant. He enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers and after two months at the rank of private, he was promoted to the rank of temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 23 October 1922 and was awarded the rank permanently in April 1923. In April 1924, he attained the rank of Lieutenant and became a Captain in October 1929.

He died in service on 18 March 1944.

Almost from the beginning, sport played a central role in the newly formed Irish Free State army and this was given formal recognition on 31 March 1923 with the formation of the Army Athletic Association (AAA). However, the agenda-driven organisation of army sport went far beyond the development of physical fitness and a sporting spirit. The army scheme was designed so that the soldiers could ‘secure plenty of variety in their athletic training without having recourse to (sports) other than Gaelic games.’ The variety of sports approved by the AAA was claimed to include almost anything that did not extend to soccer, rugby, cricket or hockey, the sports designated as ‘foreign’ by the GAA and which members of the organisation were forbidden to play or promote.

GAELIC AND HURLING

Harry Cannon was a prominent and active hurling and Gaelic football player when he joined the army in 1922.

In 1925, he ended his GAA career and began a lifelong association with Bohemians, the leading amateur soccer club in Dublin. When his playing career ended, he served the Bohemians club as honorary treasurer, vicepresident and committee member.

In the Leinster Cup final of 1926, Cannon was ‘a brilliant goalkeeper’ whose ‘sure fielding and a stylish manner of completing his clearances made his work good to watch.’ A few weeks later, he was again a brilliant performer in Bohemians 2-1 friendly victory over St Mirren, who fielded the team that had beaten Celtic FC in the Scottish cup final.

Opting to pursue a new career with Bohemians in the association code was a decision that required the greatest of moral courage. Soccer was a designated ‘foreign game’ by the apostles of the Irish-Ireland movement and officially excluded from the acceptable sporting pursuits appropriate for a soldier or officer of the Irish army.

Playing soccer with Bohemians considerably expanded Cannon’s sporting horizons. A year after joining the club, he was displaying his talents to a London audience as a member of the Bohemians team that played in friendly matches against London Caledonians and Tottenham Hotspurs. He captained Bohemians in the 1927/28 season, the finest in the club’s history, which ended in May 1928 when the club beat St James Gate 2-1 to win the FAIFS Shield competition and complete the grand slam of available senior titles for the only time in the club’s history.

THE IRISH FREE STATE AND INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Harry Cannon’s good form for Bohemians earned him selection for the first international match played by the FAIFS. This match was organised by the FAIFS, which was established on 2 September 1921. Prior to this, football in Ireland was organised, promoted and managed by the Belfast-based Irish Football Association (IFA) established in 1880.

The break with the IFA took place prior to the partition of the country and was a product of political, organisational and cultural differences in how football was organised. In September 1923, the new football association achieved FIFA recognition and this entitled it to participate in international competition.

As one of the countries that supported the Irish application for FIFA membership, it was appropriate that Italy provided the opposition for the first international played in Turin on 21 March 1926. The selection was confined to the domestic league on this occasion. Cannon and the three other amateurs involved received inscribed gold medals to the value of three guineas to mark the occasion.

The match attracted an attendance of 12,000 and Harry Cannon and Frank Brady excelled as the Irish Free State were beaten 3-0. The players stopped off on the return journey in Paris where they played a friendly match against Cercle Athlequike de Paris under the name of the Irish Nomads on 24 March 1926. Harry Cannon made his second international appearance when he was a member of the Irish team that beat Belgium 42 in Liege on 12 February 1928. An attendance of 25,000 witnessed the Irish Free State’s first international victory. A Cannon penalty save was the first by an Irish goalkeeper in an international match.

HARRY CANNON: THE SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR

Cannon was introduced to the world of sports administration through the AAA and through this, he became involved in the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) which in turn introduced him to the Olympic movement in Ireland.

Cannon’s association with the Irish Olympic Council began in 1931.

He was one of the three high-powered officials of the IABA who combined with officials of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA) and the National Athletic and Cycling Association of Ireland (NACAI) and forced JJ Keane to re-engage with the Olympic Movement in Ireland.

On 26 August 1931, officials from the IABA, the NACAI and the IASA held a meeting, at which a general discussion on Olympic matters took place. It was decided to arrange a conference for the following week ‘for the purpose of carrying through arrangements for the Olympic Games of 1932.’

Those present went ahead and elected Eoin O’Duffy (President), Harry Cannon (Secretary) and H. F. Brennan (Treasurer) as the officers of the new committee.

THE GAMES OF THE XTH OLYMPIAD, LOS ANGELES, 1932

As honorary secretary, Harry Cannon was responsible for the day-today administration of the Irish Olympic Council and was a member of its standing committee established in November 1931.

Cannon was present at all eight council meetings held during the Los Angeles cycle and his chief responsibilities were co-ordinating fund-raising, finalising transport arrangements, entering competitors and communicating with the Los Angeles Organising Committee. At a council meeting on 28 June, he was given an additional responsibility when he was appointed Chef de Mission of the Irish team. As such, he was effectively the team manager in Los Angeles and brought the experience of a stillactive competitive sportsman to the

post for the only occasion in Irish Olympic history.

The Irish Olympic Council’s time of preparation for the Los Angeles Games was short. On 3 July, the fourman athletics team sailed from Cobh aboard the White Star liner, the Adriatic, accompanied by Tommy Maloney, who worked with the athletes maintaining their fitness levels on the trans-Atlantic journey. The four boxers and Olympic officials including Harry Cannon departed from

Cobh on 10 July. As a result of the early departure, the Irish athletic team had acclimatised for eight days in Los Angeles before the Great Britain team arrived. The result was unimagined success for the small eight-man team with Bob Tisdall and Dr Pat O’Callaghan winning Olympic titles, Eamonn Fitzgerald finished in fourth place in the triple jump and boxer James Murphy also finished in fourth place after injury prevented him from competing in the bronze medal box-off.

There were also successes on the diplomatic front. The world governing bodies of the various Olympic sports hold their assemblies in association with the Games and Cannon was elected to the executive board of the Federation Internationale de Boxe Amateur (FIBA), the world governing body of amateur boxing.

As honorary secretary of the Irish Olympic Council and Chef de Mission in Los Angeles, it was Harry Cannon’s duty to present a report on the Irish involvement in the Games. The report was simple, factual and infused with a sense of national pride at the achievements of the small Irish team.

At the Parade of Nations segment of the Opening Ceremony, ‘Ireland made an imposing display, and received a tremendous reception from the 105,000 people present.’ He was briefly associated with the Council’s campaign that began in 1935 to have the island of Ireland recognised as the representative unit for Olympic competition. Ireland, as a 32-county entity, competed at the Olympic Games of 1924,1928 and 1932.

Despite his duties as an administrator of sport, Harry Cannon continued to play soccer at the highest level in the Irish domestic league and he did not retire from Bohemians until the end of the 1936 season. His last game for Bohemians was an unusual one; he emerged from his soccer exile in April 1937 and played with a club selection of retired and contemporary players who defeated a team from the German Battleship Schleswig-Holstein (2-1) in a friendly match staged in Dalymount Park.

The occasion is of some significance as it was the first occasion Olympic handball was played in Ireland.