“We played very well against Galway. The most important thing was to get through to the next round but it was a very good team performance and we fully deserved to win.
“We had injuries coming up to the game and then more during it, but thankfully that didn’t stifle us.
“We followed that up against UCD too. The Leinster Senior Cup isn’t top of clubs’ priorities but it’s nice to get into the final.
“The most pleasing aspect was the manner of our performance, particularly our passing game in the second half, which bounces us on now into Sunday’s game.”
Both victories came at a price – all three of Bohs’ substitutions against Galway were enforced by injury.
Goalscorer Paddy Kavanagh (ankle), Jake Kelly (hamstring) and Derek Pender (quad) made way for Keith Buckley, Mark Quigley and Stephen Best respectively.
Quigley in turn was forced off in the first half against UCD with a knee injury and replaced by Ayman Ben Mohamed, who misses Sunday’s game and next Friday’s game against Wexford Youths due to his involvement with the Tunisia national team.
Kavanagh and Quigley remain sidelined through injury, but both are suspended for Sunday’s game anyway. There was better news for Bohs’ other walking wounded, who have all been passed fit to play.
Long said: “Paddy will be touch and go for the Wexford Youths game next week too. We mightn’t see him again until after the mid-season break.
“The good news is the damage to his ankle wasn’t as bad as we feared and we hope to have him back training next week.
“Jake and Derek are available for selection as is Lorcan Fitzgerald, who missed the Galway game with a hamstring injury.”
Those injuries allowed others to stake their claim for a starting place. Fitzgerald’s withdrawal saw Dylan Hayes drafted in at right-back against Galway, with skipper Pender moving to left-back.
With those three full-backs available for Sunday, Long is happy to have a selection headache.
He added: “When Derek was injured last season, Dylan came into the team and showed what he is capable of in the last series of games.
“Dylan’s unassuming, good on the ball and a tigerish tackler too. I’m happy for him as he has been training very well.
“He is pushing Derek the whole time and has been unlucky not to have forced his way in until now.
“Stephen Best, James Kavanagh and Paul Rooney all started against UCD too and gave good performances, so we do have options.”