If you or your company would like to hear more about our matchday sponsorship packages, please email: commercial@bohemians.ie.

“We are coming into this one on a high and we will take the game to them. We’re not going to sit back and see what Pat’s have, because if you sit off them they will punish you.”

Heary was happy that Bohemians started last week’s game in Limerick at the level of intensity he wanted. They were unlucky to concede a goal against the run of play, from failing to deal with a long throw.

“We deserved the three points down there. We created most of the chances in the first half and in the second half we took two of the late chances. It was positive that we kept going till the 90 minutes. That win proved that the earlier one in the cup wasn’t a fluke,” said the Bohemian manager.

The win was secured despite Dinny Corcoran having a penalty saved for the second match in succession. Heary commended his striker for having the confidence to step up again, when the experience of the World Cup shows that the very best players can miss penalties.

“I wasn’t one for taking penalties and I have full respect for anyone that does. I didn’t see anyone else last week rushing to take the penalty.”

Stuart Taylor quit as Limerick manager in the days after that defeat, joining Ian Barraclough and Robbie Horgan among the recent managerial casualties. Clubs that are putting bigger investments into their facilities and squads have higher expectations, observed Heary.

“If you have a full-time squad like Limerick you expect to be doing a lot better than where they are at present. Drogheda too have put a lot of money in.

“That increases the pressure on the manager. Thankfully, I don’t think I’m under too much pressure of that kind.”

Eoin Wearen put in another solid performance last Friday in midfield, having impressed both there and in defence since he joined ten weeks ago. His first goal for Bohemians was just reward for his efforts, according to Heary.

The manager will reshuffle his midfield this week with captain Dave Mulcahy’s return from hamstring injury. Defender Aidan Price also comes back from ankle injury but left-back Jack Memery will have a late fitness test for a knock to the knee.

Heary will take the opportunity of friendlies against Dundee United (Saturday, 12 July, 3pm) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wednesday, 16 July, 7.45pm) to give ‘fringe’ players and some under-19s a test at higher levels.

Pic: Eoin Wearen in action against St Pat’s in the EA Sports Cup (Eddie Lennon, eddielennonsportingimages.com)

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

Like far too many of the league games at Dalymount this season, the home team were laboured and sluggish in the first period. Sticking with the attacking 4-4-2 formation that put Bray and Limerick to the sword, Heary set out his attacking intentions against the team that lost all 10 of their opening league games. However, movement was stifled by a hard-working three-man Athlone midfield, and Alan Byrne at the back seemed to be capable of dominating Dinny Corcoran and Steven Beattie in the air. Byrne was mopping up 99% of the disappointing long balls into the Athlone box, and Corcoran and Beattie cut frustrated figures.

Even against a dogged Town, it was a surprise when the opening goal came against the run of play. Athlone had barely ventured anywhere near Dean Delany when suddenly, a quick-fire break tore the Bohs defence open. Neat interplay between Kealan Dillon and Barry Clancy led to Clancy toe-poking the ball through to James O’Brien. Delany rushed out to close down the space, but O’Brien stayed cool and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Bohs almost replied instantly, but Keith Buckley’s dangerous cross flashed across the face of goal and wide.

The second half couldn’t have started worse for Bohs, and in particular for Jack Memery. The left back was making his first appearance since a nightmare against Shamrock Rovers, and was completely culpable for the Athlone second, which arrived just a minute after the break. Memery dawdled on a long punt, allowing it to bounce high before attempting a hooked clearance. Sean Brennan blocked down the Memery clearance, and was suddenly bearing through on the right flank. His cross was identical to Buckley’s, and Philip Gorman hit the post sliding in at the back. However, the rebound fell straight to James O’Brien, who grabbed his second to send the small band of travelling support wild. Remember, Athlone had won a single point from 8 away games before last night.

Heary’s response was immediate. Kevin Devaney replaced Buckley on the right, and the effect was immediate. He showed a pace and power that Buckley lacked, and immediately turned the Athlone defence toward their own goal. It took just three minutes for him to grab Bohs’ first. He started a run from about thirty yards out, beat two Athlone defenders, and was suddenly in on goal. His left footed shot was somewhat scuffed, but squirmed underneath Paul Skinner and into the net.

Cue referee Paul McLaughlin’s entry into the affair. Bohs’ first penalty appeal was 50-50 as Prendergast and Beattie clashed. McLaughlin ruled that Prendergast got a touch on the ball, but Beattie, the Bohs bench, and the Jodi Stand were incensed. The second appeal was much more clear cut. A Memery cross bounced up at Alan Byrne, who dipped his arm and clearly made contact. with his bicep. Again, McLaughlin was having none of it, to the Bohs fans chagrin.

The equaliser came with more than enough time to get a winner. 77 minutes had gone when Anto Murphy’s looped header entered the box. Alan Byrne, immaculate all evening, missed his clearance, allowing Dinny Corcoran with a free shot from 6 yards. Dinny notched his 12th goal of the season, and surely there was only one winner from here? The third and final penalty claim proved to be the one – this time it was Neil Harney who hand-balled, in a similar fashion to Byrne just minutes earlier. McLaughlin was still in no mood to give it, but the linesman flagged, and Bohs had the chance to finally win a league game at Dalymount for the first time since September 2013. Harney got a second yellow card for the offence, and marched off. However, Dinny’s penalty was weakish – low and not sufficiently into the corner. Skinner palmed it away easily, and the ball was cleared for a corner.

Disappointment at not winning, but relief at not losing was clear. Bohs remain 9 points clear of bottom of the table Athlone, but with Champions St. Pats and title-chasing Cork City the next two visitors to Dalymount, the search for an elusive home league win may continue.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Anto Murphy, Dano Byrne, Aidan Price, Jack Memery, Keith Buckley (Kevin Devaney 54), Roberto Lopes, Eoin Wearen, Paddy Kavanagh (Karl Moore, 83), Steven Beattie, Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Ryan McEvoy, Jason Byrne, Jake Hyland, Craig Walsh, Gavin Moore.

Athlone Town: Paul Skinner, Stephen Quigley, Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne, Sean Byrne, Kealan Dillon, Mark Hughes, Sean Brennan, James O’Brien (Ian Sweeney 84), Barry Clancy (Neil Harney 68), Philip Gorman. Subs not used: Derek Doyle, Graham Rusk, Thomas Mulroney, Dean Mahon, Jason Marks.

Mr. Green Bohemian Man of the Match: Kevin Devaney

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.