Brien said: “As supporters will already be well aware of, the club formed a partnership with Baltimore Bohemians in July. The partnership covers a number of areas, including commercial opportunities.

“In early November, I was invited by Baltimore Bohemians to join them at the Maryland Irish Festival and was obviously only too delighted to accept their invitation. The Baltimore Bohs were kind enough to cover all my travel expenses.

“The Baltimore Bohs had a stall at the festival and we showcased some of our own Gypsies gear on the stall alongside Baltimore Bohs merchandise in what was a very worthwhile exercise in increasing both clubs’ profiles and creating awareness about the clubs’ ongoing partnership.

“Baltimore Bohemians only came into existence in 2011, so they have a big job ahead of them in trying to attract fans, particularly as they are competing with the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and the Baltimore Ravens American football team.”

Chris was delighted to finally be able to put faces to the names of people with whom he had shared regular correspondence in recent months.

He said: “As well as the enjoyment of the festival itself, it was a great opportunity to meet with the people I had been in contact through email over the previous four months. I met with Joe and James Tirabassi, who own the Baltimore Bohs along with their business partner Louis Angelos. Unfortunately Louis was unavailable during the weekend.

“I also met Judge Phil Tirabassi – Joe and Jim’s dad – who was my host for the weekend together with Brian McMearty, a huge fan and stalwart of the club. We spoke about our plans and hopes for the future, and the sharing of ideas was extremely beneficial to both parties.

“It was a short visit – I flew out of Shannon on Friday November 8th and returned on Sunday the 10th – but it was certainly worth it.

“It is one of the aims of the partnership to provide exposure for one another in our respective countries. It is for this reason that the trip was organised and hopefully we will see the benefits of our relationship grow over the coming years.

“My thanks again to the Tirabassi family and Brian McMearty for making me feel so welcome and for sharing their ideas with me.”

Show your support for our American friends by following @BaltimoreBohs on Twitter and liking Baltimore Bohemians on Facebook.

Picture shows  it’s Joe Tirabassi, Chris Brien, Phil Tirabassi and Jim Tirabassi

Buy your ticket now to make sure you don’t miss out!

NOVEMBER DRAW

10 Winners : €100 each

• Ticket: 0235 – Winner: David & Marian Maguire – Seller: Sean Maguire
• Ticket: 0794 – Winner: Thomas Cassidy – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 1998 – Winner: Robert Dunne – Seller: Joe Hanberry, Newtown House
• Ticket: 0125 – Winner: GS, GB, DM, WQ – Seller: Liam Parsons, Traders
• Ticket: 0914 – Winner: John Smith – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0961 – Winner: Alan Carr – Seller: Mick Scully, Chelsea S.C.
• Ticket: 1709 – Winner: Ciaran Whelan – Seller: Eddie Smith
• Ticket: 1823 – Winner: Gerry Conway – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0561 – Winner: The 4 Amigos – Seller: Eamon Murray
• Ticket: 0001 – Winner: Big Al – Seller: The Yank
• 11th Prize: Voucher for Castleknock Hotel. Ticket: 0655 – Winner: Killian Molloy – Seller: Oliver Ward

OCTOBER DRAW

10 Winners : €100 each

• Ticket: 0990 – Winner: Katie Whelan – Seller: Mick Scully, Chelsea S.C.
• Ticket: 0578 – Winner: Tony Norton – Seller: Pat Flynn
• Ticket: 0840 – Winner: Colm Grace – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0208 – Winner: James O’Neill – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0606 – Winner: Damien Stain – Seller: Mick Greene, D.I.T.
• Ticket: 0793 – Winner: Thomas Cassidy – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0160 – Winner: Noel Byrne – Seller: Stephen McLoughlin
• Ticket: 1341 – Winner: Grace Lambert – Seller: Stephen Lambert
• Ticket: 1035 – Winner: Brian Mulcahy – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0350 – Winner: Joe Shannon – Seller: Tony Colmey
• 11th Prize: Voucher for Castleknock Hotel. Ticket: 0629 – Winner: Charlie Burke – Seller: Mick Greene, D.I.T.

SEPTEMBER DRAW

10 Winners : €100 each

• Ticket: 0220 – Winner: Gerard Coughlan – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 1092 – Winner: Matthew Broderick – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0315 – Winner: Kay Wade – Seller: Tony Colmey
• Ticket: 0789 – Winner: Carol Kennedy – Seller: Eddie Smith
• Ticket: 1934 – Winner: David Nicholson – Seller: McManus
• Ticket: 1316 – Winner: Paddy Cowzer – Seller: Stephen Lambert
• Ticket: 0639 – Winner: Pat Rice – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 1008 – Winner: Paul & Coco – Seller: Anne Delaney
• Ticket: 0668 – Winner: Anto Farrell – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0666 – Winner: Marie Nugent – Seller: Anto Farrell
• 11th Prize: Voucher for Castleknock Hotel. Ticket: 1147 – Winner: Dermot Mullen – Seller: Chris Brien

AUGUST DRAW

10 Winners :  €100 each

• Ticket: 0404 – Winner: Brendan Buggy – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 1908 – Winner: Anthony E. Greene – Seller: Arthur Sheridan
• Ticket: 0024 – Winner: Jerry Corbit – Seller: Yank
• Ticket: 0257 – Winner: Glen de Mange – Seller: John Whelan
• Ticket: 0843 – Winner: Niall Cullen – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 0499 – Winner: Russell Fitzsimons – Seller: Self
• Ticket: 1951 – Winner: Linda Arcaya – Seller: Peter Arcaya
• Ticket: 1807 – Winner: Tomasz Soltys – Seller: Marta Soltys
• Ticket: 0543 – Winner: Mark & Niamh Power – Seller: Joe Hanberry, Newtown House
• Ticket: 1937 – Winner: Mary Bolger – Seller: Pancho, Mellowes BDS
• 11th Prize: Voucher for Castleknock Hotel. Ticket: 1864 – Winner: Peter McDonald – Seller: Bob McDonald
• 12th Prize: Nivea for Men Hamper. Ticket: 0356 – Winner: John Mooney – Seller: Vinny Bracken

JULY DRAW

10 Winners:  €100 each

• Ticket: 0616 – Winner: Paul S & Paul B – Seller: Mick Green, D.I.T.
• Ticket: 0912 – Winner: Joe Nolan & Friends – Seller: Larry Rogan
• Ticket: 1965 – Winner: Lorraine & Laura & Shane Fitzsimons – Seller: Tony Colmey
• Ticket: 0132 – Winner: Darren Grant – Seller: Des Parsons
• Ticket: 1840 – Winner: Roger Franzoni – Seller: Tony Colmey
• Ticket: 0467 – Winner: Mary Sorahan – Seller: Liam McDonagh
• Ticket: 0350 – Winner: Joe Shannon – Seller: Tony Colmey
• Ticket: 0413 – Winner: Eddie Starrs – Seller: Gerry Sexton
• Ticket: 1827 – Winner: Mrs Florrie Cronan – Seller: Eileen McClinton
• Ticket: 1929 – Winner: Andrew Kelly – Seller: Jimmy Murphy
• 11th Prize: Voucher for Castleknock Hotel. Ticket: 0686 – Winner: Louise Dumbrell – Seller: Tommy Dornan
• 12th Prize: Golf Voucher. Ticket: 1515 – Winner: Adam, Zara & Sienna Monaghan – Seller: Mono

Congratulations to all our winners!

Contact: Jimmy O’Connor on 085 1655168

The goalkeeper at the other end, Lee Murphy, recently signed to Bohemians from Shelbourne, had the dubious distinction of picking up the only yellow card.

Like others of the currently active players, Murphy was more energetic than some of the veterans and he pulled off several fine saves, including one from Owen Heary.

When Shelbourne were awarded a soft penalty and the spot-kick was given to Shels fan Fran Reilly, Murphy dived low to his right and saved it. Referee Paul Tuite gave him a yellow card, presumably for bad sportsmanship!

Five goals down after Heary’s score, Shelbourne continued to look for consolation. When second-half sub Dessie Baker eventually scored with a fine shot, Tuite blew the final whistle.

Following Saturday night’s tribute dinner, when Johny Logan, Eric Lalor and a very enthusiastic Dermot Keely were among those who entertained the gathering, Sunday’s match provided a fitting farewell tor Owen Heary, the player.

Owen Heary, the manager, will continue to grace Dalymount Park and inspire the next generation of players.

Bohemians selection: Lee Murphy, Owen Heary, Thomas Heary, Glen Crowe, Neale Fenn, Mark Rossitter, Anto Murphy, Ken Oman, Jason McGuinness, Fergal Harkin, Stephen O’Donnell, Ryan McEvoy, Killian Brennan, Conor Powell, Dave Mulcahy, Jason Kavanagh (Winner of fan auction).

Managed by Pat Fenlon

Shelbourne Selection: Steve Williams, Richie Baker, Owen Heary, Stuart Byrne, Jamie Harris, Alan Cawley, Declan Geoghegan, Stephen Geoghegan, Jim Crawford, Kevin Doherty, Jason Byrne, Ollie Cahill, Glen Fitzpatrick, Joseph N’do, Alan Reynolds, Derek Pender, Fred Davis, Dave Rogers, Dessie Baker, Fran Reilly (winner of fan auction).

Managed by Dermot Keely

Fenlon will manage the Bohemian XI in Sunday’s tribute match (Kick off 3pm, Dalymount Park, while Dermot Keely will manage the Shelbourne XI.

To mark his long and outstanding records with both clubs, Heary will play one half for Bohs and one half for Shels. So, whoever wins the trophy, Heary will be a winner.

Pat Fenlon earlier made a video appeal for support for this tribute to Owen Heary. This can be viewed here.

Among the star-studded cast of players with over 100 league medals between them are Player of the Year Killian Brennan and several based in England, including Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), Brian Murphy (Queen’s Park Rangers), Paddy Madden (Yeovil Town) and Gary Deegan (Northampton Town).

Shelbourne fans have joined their Bohemian rivals in building support for the Tribute Match. Shels fan Fran Reilly and Bohs fan Jason Kavanagh will play for twenty minutes, having bid highest in club auctions for the honour.

Two stars of the television screen will also feature. ‘Fran’ and ‘Elmo’ from Love/Hate – otherwise Peter Coonan and Laurence Kinlan – will display their footballing skills.

Bohs legend Kevin Hunt had to decline the invitation as his wife is due to
give birth about this time. Ex-Shels player Wes Hoolahan was committed to play and will be in Dublin with the Ireland squad this weekend but is scheduled to leave with them for Poland on Sunday afternoon.

In an interview with bohemianfc.com this week, Heary names Hoolahan as the best player he ever played with – “head and shoulders above them all”. Heary hopes Hoolahan will make some contribution to the celebrations.

The Bohemian captain and assistant manager brings the curtain down on his playing career twenty years to the day from when he made his League of
Ireland debut with Kilkenny City.

“This should be a great occasion. For me, it’s a great way to end my playing career, with players I have won trophies with,” he said.

While preparing for the Tribute Match, Heary has also been preparing for next season and has secured the first ten players he wants for Bohemians’ 2014 senior squad, including new signing Lee Murphy, the former Shels goal-keeper.

Re-signed from the past season’s squad are: Dean Delaney, Roberto Lopes, Dave Mulcahy, Derek Pender, Keith Buckley, Karl Moore, Andy Mulligan, Stephen Traynor and Dinny Corcoran.

Heary hopes to confirm several more new signings in the coming days.

As well as the one lucky winner of the Volkswagen Up!, we also have fantastic runner-up cash prizes: 2nd place €2013, 3rd place €1000, 4th place €750, 5th place €500 as well as TEN prizes of €200 and a further TEN prizes of €100.

And that’s not all! The November installment of the early bird draw sees 10 prizes of €1oo up for grabs! This draw will be held at Owen Heary’s Tribute Game on Sunday November 17.

Tickets, which cost just €20, are now available from the club’s online shop* and from Dalymount Park during office hours and match-nights.

This draw is limited to 3000 tickets, so buy yours now to avoid disappointment!

Remember, as well as offering you the chance to win big, the annual Christmas Draw is one of the club’s most important fundraising efforts. We rely on your continued support of club fundraisers.

A big Bohemian thank-you to Jimmy O’Connor and his fundraising team, and also to our friends at Volkswagen Ireland, in particular Simon Elliott.

Note: *There is surcharge of 96c on online sales to cover PayPal charges.

Robert O’Reardon caught up with Bohemians assistant manager Owen Heary at Dalymount Park for a post-season interview.

Heary reflects on calling time on an illustrious 21-season playing career, avoiding relegation, his first steps into management and looks ahead to his upcoming Tribute Game.

Filmed by Jamie O’Halleron