Tonight’s opposition in the shape of Limerick, represents a bit of an acid test if we are to be honest, in terms of improving on last year’s position. They took all nine points that were up for grabs between the teams last season, and themselves and Cork were the “safe group” just above the drop zone we found ourselves in last season.

From the limited form we have to go on so far this season, Cork appear to be determined to deliver a title tilt, so winning points against Limerick is crucial. At a price of 5/6 though, unfortunately Bohs cannot be trusted to do that. We will examine the team’s home record in greater detail in the coming weeks, but suffice to say it’s awful in recent years and teams run their hands at the prospect of coming to the Home of Football. With Limerick having started the season slowly and Bohs desperate to tighten up further at the back, we are going to go with last week’s [losing] bet again, banking on at least team to keep a clean sheet at 4/5 with Boyles.

Ludicrously touted as “the Luas Derby” by RTE’s John Kenny, St Pat’s go to battle with Shamrock Rovers in Inchicore this evening, with both sides having seriously wobbled last Friday, beaten out of sight by Dundalk and Cork City respectively. Both sides will be keen to avoid two defeats in a row, and a draw here would be welcomed by the provincial sides with their eyes on the title, such as Cork and Dundalk. The draw can be backed at 23/10 with Ladbrokes and that is fair for an outcome which neither team would be too upset about.

Recommended:
Bohs v Limerick Both Teams to Score NO, 1pt 4/5 (Boyles)
St Pat’s v Shamrock Draw, 1pt 23/10 (Ladbrokes)

“Limerick work hard, they’re good on the ball and they’re capable of getting points off a lot of teams. They have had a week’s rest, so we have to have players who are fresh and ready for the game, and fully focused on getting the three points.”

Limerick recently drew against the title-holders, St Patrick’s Athletic, Heary noted. “They’re getting their full squad back and they’re not conceding many goals. They’re a big threat from set-pieces with a couple of dead-ball specialists, so it’s important that we don’t give away too many free kicks around the box.”

For Friday, Anto Murphy (hamstring) and Jack Memery (knee) are absent. Club captain Dave Mulcahy has returned to full training following a knee injury and is likely to make the matchday squad. “Dave coming back is important for us and we’ll certainly need him with a game against the champions coming up,” said Heary.

Dan Byrne and Darragh Reynor are among those who made their first league starts of this season in the last fortnight and made strong claims to keep their places.

“Darragh has a great left foot, and is good in set-pieces, and that’s been valuable in the last games. It’s not an ideal position for him to play but he’s gone in there and done a job,” commented his manager.

“Against Dundalk, Dano [Byrne] did the job of protecting the back four brilliantly, against Bray he helped pushed us forward and against Athlone he scored a goal. He reads the game very well and he’s earned his place.”

Goalkeeper Lee Murphy was called into action in difficult circumstances last Friday, after Dean Delany’s sending-off, and acquitted himself well. “Lee’s a big lad and big presence. He and Dean are pushing each other on,” said Heary. Delany has served his automatic suspension and has a further one-match suspension to serve next week. But Heary has a choice to make for Friday between the two ex-Shels keepers.

Overall, Heary reckons his team is “playing well, even if we didn’t get some results we should have. There’s a positive vibe throughout the club and in the team. I think the fans are enjoying how the team is playing. A home victory would be very good for all of us, and would set a tone for the next few weeks.”

Wearing their green away strip, Bohs were quick out of the blocks with Paddy Kavanagh creating the first opening on four minutes. Playing from the right flank, he jinked inside before switching the play across to Kevin Devaney on the left. Devaney got the ball on his right foot and let fly from 18 yards, but the ball crashed off the crossbar and went over. Devaney was impressive as a substitute against Bray, and did well on his third league start of the season here. He had a goal disallowed mid-way through the first half for what appeared to be a handball before he prodded Jason Byrne’s cross into the roof of the net.

Athlone offered little going forward, and all signs point to a long and rather difficult season ahead for Mick Cooke’s men. Bohs were finding them hard to break down, with most opportunities arising from inswinging Darragh Reynor corners. The opening goal came from one such incident just two minutes before the break. Having skewed a couple to the near post, this time Reynor floated the ball to the back stick where Dano Byrne was on hand to turn the ball home for his first goal in the colours of his boyhood club. The disadvantage was compounded for Athlone as skipper Aidan Collins was stretchered off after injuring himself attempting to block the goal.

The second half started slowly, but exploded into life with two goals and a red card in the space of just six minutes. First, the dismissal; Stephen Traynor slid in to get the ball on the right wing, and was clattered late by a lunging Derek Prendergast. The Athlone defender’s tackle caught Traynor on the thigh, and referee Kevin O’Regan reached into the back pocket for a straight red. Prendergast didn’t protest too much, and even offered an apology to Traynor before trudging off.

Although that incident could have deflated the home team, they amazingly grabbed an equaliser almost immediately. A long cross-field pass found Sean Brennan on the right, and he crossed for Graham Rusk – who beat Murphy with an arrowed finish from 16 yards.

In 15 years’ time, there will be an own-goal compilation video on Youtube that simply has to feature Bohs’ second goal. Reacting to a quick throw from Derek Pender, James O’Brien lunged and swung his leg to stop the ball from getting to Stephen Traynor. Much to everyone’s amazement, the ball shanked off his boot looped up, and soared over keeper Paul Skinner from all of 25 yards at an amazing angle. It even postage-stamped the top corner.

Heary went for the jugular, bringing on Stephen Beattie and Dinny Corcoran and switching to a 4-4-2. With Athlone pushing for an equaliser, Bohs capitalised on the break. A wonderful cross-field Devaney pass set Beattie through, but his simple square ball was somehow missed by Jason Byrne. Not to be denied, the legendary striker got the insurance goal with six minutes remaining. A Reynor corner was taken short to Traynor who clipped an inviting ball in. Dano Byrne rose to flick it on, and namesake Jason was on hand to slide in Bohs’ third at the back post. That goal confirmed a well-deserved win for the Gypsies, who host Limerick at Dalymount on Friday.

Athlone Town: Paul Skinner, Aidan Collins (Jason Marks, 45), Sean Byrne, Alan Byrne, Derek Prendergast, Mark Hughes, Kealan Dillon, Sean Brennan (Conor McMahon, 59), James O’Brien, Philip Gorman, Graham Rusk. Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Barry Clancy, Declan Brennan, Ian Sweeney.

Bohemians: Lee Murphy, Derek Pender, Aidan Price, Roberto Lopes, Darragh Reynor, Kevin Devaney (Karl Moore, 85), Dano Byrne, Craig Walsh (Dinny Corcoran, 70), Paddy Kavanagh (Steven Beattie, 64), Stephen Traynor, Jason Byrne. . Subs not used: Ryan McEvoy, Philip McCabe, Keith Buckley, Jake Hyland.

Bohemianfc.com Man of the Match: Dano Byrne

While Bohs went into Friday’s game against Bray Wanderers looking for a win, Heary was pleased by the second-half performance of his 10 men as they battled back to secure a late point through Dinny Corcoran.

Dean Delany’s foul on Jake Kelly after 20 minutes left the Gypsies both a man down and a goal down as referee Sean Grant pointed to the spot and gave the goalkeeper his marching orders. Bray midfielder Kelly was carried off on a stretcher with a fractured ankle, while Graham Kelly beat replacement netminder Lee Murphy with the resultant penalty.

Bohs were slow to respond in the first half, but returned after the break with a renewed sense of purpose. Heary said: “We came out with a game-plan for the second half. It’s difficult with 10 men but we knew if we kept our concentration, kept the ball and stayed in the game that with 15 minutes to go, we could bring on Jay Byrne, go three at the back and go for it. Thankfully Dinny Corcoran got the goal we deserved and that at least got us a point.”

Heary was critical of referee Grant’s decision to send off Delany as he believed “Derek Pender was behind Deano when the foul was committed and had the situation covered, so it wasn’t a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

“It looked like the referee was reaching for a yellow before the Bray players got involved,” he added. Heary also questioned the consistency of some other decisions and queried bookings handed out to Steven Beattie, Dan Byrne and even Bray’s Ismahil Akinade.

“It’s very frustrating,” he said. “There was a lot of time-wasting – Bray players were kicking the ball away when we were awarded throw-ins and nothing was done about it. Yet then you’ve players being yellow-carded for nothing.

“There’s a lack of consistency there and it can be frustrating for managers. Refereeing decisions have cost us in recent weeks. You look back to the Rovers game when they were awarded a penalty when we should have had a throw-in and then Dinny had a perfectly good goal ruled out. Referees can look back and go ‘I made a mistake’, but decisions are affecting results and affecting game-plans.”

Heary wished Jake Kelly a speeding recovery from his injury, adding: “It was just unfortunate, he seemed to twist his knee when he went in. It’s awful for such a young player and it looks like he could be out for a while.”

For Monday’s trip, Bohs are once again without Dave Mulcahy (knee), who has returned to training, and Anto Murphy (hamstring), while Delany will serve his one-match ban for Friday’s dismissal. Heary hopes to have a full squad to choose from on Friday when Limerick come to Dalymount Park.

Bohs boss Heary made just two changes from the team that drew away at Dundalk, with Steven Beattie replacing Keith Buckley and Dinny Corcoran replacing Jason Byrne. Bohs fan Dano Byrne continued his shielding of the back four. Bohs started fast, the first ten minutes were quick-fire with good crisp passing and attacking threat. Beattie forced Bray keeper Stephen McGuinness into an early save.

Bray are still finding their feet under Alan Matthews, and gradually began to find their feet in this game. Big frontman Ismahil Akinade was causing problems for Aidan Price and Roberto Lopes, while Jake Kelly was buzzing around picking up second balls. Bohs fans have been clamouring for keeper Dean Delany to come off his line for many a month, but they would have given anything for him not to have done so in the 20th minute. A long punt from full back Robert Maloney split the Bohs defence, and with Jake Kelly getting close to the ball, Delany rushed out and pole-axed the Bray forward with a very clumsy lunge. Referee Grant produced a red card, but there was a massive 5+ minutes of waiting before the penalty was taken. Kelly was clearly seriously injured and left the field on a stretcher. Bohs cult favourite Dave Scully replaced him, and eventually Graham Kelly stepped up and scored his penalty past new Bohs debutant Lee Murphy.

Bohs were rattled for a full 10 minutes after the concession. Matthews will rue the fact that Bray didn’t press home their advantage. Shane Byrne had a free pop at goal from 16 yards but could only scuff into Murphy’s arms. Gradually, Bohs got over their shock and began to regain their footing in the game. Steven Beattie was bustling and industrious down the right flank, but got on the wrong side of referee Grant after tangling with Adam Mitchell. Beattie eventually won a free kick on the stroke of half time, and Darragh Reynor’s cross found Aidan Price’s head – just like last week in Oriel Park. However, this time Price’s header cannoned off the crossbar and looped over.

The second half was barely two minutes old before Bray’s best chance to seal it arrived. Akinade charged down Price’s rushed clearance, and suddenly found himself through on goal. His floated shot flew past the onrushing Murphy, but fell wide much to Bohs’ relief. On the hour mark, Beattie had a great chance to equalize after being played through by Craig Walsh, but his shot was well saved by diminutive keeper McGuinness. Heary made a key substitution with 20 minutes left – Kevin Devaney came on for the ineffective Karl Moore, and immediately injected a purpose into Bohs’ play.

Gradually, the pressure built, and the goal came with just a minute of normal time remaining. Walsh sprayed an amazing ball over the top of the Bray defence to set Corcoran through. The Bohs frontman showed great composure to let the ball beat him and McGuinness simultaneously, before slotting firmly into the empty net. The goal actually put Bohs into the top half of the table, and Heary’s men will be looking to add to their total when they visit point-less Athlone on Monday evening.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Aidan Price, Roberto Lopes, Darragh Reynor (Jason Byrne, 78), Karl Moore (Kevin Devaney, 69), Daniel Byrne, Craig Walsh, Steven Beattie, Paddy Kavanagh (Lee Murphy, 22), Dinny Corcoran. Subs not used: Stephen Traynor, Ryan McEvoy, Philip McCabe, Keith Buckley.

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness, Shane O’Connor, David Webster, Adam Mitchell, Robert Moloney (Shane O’Neill 78), Graham Kelly, Dean Zambra, David Cassidy, Shane Byrne, Jake Kelly (Dave Scully, 27), Ismahil Akinade.  Subs not used: Jamie McGlynn, Gary Curran, Niall Cooney, Ciarán Byrne.