SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
Friday April 4 2022
Dalymount Park, 7.45pm

Keith Long believes the hard work his side are putting in on the training ground will translate to better performances and results on the pitch.

One win, four draws and one defeat is not the start of the season Bohemians would have hoped for, and it does not get any easier tonight as league leaders and expected title challengers Derry City provide the opposition at Dalymount Park.

Long has been frustrated that Bohs failed to turn some of those draws into victories, but believes that there is talent and potential in his squad, and that they are working hard to improve.

Long said: “Recent performances have been below the standards we expect from ourselves but it is important to understand at this early stage of the season that it takes time to develop consistency in terms of performance with so many players coming and going from the club.

“Competitive games are the main driver as we look to improve and get better as a team.

“The players are invested in trying to get better and training since our last game has been very competitive and intense.

“We hope that will translate onto the pitch as I believe we are better than recent performances have suggested.

“We have a strong belief in what we are doing and how we operate. We come to work every day with passion, togetherness and with an aptitude and drive to learn and improve.

“We cannot predict everything but we will stick to our principles and work with the players with the understanding of knowing what makes players fulfil their potential.

“Tonight’s game will be a great challenge for us and how we want to play.

“Derry City are a well organised, disciplined team with high quality players in every position and have proved already this season they can win games in different ways.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohemians are without James Finnerty (knee), Jamie Mullins (ankle), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Achilles), Ryan Cassidy (ankle). Stephen Mallon (ankle) is a doubt. Forward Nickson Okosun is promoted to the first team.

Bohemians assistant manager Trevor Croly spoke with Colm McDonnell following tonight’s 1-0 Dublin derby win against St Patrick’s Athletic at Dalymount Park.

SSE Airtricity Women’s National League
Saturday March 19 2022
Dalymount Park, 6pm

Bohemians’ first home game of the 2022 WNL season at Dalymount Park last week was a total washout.
But the team were still grateful to finally be playing in front of a real home crowd for the first time as 350 Bohs fans braved absolutely deplorable conditions to see them draw 1-1 with Athlone Town.

Erica Burke gave Bohs the lead in the first half, with Roisin Molloy equalising for the visitors just four minutes into the second half.

Manager Pat Trehy is hoping that the home support can be bettered later today when Bohs host Wexford Youths at 6pm on what is a fine spring evening.

He said: “It was impossible for either side to play how you would want to in that wind and rain last week.

“I think the 1-1 draw in such horrendous conditions was a fair result for both teams.

“But it was great to finally have a crowd behind the girls. They all really appreciated that so many made the effort to get down to the game in conditions like that.

“We hope that support can continue, it can give the team a real lift.

“It’s a much better evening for football for tonight’s game so we hope people can come out in numbers and get behind the team.”

This evening’s opponents are a club of real pedigree having won both the Women’s National League and FAI Women’s Cup four times in the past seven years.

Trehy added: “Wexford are a really talented side and have been for a number of years now.

“They’ve won trophies and have represented the country a number of times in the Champions League. So this is another big test for us against a talented and physical side.

“But it is one we are looking forward to. We have had a really good week’s training and the girls are in great form going into this evening’s game.”

• A reminder that members, season ticket holders and U12s can attend home WNL games for free. General admission is just €5. WNL games are also streamed free on LOITV. Please also note that Members’ Bar is open and that all drinks purchased can be consumed in the stand once in plastic glasses.

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
Friday April 18 2022
UCD Bowl, 5pm
Live on LOITV

Bohemians travel to Belfield this evening determined to get back to winning ways after disappointing results in two Dublin derbies.

Bohs first lost 1-0 away to Shamrock Rovers last Friday before salvaging a 1-1 draw at home to Shelbourne on Monday having fallen behind and gone down to 10 men.

While manager Keith Long has been disappointed with those performances and results, the hard graft he is seeing on the training ground and the resilience his side showed, despite being down a man, to claim a point against Shels give him confidence that form will improve.

Long said: “We had two disappointing results and the players are all working extremely hard – on the pitch, in the training ground and in our analysis of games – to improve performances.

“Shelbourne make things difficult for teams to break them down the way they set up to defend but it was a very poor goal for us to concede. But the players showed great resilience to bounce back from that and from going down to 10 men as well.

“We haven’t performed to our ability yet and drawing games is not where we want to be. Pitches across the league are very heavy at the moment, which affects the way we want to play but we know we can and have to play better regardless of that.

“We have kept a lot of possession in games but we need to be creating more in the box, and we need to be hitting the target.

“There has been plenty of effort but we haven’t shown the quality we are capable of yet – the execution of that final pass, working the opposition keeper.

“But I believe we will get stronger. The players are committed to improving performances. They want to play better and are training very well.

“They care about playing for Bohs, they are really up for it, and they are looking forward to the challenge.

“We are looking forward to playing UCD who are a young team but they try to play football the right way.

“We expect another big travelling crowd behind us in Belfield this evening – the support has been brilliant again this year – and it is up to us to excite those supporters and to bring them with us.”

TEAM NEWS

Rory Feely is suspended following his red card against Shelbourne on Monday, which sees Cian Byrne promoted to the first-team squad from the U19s as a result.

James Finnerty (knee) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (ankle) remain out but the latter returned to training this week.

BOHEMIANS v SHELBOURNE
SSE Airtricity League
Monday March 14 2022
Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Live on LOITV

Keith Long has never been a fan of the quick turnaround between Friday and Monday games but tonight might be one exception.

Long believes a Dublin derby against Shelbourne in front of a sold-out Dalymount Park can provide the perfect opportunity to bounce back from Friday’s frustrating 1-0 defeat away to Shamrock Rovers.

Long said: “We can take lots into tonight’s game. Shels will play a similar formation so that is good prep for us in a real game against Shamrock Rovers.

“We will take plenty of positives. We got beaten, licked our wounds a bit, but not for too long as we have to get ready for tonight’s game.

“I think it was a positive enough display overall on Friday but we are a little disappointed with aspects of our play.

“We gave the ball away a little bit too easily in the first half when we could have built and maintained a little bit more possession and composure on the ball.

“We’re a good team with some good players and I’m very confident in the capabilities of this team and I think the second half showed that.

“We told them to attack the game and take risks and be more positive, take control, pass the ball and be calm in possession and trust their ability to play football.

“We needed to command the ball a bit more. Ultimately we lost the game and didn’t work Alan Mannus enough in the second half.
“That’s where we need to improve; that final pass, that execution and decision-making.

“They are really important things, as is our game management.

“Rovers are an experienced side with lots of experienced players. We need to manage moments in the games better to give us that measure of control.

“We got nothing from Friday’s game but the good thing about playing Friday/Monday in this instance is we have to focus very quickly on Shelbourne and get ourselves ready.

“We will take a positive outlook into the game. We are looking to build with every performance and are striving to improve in every game.

“We are very much a work in progress but we have some talented players who come to work every day with an open mind, a positive outlook and a drive to get better.

“Tonight in another big Dublin Derby we will have to perform to a very high level in a game that will be eagerly contested by both sides.

“The atmosphere in Dalymount should be electric and hopefully we can come out on the right side of the result.”

One plus ahead of tonight’s game will be the return of Promise Omochere, whose absence was felt as he watched on from the sidelines on Friday following a questionable sending-off against Finn Harps in the previous game.

Long added: “There’s no doubt we missed Promise. Any team would miss his physicality, his power, his pace, his quality. He is coming on in leaps and bounds.”

TEAM NEWS

Promise Omochere returns from suspension. James Finnerty (knee) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (ankle) remain out.

Liam Burt could be pushing for a starting place having come on as a substitute against Rovers in his first appearance of the season following a groin injury.

SSE Airtricity Women’s National League
Saturday March 12 2022
Dalymount Park, 6pm

Abbie Brophy cannot wait to finally play in front of a big crowd at Dalymount Park this evening.

Bohemians play their first WNL home game of 2022 and the teame hope fans get out in numbers at the Home of Irish Football where they will host Athlone Town.

For Brophy, who has been with Bohs since their debut WNL season in 2020, it is a huge step forward for women’s football at the club and beyond.

Although Bohs played three games in Dalyer last season, Covid-19 crowd restrictions were in place, while the rest of their home games in their first two years of WNL football were played at the Oscar Traynor Centre.

Members, season ticket holders and children can all attend Bohs’ WNL home games for free this season, while general admission is just €5. All games will also continue to be streamed live on LOITV.

Winger Brophy said: “It’s brilliant. It is something we have all wanted to build towards since the club entered the league.

“We can’t wait to have our first game in front of a real crowd at Dalymount, we are really excited about it.

“I know for myself, I can’t remember how long it has been since my mam was able to get to one of my games so it makes a real difference that we will have that support behind us.

“It’s the same for all the team, everyone is looking forward to having their friends, family and supporters behind them.

“It’s uplifting for the women’s game in general, not just for Bohs, it will make it a proper occasion for Athlone Town too.”

Bohs kicked off the 2022 season with a 1-0 defeat away to champions Shelbourne last Saturday.

Some felt aggrieved at that result, with claims the ball crossed the line for what should have been a Bohs goal before Shels took the lead.

But Brophy is determined to look forward, not back, and added: “Shels are a good side but we were disappointed that we couldn’t get something out of the game.

“We played well and it was a good start. I don’t know if the ball went over the line or not, I was too far back to tell.

“But that is all in the past now. The important thing is that we learn from last week’s game and look to try win all three points this evening.”

SSE Airtricity League
Friday March 11 2022
Tallaght Stadium, 8pm
Live on LOITV

The last time Kris Twardek faced Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, Bohemians were aiming to leapfrog their rivals to move top of the table.

But an early Danny Lafferty goal in that September 2020 encounter was enough to seal victory for the home side and set Rovers on their way to winning the league.

Now in his second spell at Bohemians, Twardek, who turned 25 earlier this week, is aiming to make amends with an early-season victory over Stephen Bradley’s side.

He said: “The importance of the games when I was here last time was really high.

“Aside from the clear rivalry it was a case of us being second and Rovers being top of the league. We had a chance to move top after our game in Europe.

“Unfortunately they won that game 1-0 and we went on to finish second.

“But it is all to play for us now. It’s the start of the season and you have two teams with optimistic views for the year ahead. Rivalries aside, you just want to win at this stage of the season.

“It is too early to make judgments as to where teams are at. Things will shape up after 15 games or so. For us, if we can beat the top teams – obviously St Pat’s was a great result – then it is a great confidence boost for us to move forward.”

Twardek was grateful for some extra time on the training ground this week, but faces another quick turnaround with Bohs hosting Shelbourne in another Dublin derby at Dalymount on Monday.

He said: “It has been a good week and we have been able to lock in on what is an important game.

“I feel good and fresh. It’s nice to get a full week’s preparation for this game rather than the back-to-back Friday-Monday games we had last week, which was more about trying to recover than working on things on the pitch.”

Twardek is also grateful that among the 1000 travelling supporters roaring on Bohs tonight will be his brother and sister-in-law. Covid-19 has denied him such family support over the last two years.

He added: “My brother is coming over to the game with his wife, which will be nice! It’s rare for me to be able to have family at the games, so it’s great that they get to go to such a big one!”

For team-mate Ciarán Kelly, tonight could be an opportunity to stake his claim at centre-back with James Finnerty set to miss out with a knee injury.

Kelly replaced Finnerty during last Friday’s 1-1 draw away to Finn Harps and said: “It was a long trip up and it was not the result we wanted but it is nice to come away from there still undefeated for the season.

“Obviously now this is a huge game against Rovers. I played a good bit last season and this year I expected to come in and play but obviously that hasn’t been the case so far.

“I will try my best every time I get on the pitch. I was given some time against Finn Harps with James Finnerty going off. I want to play every minute I can.

“Rovers is a big Dublin derby but we have to treat every game the same. We know they have a talented squad with some great players but we are going there looking to win.”

He has also backed Bohs’ frontmen to click despite the absence of Promise Omochere, who is suspended for this game following his ludicrous red card against Finn Harps.

Kelly added: “Promise has been outstanding the last few games and towards the end of last season as well.

“He is a big strong boy who puts himself about but we have a good squad and everyone is chomping at the bit to be involved, so whoever comes in up front will be sure to do a good job for us.”

TEAM NEWS

Promise Omochere is suspended, while James Finnerty (knee) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (ankle) are ruled out.

Liam Burt returned (groin) to training this week and is available for selection for the first time this season.

Women’s National League
Saturday March 5 2022
Tolka Park, 2pm
Streaming free on LOITV

Bohemians face the toughest possible start to the 2022 WNL season away to champions Shelbourne this afternoon but they are not daunted by the challenge and are excited by what may lie ahead this year.

Ciara Maher is one of several new arrivals at Dalymount Park as Bohs look to build on last season’s sixth-placed finish.

A good passer of the ball and comfortable as both a defensive midfielder and as an attacking one, Maher, who arrived after three seasons with DLR Waves, says her team-mates are raring to go.

She said: “It is a tough start. We are facing the champions who have been a settled team now for a number of years. They haven’t brought many players in and haven’t lost many either.

“We on the other hand have a lot of new players, so naturally it will take us a while to gel fully. But pre-season has been great and we all can’t wait to get started.”

Another big step forward for women’s football at Bohemians was the confirmation over the closed season that all home WNL games will be hosted at Dalymount Park this year.

Maher said: “It is brilliant. You just cannot compare playing in the Oscar Traynor to playing at Dalymount.

“It is a sign of progression of women’s football in Ireland now that stadiums like Dalymount Park, Turner’s Cross and Tolka Park are hosting WNL games.

“It shows clubs are taking the women’s game seriously and it will mean a lot for young girls coming through that they can aspire to play in these stadiums just like the boys do.

“We can’t wait to play in Dalymount. You see the atmosphere at the men’s games and the crowds they bring in.

“We know we are not going to get crowds like that overnight but it is something we can aim for.

“There is definitely great support already from fans of the club. We’ve seen it on social media and on the messages we have received on social media too, so we hope that they get behind us in Dalymount too.”

Please note the following fixture/kick-off time updates:

• Sligo Rovers v Bohemians, originally scheduled for the opening day of the season, will now take place on Tuesday April 5 at 7.45pm.
• UCD v Bohemians on Friday March 18 (Bank Holiday) will now take place at the earlier time of 5pm.
• Shelbourne v Bohemians on Easter Monday April 18 (Bank Holiday) will now take place at the earlier time of 3pm.

SSE Airtricity League
Friday March 4 2022
Finn Park, 8pm
Live on LOITV

Ali Coote is happy with his new central role with Bohemians – even if those who have replaced him on the wings have been the centre of attention so far.

Bohs have amassed four points from their opening two games of the 2022 SSE Airtricity League season with a 2-2 draw against Dundalk last Friday and a 1-0 win against St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday.

Used mainly out wide on the right in 2021, Coote impressed in his debut season at Dalymount Park, so much so that he picked up the SSE Airtricity/SWI August Player of the Month Award following the starring role he played in Bohs’ European run.

This year so far, however, Coote has played in the central role behind the striker that was vacated by Ross Tierney following his closed season move to Motherwell.

And 23-year-old Coote is happy to be given an opportunity in a position that he feels comes more naturally to him.

The Scotsman, who lives with team-mates Liam Burt, Stephen Mallon and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, said: “I am really enjoying the role so far. It is more my position.

“Last season, when I was playing on the right, I was more plugging a hole.

“I think I did quite well there, but I am happy to show what I can do in a different role this season.”

The role Coote himself has vacated for now has seen Kris Twardek reclaim the right-wing berth he occupied in 2020 season before he departed for stints in Poland and Czech Republic, while Burt’s absence through injury has afforded fit-again Mallon an opportunity to impress on the opposite flank.

Twardek’s performances in the opening two games have earned great plaudits, while Mallon claimed the headlines on Monday with his Dublin derby winner.

Coote said: “We all knew what Stephen was capable of. We saw it in training last season and in the few minutes he got last season.

“We are delighted he finally has a chance to show that properly now, and that he got his first goal as well. Long may that continue.

“We all know what Kris is capable of as well from his time with Bohs and the league previously. He is a really quick and physical threat, and has come into the team and has done really well so far.”

While the season is only in its infancy, the attacking performances so far bode well for the time ahead, particularly when you consider the talent of Burt and Junior are yet to come into contention.

Coote said: “You need that element of healthy competition in the squad so that in every game and training session we keep returning a high level performance.

“I think we have been good so far. We built on our performance in the first game to get a good result against St Pat’s. To be honest, we felt we could have been more clinical in that game too, so there is plenty to work on.

“The whole team is young. It will take time to get exactly where we want to be but we seem to be clicking quickly so far.

“We are fully aware that we need to keep that going, and that we need to keep on improving now, but the signs are positive so far.”

Coote and Co will look to build on their opening two outings when they make the long trip to Donegal to face Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps.

Coote added: “Finn Harps is another big challenge for us to see where we are at – we all know how tough a place it is to go, and that they have a unique direct style. We will need to be at our very best.”

TEAM NEWS

Liam Burt (groin) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (ankle) remain unavailable.