“The rivalry between us motivates the players to perform strongly when we play each other, and it motivates the fans to make a special effort to get behind their teams,” said Bohemian manager Owen Heary.

“But the players, coaches and supporters of both clubs also share a lot. Off the field of play we can each play constructive roles in our communities, and we can play our parts together.”

In two months’ time, when Shamrock Rovers host a derby league match at the Tallaght Stadium (23rd May), the teams will pay a joint visit to Tallaght Hospital.

The rivals will also meet in May in the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-finals.

“We hope to brighten the days of the children and other patients and staff we meet,” said Shamrock Rovers manager Trevor Croly. “Our derby matches with Bohemians are always special occasions and these hospital visits will make them that bit more special.”

Denise Fitzpatrick, CEO Fundraising at Temple Street Hospital, congratulated Bohemians and Shamrocks Rovers on this joint initiative. “We know from previous experiences that a hospital visit like this from footballers can mean a lot to the children they meet,” she said.

In 2009, players from Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers agreed to wear shirts promoting breast cancer awareness as their ‘away’ strip when they faced each other in the league.

Bohs made two enforced changes from last week’s comprehensive opening victory over UCD, with Ryan McEvoy and Kevin Devaney replacing the injured Dave Mulcahy and Karl Moore respectively. However, it was McEvoy’s midfield partner Craig Walsh who ignited this game in the 14^th minute. The former ‘Football’s Next Star’ candidate burst through two challenges on the left flank, and unleashed a sublime through ball with the outside of his right boot. The pass curled majestically into the path of Dinny Corcoran, who controlled well, steadied himself, and tucked the ball neatly into the bottom corner past Dave Ryan.

Bohs were showing the kind of attacking flair that has many fans chirping about a top half finish already, with Paddy Kavanagh again weaving some magic in the hole behind Corcoran. It was a slaloming run from Kavanagh that instigated Bohs’ second. He cut inside from the left flank, showed quick feet, and toe-poked it across to Corcoran, who was felled from behind by a lunging Alan McNally. The familiar shiny-topped figure of referee Dave McKeon pointed to the spot without hesitation. Though Ryan McEvoy enquired about taking the penalty, there was no prying the ball from Corcoran, who confidently slotted the ball into the same corner to make it 2-0 before the half hour.

The boisterous home crowd sang ‘we are top of the league’, and there seemed to be little danger of note from a sluggish Drogheda, who hadn’t registered a shot on target until a 35^th minute disaster. Left back Jack Memery was off the pitch having treatment for a burst lip, but the confusion that occurred between Dean Delany and Roberto Lopes was baffling. A hopeful long punt seemed to be skipping too far ahead of the chasing Gary O’Neill, who at one point, checked his run as he thought Delany was going to gather. However, the Bohs keeper never came, Lopes let O’Neill go, and the Drogs hitman somehow squeezed the ball in from a stupendously-tight angle. It was the kind of goal a manager has nightmares about.

Despite the setback, Bohs could have all-but killed the game either side of half time. First, a lightning break involving Walsh, Kavanagh, and Steven Beattie put Corcoran clean through, but the striker flashed his shot high and wide with a hat-trick at his mercy. Then, just six minutes after the restart, Corcoran combined with Kevin Devaney to release Kavanagh, who blazed over from 16 yards with only Ryan to beat. Knowing glances were shared among the Bohs faithful – these missed chances were going to cost the men in black (with a splash of red) dear.

Drogheda had two great chances to equalise before the goal eventually came, and both involved sheer luck combined with heroic defending. First, a weak Delany punch fell straight to Eric Foley, but the midfielder could only head straight back at the Bohs keeper. Then, with just 4 minutes remaining, Aidan Price made an awesome block on the goal-line to deny Cathal Brady. Bohs went up the other end immediately, and when Beattie’s cross found sub Stephen Traynor’s head 8 yards out, the victory should have been secured. Traynor however, headed straight at Ryan, and Bohs were finally punished for a lack of ruthlessness in the 89^th minute. An in-swinging corner fell to the back post, where Derek Pender crucially slipped, allowing Gary O’Neill to force the ball home and send the visiting supporters wild in the Shed End. A crushing blow for Bohs, but all credit to O’Neill. That the former Bohs man is even playing football at all is an inspiration, never mind being Drogheda’s sharpest, most intelligent attacking threat. If a last minute equaliser has to be conceded, better it go to O’Neill than anyone else.

All that sets us up for a simply mouthwatering clash with Shamrock Rovers next Friday. Dublin 7 will be hopping.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Aidan Price, Jack Memery, Ryan McEvoy, Craig Walsh, Steven Beattie, Paddy Kavanagh (Stephen Traynor, 67), Kevin Devaney, Dinny Corcoran (Jason Byrne, 77). Subs not used: Lee Murphy, Dan Byrne, Darragh Reynor, Keith Buckley, Philly McCabe.

Drogheda United: Dave Ryan, Michael Daly, Alan McNally, Paul Andrews, Shane Grimes, Cathal Brady, Ciaran McGuigan, Carl Walshe (Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien, 77), Daire Doyle (Stephen Maher, 68), Eric Foley (Gavin Holohan, 68), Gary O’Neill. Subs not used: Dylan Connolly, Paul Crowley, Austin McCann, Ciaran O’Connor.

Daniel Lambert of Bohemians said: “This is a fantastic for both the club and Northside and I am convinced it is just the start of a long and successful partnership. It is an innovative and creative partnership that delivers real return for both parties. We are proud to be North Dublin’s only Airtricity Premier Division Club and are delighted to now be linked with another famous North Dublin institution.”

Note: Northside has recently been fully renovated internally with the external works due to begin soon. Some more on that here.

Pictured: Daniel Lambert, Dan Byrne, Dinny Corcoran, Karl Moore, Alan McCabe (Northside SC) and Owen Heary.

Moving away from our own game, the fixture list is very heavy with short favourites, and mounting much of an argument against any of them is a bit of a struggle. Defending champions St Pat’s are as short as 1/7 to take care of business against UCD at Inchicore. Bets like this have gone wrong before and will go wrong in the future, so throwing all of these short prices into accumulators in the League of Ireland is fairly dangerous.

On all obvious form and respective squads though, UCD don’t have a prayer here and it might be the case that Aaron Callaghan will have a hard time getting UCD to start defending properly. The Saints will murder the Students across the middle of the park and it’s hard to see how the goals won’t follow so the home side can be backed to cover -2.25 with Bet 365 at 21/20.

Bray Wanderers upset us last week and so Sligo might be best swerved this week, managing to go one down to Athlone at home last weekend before pulling out a result late on. Dundalk were very impressive on Monday night in the Setanta Cup at Coleraine.

Given recent results, it would have been easy for Kenny and their players to panic late on, but needing two goals in the second half, when the winner finally came in injury time, it didn’t feel like a total shock even though it was cruel on the home side.

On a poor pitch Dundalk held their nerve and it was typical of Stephen O’Donnell to score the winner, fortunate as it was. They’ll take on Limerick at home tonight, where motivation and morale should be high. A 4/7 home win won’t be tipped up every week around here, but it’s worth backing in this case.

On Sunday afternoon, Derry City and Cork City play in a televised game that might look interesting on paper but may end up with two sides canceling each other out. Cork weren’t afraid of the rough stuff last Friday night ensuring they got a point against the champions and Derry were also good enough for at least a point in their opening game. One goal might be enough to win this one and with marginal preference for the home win, the prices look about right.

Recommended:
St Pat’s -2.25, 1pt 21/20 (Bet365)
Dundalk, 1pt 4/7 (general)
Season P+L: -1

“I suppose you might say we have a selection headache, but on the plus side we know that any player we choose is well capable of doing the same thing we’re doing, week-in and week-out,” he said.

Friday’s game brings together two teams with 100 per cent records in competitive football in 2014, and two managers who are at early stages in their careers. Heary and his Drogheda counterpart Robbie Horgan are classmates on the current FAI Pro Licence course.

“There’ll be bragging rights to play for,” commented Heary, who underlined his respect for what Horgan has achieved so far with victories over Dundalk in the Louth Cup and in the league.

“The two lads up front, Gary O’Neill and Fabio O’Brien, are a big threat,” said Heary, adding his admiration for O’Neill on his recovery from serious illness. “He’s a positive fellow and that stood to him.”

Heary is hoping Friday’s opponents might be “a bit leggy”, having played 120 minutes in the EA Sports Cup against Crumlin United on Monday. “But they’re a well-organised side and they have a big back four. We know it’s going to be a physical game,” he said.

The Bohemian manager insists that his team’s approach to Friday’s game will be similar to that adopted against Bray and UCD. “We don’t want the players going into this thinking at all negatively. We want them to be just as positive as against Bray and UCD,” he said.

“It’s our first home game and we want to give a good account of ourselves and get the crowd behind us. If the performance matches what we’ve done over the last couple of weeks, the people will keep coming and they’ll enjoy the matches.

“Drogheda winning last week is a good incentive to us to go at them, and take the game to them. We’ve shown we can limit our opponents’ scoring chances, and we are creating chances ourselves. We’re getting into the box, we’re getting crosses in, we’re getting goals and we aim to continue that.”

Jason Byrne came off the bench last Friday and scored within minutes for his second late goal in two games. He started Monday’s game and again scored, making it three goals in three games. According to his manager, he is “still getting his fitness levels up and getting his touch in, but he is a lot fitter than last year and the hunger’s still there”.

Defender Anto Murphy (hamstring) has returned to training but will not be ready for selection. Karl Moore (groin), Andy Mulligan (quad) and Lee Whelan (ankle) are out, while captain Dave Mulcahy (knee) faces a late fitness test.