• Hypno Puppets: Visit Facebook site, visit YouTube site, visit SoundCloud site.
• Tom Eaton: “A young singer-songwriter from the Sligo scene and plays a mix of his own songs, whose voice, guitarmanship and experience betray his age.”

Other acts to be announced in coming days.

If you are interested in playing or singing on the night DalymountSessions@bohemians.ie.

Speaking at Thursday’s launch of Karmann Volkswagen’s sponsorship of Bohemians, Lopes explained: “I wouldn’t say I’m feeling the pressure but they are definitely big boots to fill.

“Personally I see it as a big opportunity so it’s up to me now to step up and take it. I’m happy to see the two lads who left doing well because we’re still good mates.”

Lopes signed for the Gypsies four years ago under Pat Fenlon after a successful schoolboy career with Dublin side Belvedere. He then made his debut in the FAI Cup semi-final defeat against Sligo Rovers in 2010.

The 20-year-old has come on leaps and bounds since and this season he is ready to announce himself as a first-team regular at Dalymount Park – and mark it with a trophy too.

“We’re very ambitious this year,”  added Lopes. “We want to try and win a cup and I think we have every right to be ambitious this year – we’re aiming to finish in the top four too.

“The label of being a young squad can’t hang around forever so we need to be ambitious and go out and try to win something.

“We’re looking really sharp and we’ve had a good pre-season under us. Last year the preparation wasn’t the best at the start of the season. We had too many players and the squad wasn’t settled, but this year we have a good squad together.”

One man who has been vital in Lopes’ career so far is veteran defender and Gypsies captain Owen Heary.

And Lopes reckons he is learning a lot from the 36-year-old seven-time League of Ireland winner.

“Owen is fantastic. He really helps me out, especially being a defender. He has so much information he can give me and we’re good mates too on and off the pitch.

“If I could do half as well as him in my career I’d be doing well.”

The statement announcing the sponsorship reads…

Karmann Volkswagen has today announced a new sponsorship deal with Bohemian Football Club, strengthening Volkswagen Group’s support for Irish soccer. The new dealership opened its doors in April 2012 and continues to build strong links with the local communities in Castleknock, Blanchardstown and further afield.

Speaking on behalf of Karmann Volkswagen, Darren Cahill, REDCO Managing Director said: “Karmann is delighted to sponsor Bohs for the 2013 season. Bohemian FC is our local premier league club and we look forward to enjoying a strong and successful partnership with them. We are very supportive of the efforts the club is making to expand their fan base within the local community.”

To celebrate the new partnership Karmann has announced a ‘Kids go Free’ promotion which enables one paying adult to bring up to 3 kids (under the age of 14) to any home games in Dalymount Park free of charge. “The reaction from staff and customers to the new partnership has been incredible and everyone is looking forward to the season ahead,” said Cahill.

Simon Elliott, CEO of Volkswagen Group Ireland is confident that the partnership will deliver for Volkswagen and Bohs. “We are strong supporters of Irish soccer and we believe this is a great partnership between two strong brands. Bohemian FC is a fantastic club and we support these strong local relationships which can only benefit our local Volkswagen dealers.”

Bohemian FC President, Matt Devaney, welcomed Karmann Volkswagen as the club’s main sponsor. “We are very pleased a company associated with such a strong brand has come on board as the club’s sponsor,” he said. “We aim to build a strong partnership that delivers mutual benefits. We thank the team at Karmann and Volkswagen for making this partnership possible. Karmann has a strong presence in north-west Dublin from where we draw much of our support. We look forward to working together in the community.”

Bohs went on to score five without reply; however this game wasn’t all plain sailing for Aaron Callaghan’s men. Indeed it was two substitutions that made all the difference for Bohs, who lined out in a 4-5-1 formation with Karl Moore at left-back and Dwayne Wilson operating as the lone striker.

This Greystones side did their homework on their opponents as they pressed the Gypsies high up the park, forcing midfielder Dara Reynor to drop even deeper to get his side motoring before the reinforcements were sprung from the bench.

The entrance of Kevin O’Leary after nine minutes for the injured Shane Fitzgerald and Conor O’Brien at half-time for Niall Forrester boosted attacking options.  O’Leary’s introduction shifted Wilson out to the right wing and gave Bohs more of a presence up front.

Before Bohemians equalised on 48 minutes, the well-organised Leinster Senior League outfit could have been more than one in front.  Saves from Murray denied United on three, 18 and 33 minutes as the home side applied some pressure.

With young O’Brien stationed in midfield from the start of the second half, Bohemians shifted up a gear. It was O’Brien who put O’Leary through for the equaliser on 48 minutes, finishing under pressure into the corner.

And another Bohemians substitute, Santiago Falbo, almost allowed Greystones back into the game just four minutes later as a misplaced pass set a United attacker clean through, however the danger was eventually averted.

The growing threat of Bohs captain Stephen Paisley at set pieces paid dividends on 64 minutes when Wilson’s flag-kick was headed back by Scully for Paisley to finish off to put Bohemians in front.

The increasingly involved Falbo shot wide on 67 minutes, while on 74, he created a chance for substitute Adam Kelly, who opted to shoot instead of heading, when well placed. Reynor’s daisy-cutter from the edge of the box one minute later tested United’s substitute goalkeeper, who expertly tipped the ball around the post.

Falbo then helped set up Bohemians’ third in comical circumstances. His near-perfect through ball was collected by a Greystones player, who passed it back to his keeper. The on-rushing Adam Kelly pressurised keeper Eoghan Smullen’s clearance, which deflected off Kelly and into the back of the net.

Adam Kelly then showed his class with an inch-perfect ball over the top of the home defence to winger Andy Mulligan, who centred to O’Leary to finish for Bohemians’ fourth on 83.

Two minutes from time, right full-back Michael Barker steamed through on goal following a slaloming run from the halfway line, only to be upended by Smullen. Barker picked himself up from the artificial surface and dispatched the penalty, sending Smullen the wrong way from 11 metres.

The end score was harsh on the neat-passing hosts, who took the game to the more illustrious visitors from the off.

But after Sunday’s Leinster Senior Cup defeat to UCD, this 5-1 victory put Bohs’ pre-season back on track and may have given manager Callaghan some food for thought ahead of Friday week’s league opener.

Bohemians: GK Grey Murray, 2 Michael Barker,  11 Dave Scully,  5 Stephen Paisley (capt),  4 Karl Moore,  6 Dara Reynor, 15 Niall Forrester, 17 Shane Fitzgerald, 9 Dwayne Wilson, 8 Shane Murray,  10 Andy Mulligan.
Subs [all used]: 23 Kevin O’Leary, 20 Santiago Falbo, 19 Luke Kelly, 12 Conor O’Brien,  18 Luke Kelly, 16 Adam Kelly,  GK Conor Little.

He played with Bohemians for a season, while he also became active in the IRA. He was strongly associated with Michael Collins and joined the pro-Treaty forces, becoming a major-general in the National Army at the age of 24.

In 1924, while Dalton was Clerk of the Seanad, he was elected president of Bohemian FC. He later became a film producer.

Dalton lived in Drumcondra and Phibsboro and he will be the subject of a talk by Des Gunning during Phizzfest on 5th May.

The devastating effect Ireland’s property crash had on the club’s finances is well-documented and Devaney acknowledges that if it wasn’t for Brien’s determination to tackle spending, negotiate with creditors and rally troops when the future looked ominous, a 123-year-old institution could have been lost.

Devaney said: “As I mentioned at last week’s AGM, all members and fans owe a huge debt to Chris Brien for his selfless, thankless work over the past few years.

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to state that without him, we wouldn’t have a club – or at least the club as we know it.

“He mightn’t always get the recognition he deserves but the sacrifices he made over the recent past to ensure the club survived have been incredible.

“They have not gone unnoticed by those of us who have worked closely with him during this time and I know it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the membership in general, who I hope are extremely appreciative of his efforts.

“He has epitomised the true meaning of a members-owned club and its volunteer ethos by listening to everyone’s opinion, rallying the fans when needed and at all times carrying himself with great dignity.

“I hope to carry on in much the same vein and while we still face great difficulties, the pathway has been cleared somewhat by Chris’ sterling work.”

Unfortunately, the prognosis does not look good. While groundstaff have been working tirelessly, the recent appalling weather has had an impact –  the surface is patchy and bobbly, and doesn’t lend itself to flowing football at the moment.

Dave Scully partnered Stephen Paisley at the heart of the Bohs defence. Scully became a cult figure for Bohs fans last season and boss Aaron Callaghan has hinted that centre-half is a position the 28-year-old could fill regularly, having previously played there under Roddy Collins at Carlisle United.

The Gypsies started with a new-look midfield trio of Conor O’Brien, Shane Murray and Darragh Reynor. The latter was particularly impressive, showing a fine range of passing and a bit of bite that could come in handy this term.

Reynor, a former Nottingham Forest youth player, kickstarted the first meaningful move of the match. His raking 40-yard crossfield pass found the overlapping Nangle, whose cross should really have been converted by the head of Dwayne Wilson. The ball struck Wilson’s shoulder when a clean contact would have surely put the home side in front.

Wilson was playing in the lone frontman role that he excelled in against Shamrock Rovers in the famous 4-0 slaying, and he had another half chance after 11 minutes. Reynor’s Scholes-esque through ball put Wilson in behind the UCD defence, but his control let him down and the ball was cleared for a corner.

The pitch was causing problems for midfielders trying to play the ball on the deck. O’Brien got himself stuck and gave the ball away to ex-Bohs man Dinny Corcoran, who unleashed a lovely curling left-footed shot that seemed destined for the top corner, only for Greg Murray to pull off a terrific fingertip save.

The best chance of the first half fell to Wilson. A dinked cross from Karl Moore forced UCD’s Sean Coyne into a poor defensive header. It went straight to Wislon just seven yards out, but his strike was fired high over Conor O’Donnell’s crossbar.

Bohs definitely had the better of the opening half, but the only other effort of note was a Karl Moore 25-yarder that had O’Donnell scrambling before looping wide.

Despite the Leinster Senior Cup’s status as a competitive competition, this game had a distinct pre-season friendly feel about it, especially in the second half. Neither side really pressed in midfield areas, and goalmouth action was at a premium.

Wilson caught UCD’s Hughie Douglas napping on the hour mark, nipping in to force O’Donnell into a smart save. The ball rebounded to Murray, but his looping shot was cleared off the line by the retreating UCD defence.

Moore missed a guilt-edged chance to open the scoring with just  nine minutes remaining. The bustling Reynor clipped the ball through, but Moore shot wide from just 12 yards with only the keeper to beat.

It looked like that would be a costly miss, as the Students took the lead with just three minutes left on the clock thanks to a nightmare error from Bohs keeper Murray.

Having collected a routine backpass, the pitch and poor technique meant Murray’s kick trickled to Gary Burke, who had the simple task of rolling the ball in against his former club.

It looked like the visitors had completed a smash-and-grab raid, but Scully had other ideas. Just a minute later, he nodded in Reynor’s free-kick to send the game into extra-time.  His outrageous John Travolta-style dancing celebration was probably the highlight of a bitterly cold afternoon.

Extra-time seemed to be an unwanted period for all concerned, especially those concerned with the state of the pitch. Again, there was little goalmouth action until the second period. After referee Paul Tuite had given UCD a soft free-kick on the corner of the box, Sean Russell fired in a wicked cross that Nangle could only direct into his own net.

The teams (and hopefully the temperature) will be drastically different when the teams meet next in the Airtricity League opener in 12 days’ time. Callaghan will also be hoping for a different outcome.

Bohemians: Greg Murray, Michael Barker, Stephen Paisley, Dave Scully, Ciaran Nangle, Shane Fitzgerald (Lee Whelan, 106), Conor O’Brien (Niall Forrester, 64), Darragh Reynor, Shane Murray, Karl Moore, Dwayne Wilson (Adam Kelly, 64). Subs not used: Conor Little, Kevin O’Leary, Luke Kelly.

UCD: Conor McDonnell, Gareth Matthews, Hughie Douglas, James Kavanagh, Sean Coyne, Dean Clake, Colm Crowe (Tomas Boyle, 61), Craig Walsh (Adam Whelan, 102), Sean Russell, Gary Burke, Daniel Corcoran (Oua Adeyemo, 61). Subs not used: Ger Barron, Ayman Ben Mohamed, Robbie Suayer, Liam Traynor.