Looking at the betting on our game, it is heartening to see a fair bit of divergence in views. William Hill rate us a 5/6 shot (or 1.83), while Pinnacle go 10/9 (2.11). Shrewd punters all over the world are getting to grips with these lesser known firms such as Pinnacle as their prices on big leagues such as the English Premier League can sometimes be significantly better than the better-known bookies in Ireland and England. For each game this season, a bet on every Bohs game will be suggested, but it won’t always be a “tip” as such – for this one, the draw is taken at 23/10 (Bet365, Boyles, Hills).

Scanning the rest of the Premier Division coupon, the big televised game on Sunday in Limerick sees Cork City visit Thomond Park to face Limerick. The home side are playing under a new highly-rated coach, and Cork have racked up some impressive results in the Setanta Cup against moderate Danske Bank League opposition so this one is hard to call. These are probably two teams on whom you would keep a watching brief for the first few weeks of the season.

Title favourites Shamrock travel to Dundalk where Stephen Kenny and Stephen O’Donnell are sure to improve the Lilywhites compared to last season’s showing. 4/6 the away side does not appeal, nor does the 5/4 on Sligo to win in Derry. Until Danny North is fit, punters should not be in a rush to back Sligo to routinely win away from home.

Shelbourne could struggle this season and they travel to Bray who have Gary Dempsey, Kieran “Marty” Waters, and Jason Byrne helping their cause. Surrounded by hungry youngsters, they will ensure that the Carlisle Grounds is unlikely to yield three easy points to any visiting team, and backing the Seagulls off scratch (0 in the Asian handicap means your money is returned in the event of a draw) at 41/40 with Bet365 is a shortlist bet.

The best bet in the Premier Division is at Richmond Park. Some will argue that Drogheda over-achieved last season, but that coupled with their excellent Setanta Cup form means that Hills’ quote of 5/2 is too big to ignore. Liam Buckley’s St Pat’s team may have to deal with more frustration and more missed opportunities – the story of their brief Setanta Cup campaign. Drogheda have no reason to feel inferior to these opponents and can take the three points.

In the First Division Finn Harps are worthy of attention this season, with a large squad training hard under the guidance of the Donegal GAA fitness coach. Make of that what you will. They will have their backers at 7/2 at Waterford. No-one with any common sense likes to use the word “banker” with a straight face but everyone wants one these days, and this week the heavy hitters will have their cross-hairs on Longford to beat Salthill, who have 4 suspended.

Recommended:
Drogheda, 1pt 5/2 (Hills)
Longford, 2pts 4/9 (Hills, Bet365)

“The lads are hungry. Their attitude in training has been fantastic and we hope that will manifest itself in match performances. There’s a desire there to do well and I believe we can win a trophy.”

The manager is not fazed by last month’s extra-time defeat to UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup.

“There was nothing between the teams. They play a similar game to us and their fitness levels are high. But the line-up of both sides will look very different on Friday from what it was.”

Callaghan expects his counterpart Martin Russell to make “five or six” changes for Friday and he himself could be making as many EIGHT changes.

The manager is delighted to have retained 15 of last year’s squad, as the slow start in 2012 was at least partly down to players learning new approaches.

“The fact that we kept so many, and who can help new players coming in, is very good from our point of view.”

Callaghan also believes he has a squad with cover for all positions, and thus competition for starting places. However, he already has a fairly clear idea what his best 11 might look like but “nobody can rest on their laurels, they need to keep their standards high”.

The pre-season schedule has taken a small toll on the players. Shane Fitzgerald (ankle), Kevin Devaney (ankle) and Kevin O’Leary (illness) are not available for Friday.

On Monday 11th March, Bohemians again host UCD at Dalymount Park in the EA Sports Cup (kick-off 7.45pm).

(Pic: UCD’s Michael Leahy and Bohs winger Keith Buckley at last week’s Airtricity League launch at the Aviva Stadium)

While such sponsorship would be outside the means of many of us individually, collectively it can become a reality when we join together.

When you have goals, you also have an ‘assist’ – the HSI assist will be our designated charity Focus Ireland, who do fantastic work to break the cycle of homelessness. No matter what challenges Bohemian FC are facing, we cannot lose sight of those less fortunate than ourselves.

Focus Ireland will receive 10% of the funds raised, will get a free advert in the Bohemians matchday programme and will do a bucket collection at the HSI-sponsored match.

That match will be Bohs v Dundalk on April 19th and the matchball will also be sponsored by the HSI. The player jersey being sponsored by the HSI this season is Karl Moore’s away jersey.

There will be a major raffle for all fans who sign up to the HSI. One entry to this raffle will be given for each €10 contributed. The prizes will be the inducements offered by the club for match, matchball and player sponsorships, as follows:

• Two-match hospitality packages for five people
• One-match hospitality package for four people
• Signed Bohs jersey
• Signed Bohs football

The hospitality packages include tickets to the Bohs v Dundalk game, match programmes, seats in the Directors’ Box and half-time hospitality in the newly-refurbished Jackie Jameson Bar.

Don’t miss out! Be a Bohs Hat-trick Hero and sign up now here.

And help spread the word by printing out and distributing the poster below among supporters:

Carlow then had another man familiar around these parts to thank for keeping them in the game as former Bohs keeper Craig Sexton dealt with Craig Maguire’s deflected shot comfortably.

In the end, it took a substitute to help settle the game as Shelbourne’s Adam Hanlon was sprung from the bench. And on 62 minutes, his pinpoint cross from the right was met by the head of Ben Ryan to secure Carlow IT their second Colleges FAI Cup in a row.

Meanwhile, next Wednesday’s (13th March) final of the Colleges and Universities Football League Premier Division pits Roberto Lopes against Bohs team-mate Stephen Traynor.

Defender Lopes plays for Dublin Insitute of Technology and attacking midfielder Traynor for Dublin City University. They are up against each other in the final at Frank Cooke Park (Tolka Rovers), kick-off at 7.30pm.

(Picture, courtesy of Sportsfile, shows Andy Mulligan shaking hands with President of Ireland Michael D Higgins at the start of the game.)

ITB Sports Officer Ronan Keaskin said of the sponsorship: “ITB is excited to provide one of the country’s leading football teams with ongoing support both through its excellent facilities and the additional support we can give through the Sports Management Programmes run here. We wish Bohemian FC the best of luck with their forthcoming season.”

Bohemian FC president Matt Devaney said the club was delighted to form this new relationship with IT Blanchardstown. “We have already benefited from the use of the Institute’s excellent facilities in our pre-season preparations. We were able to host several friendlies on the all-weather pitch there when Dalymount Park could not be used without great risk to the playing surface,” Mr Devaney said.

“Under the partnership with ITB our senior and under-19 teams will continue to train there and I’m sure they will draw strength from the quality of the facilities and the support of the Institute staff,” he continued.

“As a club with many young players and supporters it means a lot to us to have a close relationship with a higher education institution and as a club that is building its support and strengthening its community relations in north-west Dublin, ITB is a perfect fit.”

View more pics of the launch on our Facebook page!

These competitions have raised vital funds for the club and we aim to continue our efforts to support Bohs on and off the pitch. We encourage all true Gypsies to enter the competition and to recruit friends and family members to join in. For this series, the entry fee is just €10.

It’s easy to take part and there’s fun and excitement in the competition, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that half of all the entry fees goes to Bohemian Football Club. There’s also potentially a massive prize for the winner of the competition.

To play, you pick a team from the League of Ireland in week one. If they win you go through to next round where you pick another team (you cannot pick the same team twice). If your team loses or draws you are out. Simple as that.

If you join the competition you get an email notice ahead of each round of fixtures with a deadline to reply with your selection.

This continues until we have a Last Man Standing (or woman, as we have had more than one female winner!), who picks up the prize money. If more than one person is still standing after 10 matches, then they will share the pot of all entry fees received.

Click here to enter.