Bobby Browne and Owen Heary had their team fired up as they came out of the dressing room looking hungrier than their opponents and it paid off after just four minutes.

The ball was headed over the top and Stephen Traynor was bundled over by David McDaid inside the box having just beating the offside trip by inches.

Ryan McEvoy stepped up and placed the ball to the left of Derry keeper Ger Doherty, who guessed right but couldn’t do anything about it.

The confidence was coursing through the veins of those in red and black, and the chances began to come thick and fast.

Dinny Corcoran, key to the revival under the several different management teams in recent weeks, had a decent shot that flashed wide.

Declan Devine’s team began to take more of an interest in proceedings but once again McEvoy dealt them a huge blow.

After some great football in midfield, Keith Buckley found himself with the ball in midfield. He floated it up and McEvoy, the architect of the move, made a late run into the box.

He got his head to the ball and at first it looked as if it wouldn’t have the pace to beat the goalkeeper but Doherty couldn’t get near it and it was 2-0.

And that’s how it would stay, despite the Candystripes’ best efforts. Corcoran had a half-chance with a header at the beginning of the second half but the visitors had a couple of chances midway through the second half, including a heart-in-mouth moment for Dean Delany after a goalmouth scramble.

Corcoran was again in the thick of the action as Ryan McBride was given his marching orders for hauling down the former UCD man when he was through on goal. McBride was deemed to be the last man.

Despite an initial flurry of attacking intent from Bohs, Derry began to look a more composed side than they did when they their full complement of players.

Simon Madden came closest to pulling one back as he trickled the ball wide but that was that and there we joyful scenes at the end from both players and fans alike. One more win will surely do the trick and hopefully that could come away at Limerick on Monday evening.

BOHEMIANS: Delany, Pender, Lopes, Yaholadi, Byrne, Mulcahy, McEvoy, Moore, Buckley (Mulligan 85), Traynor, Corcoran (Lyons 92).
DERRY CITY: Doherty, Madden, S McEleney, McBride, Jarvis, McDaid (P McEleney 55), Higgins, McNamee, Duffy (Curran 80), Rafter, Patterson.

If you are interested in matchday sponsorship packages at Bohemians, click here for more information, or email commercial@bohemians.ie.

The matchday sponsorship package is an excellent way to reward your company’s staff or your clients with a good night out, whilst at the same time promoting your business.

“Last week we played very well and got our just reward. But this weekend is even bigger, because if we match the results of the clubs around us, or even better them, it would take us out of the bottom three.

“If we win the two games, effectively we’re safe. I don’t want to be waiting until the last two games. I’d like to put this issue to bed this weekend.”

Bohemians are approaching these games with confidence. “When we can go to Pat’s and get a draw, why wouldn’t we be confident?” Heary asks.

“We expect to win every game we approach. The players are starting to enjoy their football. They have been working hard for a long time, but now they really have the bit between their teeth, knowing they’re a good team.”

Derry have proven a hard nut to crack for Bohs this season. In three matches in two competitions Bohemians are still without a win. But Derry’s form since the sides last met in the league, with three wins and six defeats, has been marginally poorer than Bohemians’, with three wins, two draws and five defeats.

Bohemian manager Bobby Browne and assistant Heary have been working with a full squad, and competition for places right through the line-up.

Stephen Traynor’s performances since coming on as a sub against St Patrick’s Athletic four weeks ago demonstrate the effect of this competition. Starting since then against Sligo and Shels, Traynor has contributed strongly to the more numerous goal-scoring opportunities.

“He got his chance when he came on against Pat’s and, in fairness to him, he has grabbed that chance. Bucko [Keith Buckley] is the same. He came on against Pat’s and did exceptionally well,” said Heary.

“There are other players there, who are maybe not getting on to the bench and they’re disappointed. But they’re not letting it get to them. They’re pushing the team on and waiting for their chance, and it might come sooner than they think.”

For Friday, defender Anto Murphy faces a late fitness test with a hamstring strain, with Neil Yadolahi or Daniel Byrne available to replace him. Murphy has been a linchpin of Bohemians’ improved defence and the assistant manager would prefer to give him the additional days to recover rather than risk aggravating the injury by playing him too soon.

Limerick, like Derry, have proven to be stern opposition for Bohemians this season, though Heary considers his team was particularly unlucky against them. “Down there [last April], we were 1-0 up with a half-hour to go and two free kicks cost us the game. We played very well against them up here [in July] and then they hit a long ball, get a good touch on it, and they score,” he said.

“Limerick are a hard-working team, they have a good squad, with good attackers and Stuart [Taylor] has done a great job there. But they may be a bit tired with three games in six days. We’ll go down full of confidence.”

Included in the PFAI’s fundraising plans:

• A calendar for 2014 will be produced with 12 current premier division players. Those players are: Luke Byrne (Bohemian FC), Daire Doyle (Bray Wanderers), Gearóid Morrissey (Cork City), Barry Molloy (Derry City), Paul O’Conor (Drogheda United), Peter Cherrie (Dundalk), Stephen Folan (Limerick), Jake Kelly (St Patrick’s Athletic), James Chambers (Shamrock Rovers), Graham Gartland (Shelbourne), Raffaele Cretaro (Sligo Rovers), Michael Leahy (UCD).
• Balls on Bikes cycle from Drogheda United’s ground to the Aviva Stadium, on the day of the FAI Ford Cup final, Sunday 3 November 2013. Players and friends and family of Gary have already committed to taking part in the cycle, and past and present players are invited to participate
• All players will be asked to donate €20 towards their ticket to the PFAI Awards on Friday 8 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Dublin Hotel (the Burlington Hotel) whether they attend or not. Members usually attend for free but this year we are asking for a donation and all proceeds go to further fundraising activities will take place on the night of the Awards and will be announced closer to the event.

Further fundraising activities will take place on the night of the Awards and will be announced closer to the event.

They are:

• Nivea Hamper – 216 Blue
• Drinks Hamper – 261 Blue, 21 Green
• Ireland Tickets – 17 Green
• Signed Bohs Jersey – 27 Green
• 2 tickets to Shelbourne Park – 5 Green
• Home Alarm Package – Blue 96
• Print of Dalymount – Green 212

Please contact boxing@bohemians.ie to claim your prizes.

The boxing forecast was shared by three people – Niamh Doyle, Tony Byrne and Mark O’Neill.

The opening 15 minutes of this encounter was right out of the bottom drawer. Both sides were painfully, nervously trying not to make any mistakes, and flowing football was at a premium. Long, hoofed clearances were the order of the day, but even at that stage, Bohs just about seemed to have an edge. The opening goal came out of the blue, but it was one of the best goals the Gypsies have scored all year. Anto Murphy was the catalyst, and his slaloming run down the left side carved open the Shelbourne defence. His back post cross was stood up beautifully to Karl Moore, who nodded the ball back to Corcoran, whose first time strike was perfect. A Shels defender tried in vain to clear, but could only block the ball into the roof of the net.

The Bohs fans outnumbered the home crowd by around four to one, but it sounded like double that as the decibel level rose once it became clear that this was a game Bohs were totally in control of. Corcoran could well have had at least one other soon after his goal, but his first effort flew over, and a second, easier chance was dragged wide. Dave Mulcahy should have done better from a Stephen Traynor corner, but Bohs were absolutely in the asendancy at the break.

Careful not to be made to pay for missing those chances, Bohs came out of the blocks like a train in the second half. First, Traynor had a great chance after a woeful back header from Adam O’Connor, but Lee Murphy saved well from close range. The second goal was coming, and it was fitting that a true Bohs man sealed the deal. Traynor’s deflected cross from the right fell kindly for Ryan McEvoy at the near post, and the midfielder hooked a lofted shot over Murphy into the far corner.

Traynor had possibly his best game in a Bohs shirt, and just 2 minutes after McEvoy’s goal he displayed an ice cool nerve to stop the ball in the centre of the box, and square it to Keith Buckley. Amazingly, Buckley shot straight at Murphy from 6 yards, but by that stage, Shels were beaten. Bohs have played an extra game than their close rivals, but it’s hard to see Shelbourne picking up anywhere near enough points to make up the 5-point deficit.

The icing on the red and black cake came on 83 minutes, and again it was a late-arriving midfielder who did the trick. This time, Karl Moore’s near post cross was turned home by Dave Mulcahy. Murphy could probably have done better for both second half goals, but in truth, he was one of many atrocious performers for the home side.

With UCD and Bray also losing, this could prove to be a critical night in Bohs’ search for Premier Division status in 2014. Either way, this was an unforgettable victory in front of a passionate crowd that loved every minute.

Shelbourne: Lee Murphy, Pat Flynn, Graham Gartland, Adam O’Connor, Ian Ryan (Derek Doyle, 76) Adam Hanlon, Glenn Cronin (Darren Tinnelly, 33), Stephen Hurley, Sean Brennan; Lee Murtagh, Stephen Sheerin (Jamie McGlynn, 60). Subs Not Used: Niall Burdon, Paul Andrews, Brian Gannon, Jake Donnelly.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender (Daniel Byrne 73), Roberto Lopes,  Anto Murphy, Luke Byrne, Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Dave Mulcahy, Stephen Traynor (Chris Lyons, 9o), Karl Moore (Kevin Devaney, 90),  Dinny Corcoran. Subs Not Used: Dave Scully, Darragh Reynor, Andy Mulligan, Greg Murray.