Latest News

All the latest club news and updates from Dalymount Park.

A BOHEMIAN OF MANY PARTS

Former Bohemian player and club president Major General Emmet Dalton will be commemorated next Monday (4th March, 12 noon) at Glasnevin Cemetery, writes BRIAN TRENCH.

Monday marks the anniversary of both Dalton’s birth in 1898 and his death in 1978.

Dalton (pictured with Michael Collins) joined the Gypsies in 1919, after his demobilisation from the British Army, which he joined in 1915.

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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.

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MERVUE FRIENDLY TONIGHT

Very late notice so please spread the word: Bohemians will play Mervue Utd in a friendly TONIGHT at Dalymount Park (KO 7.45).

WITHOUT CHRIS, WE WOULDN’T HAVE A CLUB

Newly-elected Bohemian President Matt Devaney has paid tribute to the efforts of his predecessor Chris Brien in securing the club’s medium-term future.

At last week’s 124th Annual General Meeting of Bohemian FC, Brien (pictured with President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins) stepped aside after two seasons at the helm, having previously served a two-year stint as finance director.

While much work, fundraising and goodwill is still required to safeguard the club in the long-term, Brien played an enormous part in ensuring that we have the breathing space needed to face those challenges together.

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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.”

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OWN GOAL SEES BOHS CRASH OUT

LEINSTER SENIOR CUP: BOHEMIANS 1 UCD 2 (AET)

Bohemians’ first competitive game of the season ended in an extra-time defeat to soon-to-be familiar foes UCD on Sunday afternoon, writes KEVIN FAGAN.

This was the first of three games against the Students across three competitions in the coming weeks. Unfortunately for Bohs, bossed by assistant manager Owen Heary, this first installment went the way of the visitors after former Student Ciaran Nangle’s own goal in the second period of extra-time.

Frustrated by a series of postponements of pre-season friendlies scheduled for Dalymount, this was the first chance for the Bohs faithful to get a look at the much talked-about home surface.

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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.

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BOHS SHAKE IT UP

Unperturbed that Derry City players had got there first, Bohemians pressed ahead and took a little break from their pre-season preparations to make their own version of the Harlem Shake.

Caution: Contains bare bottoms and socks in odd places.

RYAN MIGHTY

Ryan McEvoy believes Bohemians can end the year with a trophy, writes FRANKIE LALLY.

The midfielder’s only silverware at the club came in the shape of an EA Sports Cup in 2009 and he feels it is now time to add another medal to his collection.

McEvoy explained: “We want to win something and it doesn’t matter what it is. We genuinely feel we have a great chance of winning something this year.”

Bohs will be aiming to take a step in the right direction with a victory in the Leinster Senior Cup on on Sunday as they take to the field at Dalymount Park for the first time since October.

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In the first of three early-season meetings with UCD, the Gypsies hope to lay down a marker with McEvoy determined to make an impression in the league and improve on last season’s seventh-place finish.

He said: “We’re going to have a go at the league and we have no fear after last season.

“It’s an overall better squad this year and if we could beat Shamrock Rovers and the like last season I don’t see why we can’t have a good go this year.

“I’d be massively disappointed if we don’t improve on last season. The lads that have come in are hungry and they know what it’s about.

“Everybody is fighting for positions, so you have to be on your toes all the time. It’s good that we’re all pulling in the same direction.”

The 22-year-old has had a bright start to pre-season and while he insists the fans should not get too carried away, he reckons this squad is better than last year’s.

McEvoy added: “We’re back six weeks now and we’re flying. It’s good to be scoring goals considering the slow start we had last season.

“We have a good base and it’s not thrown together like last year and I think we’ll be really disappointed if we’re not doing well right from the start.

“We feel capable of doing a hell of a lot better this year and we felt last year we didn’t do ourselves justice in the end.

“Personally I’m fit and happy enough with how I’m doing. I’m in a lot better shape than last year and I’m buzzing to be back – it’s going to be a big year.”

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Just the ticket

Tickets for Sunday’s Leinster Senior Cup fourth-round clash with UCD (kick-off 1pm) – Bohemians’ first game of the season at Dalymount – are priced at just €10 for adults and €5 for concessions.

Sunday Club prices – €3.50 pints and €3 for longnecks – continue in the bars for the game and after it, where the Six Nations meeting of Scotland and Ireland will be screened.

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TRAYN, SET AND MATCH

Bohemian Stephen Traynor was the 11th-hour hero for DCU as they beat title-holders IT Carlow to get to their first-ever CUFL (Colleges and Universities Football League) final, writes BRIAN TRENCH.

Traynor poked home from a DCU corner in the second period of extra-time in Wednesday’s (February 20th) semi-final.

IT Carlow, for whom Bohs man Andy Mulligan came close early on, went ahead late in the first half.

But Michael Isichei equalised for DCU from the penalty spot on 70 minutes after former Gypsy Dan Mahon was fouled in the box.

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In next month’s CUFL final, Traynor will oppose yet another of his Bohemian team-mates. Roberto Lopes scored a late extra-time goal to secure DIT’s semi-final win over Athlone IT.

DIT were also finalists in 2010 but were beaten on that occasion by UCD.

On Monday (February 25th), a buoyed-up DCU begin their Collingwood Cup campaign in Jordanstown with a match against University of Ulster Magee.

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CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION

Outgoing Bohemians President Chris Brien has called for full attendance and participation at tonight’s Annual General Meeting (7.30pm, St Peter’s Hall).

Founded as a members’ club in 1890, Bohemians are one of the oldest fan-run institutions in the world.

Brien hopes that ethos will continue into our 124th season and said: “I urge all members to attend tonight. This is YOUR club and YOUR involvement is vital.

“It is important that the members hear what plans the board have for the future and that these plans are challenged to ensure they are in the best interests of The Bohemian Football Club.

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“Your input into these plans and, hopefully, your assistance in achieving them is what will make this club strong again. I look forward to seeing you tonight.”

Meanwhile, members in attendance tonight can purchase the superb 2013 Bohemian FC calendar for less than HALF its original price.

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D15 SUPPORTERS’ UNION

Calling all Bohs supporters in Dublin 15 and surrounding areas!

We’d like to bring to your attention the establishment of a new supporters’ club. The BFC Dublin 15 Supporters’ Union aims to bring together existing fans on matchdays and also recruit new fans from the area.

A typical matchday would involve members meeting up between 6-7pm in a location close to the Blanchardstown Centre and then availing of club buses from the Centre to Dalymount and back after the match.

Membership is free and for more information, you can visit the group’s Facebook page or email bfcdublin15@gmail.com with your name, address and contact number.

Website by Simon Alcock