“We’ve offered Owen two years on his contract and we are hopeful that he’ll stay.”

In Part 2, Heary reflects on the 2012 Airtrictiy League season and applauds Callaghan’s footballing philosophy.

The former Shelbourne man states that he is going nowhere and selects Bohemians’ goal of the season … almost!

“I think we’ve underachieved this year in general.”

Camera and editing: Jamie O’Halleron

Graphic design: Ray O’Hanlon

We hope as many fans as possible will attend this end-of-season event to pay tribute to the players’ fine efforts over the course of the year.

The winners of both awards – Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year – were decided by the club’s supporters through an online poll on the Bohemians Facebook page.

The nominees were…

Player of the Year:  Luke Byrne, Dinny Corcoran, Kevin Feely, Ryan McEvoy, Peter McMahon, Evan McMillan, Karl Moore, Dave Mulcahy, Dave Scully and Keith Ward.

Young Player of the Year:  Michael Barker, Keith Buckley, Luke Byrne, Kevin Feely, Danny Joyce, Roberto Lopes, Andy Mulligan, Greg Murray, John O’Connor and Stephen Traynor.

A constant target for Jim McLaughlin’s all-conquering Rovers side of the era, Jackie’s shatterproof loyalty to the Dalymount faithful further cemented his status as one of the true icons of the club.

Here, in a three-part special, bohemians.ie pays homage to The Great Man…

In Part 1, BohsTV’s ANDY DONLAN speaks to lifelong fans who relive their memories of watching Jameson play.

In Part 2, Evening Herald journalist AIDAN FITZMAURICE steps back in time as he recalls growing up when The Great Man was at his best.

In Part 3, lifetime supporter DAVID HALL poses a soul-searching question: Could we have done more for Jackie?

In truth, the defeat could have been much worse, with the visitors missing a number of guilt-edged chances in a rare, frail defensive performance from Aaron Callaghan’s men. Andy Mulligan kept his place in the side after his impressive display against Bray last week, but he was given little to work on in a frustrating night for the home side going forward.

Two out of the three Drogheda Brennan brothers started for United, with Ryan and Sean roaming around the Dalymount pitch reminiscent of their older sibling Killian in his pomp. Ryan had the first two efforts on goal – the first was saved by Greg Murray in the Bohs goal, while the second was blocked by BFC Player of the Year Evan McMillan.

It wasn’t a great night for Murray, who had a terrible time with his kicking all night. A scuffed clearance in the 16th minute went straight to Tiernan Mulvenna, who found Ryan Brennan at the back post, but his shot went wide. Drogheda took a deserved lead on 24 minutes. Paul Crowley’s long ball split the Bohs defence, and Mulvenna ran through to finish smartly over Murray to send the Drogs fans in the Des Kelly Stand wild with delight.

Bohs’ first chance arrived on the half hour mark. Neat play between Ryan McEvoy and Derek Pender sent Mulligan through on the left flank. His low cross found Dinny Corcoran, but the striker couldn’t get enough on the finish. Mulvenna really should have doubled Drogheda’s lead five minutes before the break. A sweeping move set Sean Brennan through in behind the Bohs defence. He crossed for Mulvenna, but the striker scuffed his shot wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

But the Drogs man wasn’t to be denied. In the 44th minute, another well-worked, flowing move set Alan Byrne in on the right. This time, Byrne’s his cross found Mulvenna with his shooting boots on, and Drogheda led 2 – 0. However, instead of going into the break 2 down, Bohs gave themselves a glimmer of hope in first half stoppage time. McEvoy’s clipped ball looked to be going into Gabriel Sava’s hands, but a challenge from Dinny Corcoran meant the ball ricocheted out to Evan McMillan. Bohs top scorer made no mistake, firing home to make it 2-1 on the stroke of half time.

Drogheda boss Mick Cooke must have given his side a real rollicking for their pre-half time slip, as the visitors came out all guns blazing in the second half. It wasn’t long before they had regained a two goal advantage. A soft goal from a Bohs perspective, Alan McNally headed home from a near post Sean Brennan corner. Drogheda looked every bit the second place team heading for Europe next season. Bohs struggled to come to terms with the Louthmen, even when playmaker Keith Ward came on.

Mulvenna completed his hat-trick and sealed the game for Drogheda with twenty minutes remaining. Greg Murray capped what could only be described as a nightmare display by spilling sub john Sullivan’s cross into Mulvenna’s path, and the striker bundled home his third, and Drogheda’s fourth.

Unfortunately for Mulvenna, the match ball may have to be delivered to the Mater Hospital, as he was stretchered off with a suspected serious ankle injury soon after. The dreaded leg brace came out for the stricken forward, who was warmly applauded off the field by both sets of fans. The game petered out after that, with the Bohs fans coming to life in the final few minutes.

That so many stayed after the game to applaud off the players and staff after such a disappointing defeat is a testament to the achievements of this young side in 2012. Here’s to 2013, and the continued Rise of the Red and Black Revolution.

Bohemians: Greg Murray, Owen Heary, Evan McMillan, Kevin Feely, Derek Pender, Andy Mulligan (Karl Moore, 46), Stephen Traynor (Keith Ward, 46), Michael Barker, Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Dinny Corcoran (Dave Scully, 76). Subs not used: Andy McNulty, Roberto Lopes, Kevin Devaney, Dylan Connolly.

Drogheda United: Gabriel Sava, Stephen Quigley, Philip Hand, Alan McNally, Derek Prendergast (Jason Marks, 87), Ryan Brennan, Paul Crowley, Brian Gannon (John Sullivan, 24), Alan Byrne, Tiernan Mulvanna (Johnny Breen, 87), Sean Brennan. Subs not used: Michael Schlingermann, Cathal Brady, Conor O’Keefe.

On one occasion, Harold Sloan, who scored in Bohs’ only IFA Cup final victory in 1908, planted a tree in recognition of the clubs’ friendship.

To further raise awareness for the work of Talk About It, Sunday’s game will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports Ireland.

Setanta Sports commercial director Trevor Twamley said: “To demonstrate our support for this important charity event, which we will broadcast live to 1.2million homes, Setanta Sports has shifted AC Milan from Setanta Ireland to Setanta Sports 1 to make way for Westport United and Bohemians.”

Tickets (adults €10, children €5) for the match are available locally in Wesport from Downtown Records, Henry McGlade Music Store and the Mill Times Hotel.

As part of its fundraising drive Talk About It is also running a monster memorabilia at the Westport Woods Hotel on Sunday November 4.

The charity’s founder Joe McGuire said: “We have already started on this mammoth task and among those we have received are fully signed jerseys from the Irish national rugby squad and the Dublin Gaelic football team to whom we send out thanks.”

Both teams come to Friday’s clash from very good results last weekend. While Drogheda beat newly crowned champions Sligo Rovers 2-1, Bohemians put four past Bray Wanderers.

“We were on top even before they [Bray] had a man sent off. It was one of those games where you feel comfortable and you always feel you’re on top.

“Once we got the first goal I knew we were going to get a few more. Every player rose above their normal level.”

There has been very little between Bohemians and Drogheda in their three matches this season. An EA Sports Cup tie was decided on penalties after two hours of play produced a 1-1 draw.

It was 1-1 again in the league at Dalymount in May and a single Drogheda goal from a penalty settled a feisty encounter at Hunky Dorys Park in August.

Callaghan says his players appreciate the importance of a win on Friday. “Securing a place in the Setanta Cup will be no mean achievement. It’s fantastic to be playing for this, for the staff who put in such an effort, and for the players.”

Callaghan gave a debut last Friday to under-19 player Dylan Connolly who came on as substitute after 75 minutes. The manager may do something similar on Friday, as Bohemians look to a future based on a core of younger players.

But the manager’s options are also limited by injuries among the more experienced players. Injuries rule out Owen Heary (hamstring), Derek Pender (back) and Adam Martin (ankle), as well as Andy Mulligan (ankle), Luke Byrne (ankle) and Michael Barker (illness).

Bohemian fans have been urged to attend this season finale in large numbers to show their appreciation for the players’, managers’ and coaches’ efforts, while Callaghan acknowledged the “tremendous support from everyone involved.”

“We’ve had some highs and some lows but I think, in general, the fans understand the project and that we don’t have a lot of finance to compete with other clubs,” he said.

“They understand that we have had to play a lot of young players and that’s the way it is going to be for the foreseeable future.”

The nominees for Player of the Year are:  Luke Byrne, Dinny Corcoran, Kevin Feely, Ryan McEvoy, Peter McMahon, Evan McMillan, Karl Moore, Dave Mulcahy, Dave Scully and Keith Ward. Vote here.

The nominees for Young Player of the Year (aged 20 or younger) are:  Michael Barker, Keith Buckley, Luke Byrne, Kevin Feely, Danny Joyce, Roberto Lopes, Andy Mulligan, Greg Murray, John O’Connor and Stephen Traynor. Vote here. 

While their rivals in the race for 5^th also had positive results, a victory in the last game of the season against Drogheda could well see Bohs finishing in that commendable Setanta Cup spot.

The opening ten minutes were cagey, but gradually the Gypsies began to exert their dominance, with wingers Keith Buckley and Andy Mulligan in particularly good form. Mulligan forced Bray keeper Brian Kane into a smart near post save on 16 minutes. From the resulting corner, Buckley fired just wide. Bohs had the ball in the net ten minutes later, but Dinny Corcoran was ruled offside after rounding Kane and slotting the ball home.

The game’s key flashpoints happened within three minutes of each other around the half hour mark. Bray defender David Webster brought down Dinny Corcoran to receive his first yellow card on 29 minutes. Then, just three minutes later, Webster felled Keith Buckley when the Bohs youngster was almost through on goal. Neil Doyle prescribed an early bath for the Bray man, and Bohs could now take control of the game.

Corcoran and Mulligan both had chances to put Bohs ahead before the break. Corcoran’s volley flew just over, and Mulligan slipped at the vital moment allowing Kane to gather. Half time came at a good time for the home side, but the feeling was that Bohs were poised to catch fire in the second period.

Bray almost poured water on that notion just after the break. Kieran Marty Waters to be precise. Set through by Jason Byrne, Waters deliciously lobbed Greg Murray, only to see his effort crash off the underside of the bar. Bohs replied instantly – McEvoy played a lovely through ball to Mulcahy, who kept his composure and clipped the ball past Kane to open the scoring. The modest away crowd had barely sat back down when it was 2. Mulligans delightful back post cross found his opposite winger Buckley, who slid in to double Bohs’ advantage.

On the hour mark, Bray got one back. As is the general way of things, Jason Byrne got on the scoresheet – dispatching a penalty after Michael Barker fouled Waters in the area. The flurry of goals kept on coming – with Bohs restoring their two goal advantage with 20 minutes remaining. A neat interchange of passing between Corcoran and substitute Keith Ward set Andy Mulligan through. Mulligan got the goal his performance deserved by blasting the ball low past Kane to make it 3 – 1.

Callaghan kept his promise of blooding some Under 19 starlets – Dylan Connolly came on for his debut, and almost set up the fourth following a powerful run down the left. Only a goal-line clearance kept Bohs from extending their lead. The game somewhat petered out in the latter stages – but there was a warm reception for Jason Byrne from the Bohs fans as he was replaced near the end. There was time for Ryan McEvoy to wrap up the evening by grabbing Bohs fourth in injury time. It was the first and last time this season that Bohs managed to score more than twice away from home.

Wins for Derry and Cork kept them ahead of Bohs in the table, but the race for 5^th place is still very much alive. With Derry finished their league games, a win for Bohs against Drogheda will certainly put them ahead of the Candystripes. A win will seal 5^th spot providing St. Pats take points from Cork in the final game.

Bray Wanderers: Brian Kane, Kevin Knight, Danny O’Connor, David Webster, Daire Doyle, Dean Marshall, (Lee Dixon 66) Sean Houston, Kevin O’Connor, John Mulroy (Paul Moffatt 72), Kieran Marty Waters, Jason Byrne (Yani Georgiev 87).

Bohemians: Greg Murray, Owen Heary, Kevin Feely, Evan McMillan, Luke Byrne (Kevin Devaney 74); Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Stephen Traynor (Keith Ward 63), Dave Mulcahy, Andy Mulligan (Dylan Connolly 76), Dinny Corcoran.

Bohs Man of the Match: Andy Mulligan

But Bohs boss Aaron Callaghan doesn’t believe that means this will an easy game for his young side.

“I know they’ve had a few bad beatings in recent games, but I don’t think they’ll be resting players (for the playoff) to be honest,” Callaghan said.

“I think they’ll be trying to win as many games as they can. There’s a pretty big gap until the play-off, so I think they’ll be trying to get a bit of confidence back into their group.”

Callaghan dismissed notions that revenge would be on the minds of the Bohs players, following Dundalk’s victory in Dalymount in the FAI Cup Quarter Final last month.

Victory over Dundalk would be the Gypsies’ only clean sweep of wins against another Airtricity League team this season.“What’s gone is gone. We cant change the past. The cup game was just one of those nights, it took a special free kick to win it. From my point of view, it’s just about getting the three points”

“We’ve done well against them this season, won home and away. I didn’t think either side played well in the cup game to be honest. From our side, it’s about getting as many points as we can and trying to finish in that fifth spot.”

And what an achievement that would be. Considering the position the club were in in February, Callaghan believes a top-half finish would be a massive coup for his resurgent Bohemians.

“To cement a Setanta Cup place, having been where we were at the start of the season – not knowing if we even had a club – I think it would be an unbelievable achievement for everyone involved.”“I think it would be a massive achievement. Not only for the players – with the effort and the application they’ve put in this year, but also for the club.

Kevin Feely is suspended for the game against Dundalk following his red card against UCD, while Adam Martin is out with an ankle injury.

Otherwise, Callaghan expects to have a full squad at his disposal for the trip to Oriel.