SSE Airtricity League
Sunday November 7 2021
Dalymount Park, 5pm
Match tickets: tickets.bohemians.ie
Exclusively live on LOITV

The battle for fourth is between four teams but Bohemians once again have the opportunity to move into pole position if they win against Drogheda United this evening.

Keith Long’s men failed to capitalise twice in recent weeks to leapfrog Derry City into fourth but will be hoping for third time lucky against Drogs at Dalymount.

But that will be easier said than done against Tim Clancy’s men who have beaten and drawn with Bohs this season; the Gypsies winning 5-0 when the sides last met in Dalymount in July the outlier of those three performances.

Long said: “Drogheda have had a fine season upon their return to the Premier Division and are more than a match for any team.

“Our respective league positions shows how tight it has been between the two teams this year and the points have been shared to date in the three previous encounters.

“Tonight we will be looking to make home advantage count and get back to winning ways in the league.”

Bohs come into the game after a mixed couple of weeks. Winning the FAI Cup semi-final against Waterford was an unbelievable high, but they came crashing down to earth with defeat against the same opposition in the league three days later.

That was followed by the concession a poor injury-time equaliser after an otherwise impressive performance against Derry City in the Brandywell.

Against St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday, Bohs were extremely fortunate to be only 2-0 down, but battled back to draw 2-2 and had plenty of opportunities to go on and win it too.

Long said: “Tonight we will be looking to build on the second half performance in Inchicore and tidy up on some of the costly errors. If we can do that we give ourselves every chance.

“Our recent form has been very mixed and we have been our own worst enemy at times with some of the goals we have conceded as a team.

“The basics of the game need to be done brilliantly every time and that’s not something we can say we have done consistently this season. It has been frustrating for us all but we have to continue to work hard in our attempts to improve.

“This group of players are very much together and although they may disappoint at times they never stop trying and will always give it their best.

“They have not been helped with the volume of games they have been exposed to with very little time for recovery and preparation. I am conscious that my words can be perceived as excuses but I can only offer an insight into my thoughts.

“It has been extremely trying to play games every three days. Monday against St Pat’s was our sixth game in 18 days, which is the second time we have had to do that this season. We have played 10 games Monday/Friday weekends, five of which were originally scheduled.

“This is not a sustainable workload for any group of players and we have suffered in my view as a club for developing young players and the lack of vision regarding our fixture calendar.

“I am not suggesting that this is the sole reason why we find ourselves in the position that we are in – we have lost or drawn too many games this year – but it certainly hasn’t helped at a defining time of the season.

“As a backroom team we have made the decision, for the welfare of the players and the greater good of the squad, to play our game against Shamrock Rovers this Friday without the players who are away with the Ireland U21 squad.

“We felt we had no other choice considering the alternative was to play our games on Thursday 4th and Sunday 7th of November, which would have seen us play eight games in 24 days, and then nothing until the 19th of November.

“This was just not feasible in our view, and it would be completely wreckless on our part had we agreed. By doing this, we at least have a better chance and more days to recover and prepare for tonight’s game, and likewise for the Rovers game on Friday.

“Drogheda find themselves in a situation quite similar to us but this situation was utterly avoidable from the outset as it was raised as a concern last season but was never acted upon.

“Managers and coaches are key stakeholders in the game but are very often overlooked when it comes to conversations directly relating to football.

“I am sure the issue will be addressed next season but for us as a club it is disappointing that with so much at stake we find ourselves in this position.”

TEAM NEWS

Andy Lyons (illness) is a doubt, while Georgie Kelly (calf) and Stephen Mallon (hip) remain out.

Membership 2022 is now available for both renewals and new applicants. You can sign up at join.bohemians.ie.

Members are, collectively, the club’s owners. We are responsible for its present, its future and to build on its famous past.

Bohemian Football Club remains one of very few clubs in the world playing top-tier football with well over a century of 100% fan ownership.

We strongly urge those renewing, and anyone looking to sign up for the first time, to purchase their membership as early as possible, with a view to improving the playing budget for 2022. Increased membership numbers can help greatly in this regard.

2022 will mark the 14th consecutive year of our membership prices remaining at the same rate – this is to acknowledge the amazing support of our fanbase during Covid times.

2022 will also see a return, as was the case pre-Covid, to members having first call on things such as tickets to away games when allocations are limited.

The price categories for membership are as follows:

• Full Membership €365
• Family Membership €585 (2 adults, 2 U18s)
• Student Membership €210
• Associate Membership €90 (Associate members must be U18 child of, a sibling of, or a spouse/partner of a full member)
• Senior Membership €80 (Senior membership is only open to members over 65 who already have 10 years’ service)

The online process is slightly longer for membership this year.

The reason for this is to collate all members’ information accurately; ensuring that all receive appropriate correspondence, by mail or e-mail, in a timely manner.

If you are purchasing more than one membership, you are now required to fill out the personal information for each member. This is to allow for all to receive necessary club email updates, links to ticket sales, postal updates etc.

We would strongly urge members to take out membership through the portal on our website, join.bohemians.ie.

Renewing or signing up for membership at that link greatly cuts down on admin work for club staff and volunteers.

However, cash payments can be taken through the club’s new office in the Phibsborough Shopping Centre between 9am-5pm/Monday-Friday.

For anyone looking to pay their membership through standing order, you can use the form here or deal directly with your bank online, and then send an email to tickets@bohemians.ie showing proof that your standing order has been set up with your bank i.e. screenshot/bank receipt.

Your membership will only be issued once this proof has been received.

Over a 12-month period, standing order rates are as follows:

Adults €31pm, Students €18pm, Family €49

Failure to maintain payments will result in suspension or cancellation of your membership.

Student memberships must also be validated by sending a copy of your 2021/2022 student ID to tickets@bohemians.ie. Your membership will only be issued once this proof has been received.

Season tickets and Junior Gypsies will go on sale for those renewing on November 15th, with new sales being released on November 29th for both categories – depending on available capacity.

The club will endeavour to have all products purchased by December 10th with you in time for Christmas.

For members currently paying their subs by standing order, we will wait for the first 2022 payment in January and you will then be verified as having renewed for next year.

For those signing up for membership for the first time who wish to pay by standing order, you must complete and return this form to the club.

For any queries, please contact jimmy@bohemians.ie.

The link provided at the end of this page enables you to purchase tickets for the Bohemian FC sections of the Aviva Stadium for the 2021 FAI Cup final.

We have been allocated several sections in the South, East and West Stand.

When choosing your tickets, please consider the following:

• Singing Section (likely to be standing for entire game): South Stand Lower sections 112-117 AND South Stand Upper sections 512-518
• Families: West Stand Lower sections 119-122 AND East Stand Lower sections 106-110
• General fans: East Stand Upper sections 506-511

Tickets are allocated to blocks only, but seating within those blocks is unreserved.

For fans with a disability who require accessible seating, please do NOT purchase tickets but contact our disability officer at accessofficer@bohemians.ie.

Please note that ticketing is provided by Ticketmaster as the FAI’s ticket partner, and any queries should be directed to them.

She wore!

Link to purchase FAI Cup final tickets: 
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/18005B5B242A8533?did=bohs

Maurice Price RIP

Down-to-earth yet modern in his thinking, a spotter and nurturer of youthful footballers in particular, Maurice Price was a football man through and through. His partnership with Eamonn Gregg, first at Kilkenny City, and from May 1990 with Bohemians, meant for exciting, progressive times for both clubs.

Jack Charlton and Maurice Setters were regular visitors to Dalymount during Maurice Price’s time with us, even referring to Bohs as ‘our team’. They enjoyed seeing the young players Gregg and Price were bringing through, genuinely interested in their progress.

So when the FAI ‘poached’ Maurice from us in late October 1992 for a prominent coaching role it felt worse than losing a favourite player. It was a great move for Maurice, that was the consolation, and we could only wish him well.

Just a couple of years with us, but we were so lucky to have them. Thank you, Maurice Price.

May he rest in peace.

SSE Airtricity League
Friday October 29 2021
Ryan McBride Stadium, 7.45pm
Exclusively live on LOITV.ie

Bohemians travel to the Brandywell this evening looking to do what they failed to do on Monday night – leapfrog Derry City into fourth place in the table.

Derry’s defeat to Drogheda United last Friday gave Bohs the opportunity to move ahead of them when Waterford came to Dalymount Park on Monday.

But missed chances and poor defending saw Bohs succumb to a 2-1 defeat to the side they had beaten in the FAI Cup semi-final just three days previously.

It was a frustrating night for the Gypsies but defender Ciarán Kelly says the team have dusted themselves down and are fully focused on making amends against Rúaidhrí Higgins’ Candystripes this evening.

He said: “Monday certainly wasn’t our best performance. We had chances to win the game but we didn’t take them and we didn’t defend well enough.

“It is a strange season where there is only nine points between third and second from bottom.

“It is up to us now to get as many points as we can from our last five games and finish as high up the table as we can.

“The aim is to qualify for Europe through the league, and to go into the FAI Cup final in form.

“We got a lot of plaudits for our performances in Europe this season but the challenge for all of us is to make sure we are there again next season.”

Getting a result on Foyleside is never easy but it will be all the more difficult this time around as the Gypsies are missing several key men.

Keith Buckley (groin), vice-captain Rob Cornwall (ankle), Liam Burt (knee), Stephen Mallon (hip) and Georgie Kelly (calf) are all ruled out.

But Kelly has challenged those who are afforded an opportunity as a result of those absences to seize the day.

He added: “We have a squad for a reason. We have good quality young players who can come in and it is up to anyone who gets a chance to prove their worth and stake their claim.

“It is always a tough game against Derry City but we have to focus on our own game and make sure that is right.

“There’s going to be a great crowd up there tonight and it is up to us to give our fans who travel up something to cheer about and to hopefully send them home happy.”

Craig Sexton believes the combination of tangible aspirations, trusting coaches, first-class training facilities and a high-performance atmosphere provides young players the perfect platform to develop and flourish at Bohemians.

While all eyes are on the first team reaching the FAI Cup final for the first 13 years, Bohemians are competing for silverware at underage level too.

Sexton was speaking as his Bohs U19 side travelled to the Brandywell ahead of this evening’s Enda McGuill Cup final against Derry City.

In July, both Sexton and Seán L’Estrange returned to the Bohemians U19 coaching set-up where they previously won the SSE Airtricity U19 League twice, won the Enda McGuill Cup, and competed in the UEFA Youth League in successive seasons.

They were joined in the set-up by 2009 Bohemians league-winning midfielder Paul Keegan and former Bohs goalkeeper Shane Supple.

READ MORE

SSE Airtricity League
Monday October 25 2021
Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Exclusively live on LOITV.ie
Audio-described commentary: access4all.bohemians.ie
Match tickets: tickets.bohemians.ie

There is familiar opposition at Dalymount Park tonight as Bohemians host Waterford in the SSE Airtricity League just three days after doing so in the Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final.

There was a lot riding on that game with a place November 28th Aviva Stadium decider up for grabs.

Georgie Kelly’s late, late effort after a terrific ball in by Promise Omochere settled that in Bohs’ favour but there is a lot riding on tonight’s game too, and the Gypsies will be hoping the Jodi Stand is in full voice once more.

For the hosts, it is a chance – after Sligo Rovers drew with Finn Harps and Derry City lost to Drogheda United – to move up to fourth with a win as Keith Long’s side aim to qualify for Europe through the league.

For the visitors, it is a chance to leapfrog Harps and move out of the relegation play-off position once more.

So while Bohs fans are still basking in the joys of Friday’s semi-final victory, Long’s men are fully focused on the task at hand.

Friday’s game was a tense and energy-sapping one, so Long is likely to have his hand forced when it comes to assessing tired bodies and who is fit to play this evening.

He said: “We have some injury concerns ahead of the game but we will give the lads every chance to be fit with so little time for recovery .

“All our efforts and focus is on finishing the season as strongly as we can and finishing as high up the table as possible.

“Every game is tough in this division and especially at this time of the year when results can be unpredictable.

“We are in the middle of another tough period of games and we will need everyone fit and ready.

“We’ve six games left and have to give everything to make sure we’re fighting for Europe through the league. We’re very much in the hunt.

“We have to get back into Europe and we are going to try to do it through the league. It would be nice to secure at least fourth going into the cup final.”

While his attention is now on those remaining six league games, speaking directly after Friday’s game, Long did allow himself to enjoy the achievement of the club reaching its first FAI Cup final in 13 years.

He said: “The win was more for the supporters than anyone. They’re craving a day out and we’ve given them something to look forward to.

“It is a big step for some of the young players we’ve got in this group too.

“The club is built for success now because we’ve built sustainably for the last few years.

“We haven’t been frivolous because we can’t as we’re a members’ club. I think everybody can see the direction the club has been going.”

TEAM NEWS

Fatigue after the short turnaround could lead to enforced changes to the starting XI.

Stephen Mallon (hip) remains ruled out, while Bohs-SKB and Ireland U17 midfielder James McManus has been promoted to the first-team squad for this game.

Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final
Friday October 22 2021
Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Live on RTÉ 2

Bohemians host Waterford in the last four of the Extra.ie FAI Cup tomorrow and Keith Long’s message to supporters is: Come to the ground early and get behind the team.

Nothing beats a full Jodi Stand behind the team under the Friday night lights at Dalymount Park and, tomorrow, for the first time in 599 days, we finally get to experience that once more.

That absence of 17 months means that, for some of our players, it will be the first time they have ever experienced a full house at Dalyer.

Long said: “It is great to have full capacity back in Dalymount. We are really looking forward to the atmosphere and noise that that will create, the atmosphere and vibrancy that the full capacity will bring.

“Dalymount is a special place and we want to create a special night. The supporters are key to that.

“A jam-packed Dalymount in full voice for an FAI Cup semi-final, where else would the players want to be after two years of hardship where everybody in the country has suffered in one way or another?

“Hopefully there is light at the end of this tunnel. It has been a long journey to this point but we are so excited to have those supporters back. Hopefully we can get them excited about coming to watch their team play.

“There is no doubt that players feed off the energy the fans give. You only have to look at those European games in the Aviva Stadium, the second round of the FAI Cup against Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount when there was a crowd of 800 in attendance – it felt like there were 3,000 or 4,000.

“Similarly in the Aviva Stadium where we experienced crowds of 6,000 and 8,000 but in the ground they generated much more noise than those numbers would suggest.

“We have got an amazing fanbase. We have supporters who really, really back their team. It is our responsibility to give them something to get excited about.”

A return trip to the Aviva Stadium is the prize on offer if Bohs can get past Waterford.

Having not played at Lansdowne Road since the 1992 FAI Cup final, the Gypsies had three memorable outings in the summer with UEFA Conference League wins over Stjarnan, Dudelange and PAOK.

But making it a fourth trip to the Dublin 4 venue will be no mean feat – Waterford have become a difficult prospect since the arrival of Marc Bircham as manager in mid-May.

Long said: “The players are really looking forward to the challenge. We have very difficult opponents who are in good form.

“Waterford are flying at the moment. They are unbeaten in the last four games and they beat Finn Harps 4-1 on Friday, so they come to Dalymount with great confidence.

“They are a well organised side, they have some very good players. Since Marc came in, you can see a clear distinction between what Waterford were previously to what they are now.

“You can see from their recruitment, the players they have and how well organised they are that they are a credit to him.

“We are under no illusions about the task that we face. But we look forward to that challenge. We have done our homework like we would any other team and we can’t wait for the game.

“It is really important that we channel all our energy into putting in a performance. We have to concentrate on what we are about.

“We want to give a good account of ourselves and we want to progress. We know the supporters would absolutely love for that to happen and, for this group, it is another opportunity for them to grow.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohemians are hopeful that James Talbot (groin), James Finnerty (groin), Ross Tierney (foot) and Georgie Kelly (groin) will be available once more but they are likely to be assessed again before the game. Stephen Mallon (hip) remains out.

Bohemian FC was disappointed not to receive any ticket allocation from Shamrock Rovers for last night’s Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium.

Since restrictions eased to permit 50% capacity at outdoor sporting events, Bohemians have given every club we have hosted – Maynooth University Town, Finn Harps, Derry City and Dundalk – the allocation they have requested up to and including 50% of the Des Kelly Stand.

Similarly, now that 100% capacity returns this week, Waterford, Friday’s opposition in the Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final, have been allocated the Des Kelly Stand in its entirety.

Before permitted capacity went up to 50%, all clubs’ priorities were, of course, their own fans, in particular members and season ticket holders who remained loyal despite not knowing whether they would be able to attend a game this season.

But Monday was the first Bohemians game – either home or away – that there were no away fans in attendance since the 50% permitted capacity was introduced, despite the Tallaght Stadium being able to hold more spectators than any other ground in the league.

As a result of this decision, Bohemian FC can confirm that we do not intend to give Shamrock Rovers a ticket allocation when the sides meet at Dalymount Park in November.

SHAMROCK ROVERS v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Monday October 18 2021
Talllaght Stadium, 7.15pm
Exclusively live on RTÉ 2

Keith Long believes Bohemians have shown they have the resilience required to have a strong finish to the season.

With games coming thick and fast once more, Bohs travel to Tallaght Stadium to face Shamrock Rovers in the league this evening at the unusual kick-off time of 7.15pm before hosting Waterford in the FAI Cup semi-final on Friday.

They come into this evening’s game buoyed by Georgie Kelly’s injury-time equaliser against in-form Dundalk on Friday.

Long said: “These are great games to be involved in.

“It was important for us that we didn’t lose on Friday. That gives the boys a little bit of confidence again going into this run of games.

“I am pleased we got something from the game when it didn’t look like we would at 90 minutes.

“But we dominated possession for large periods, we kept going. We had the best chances in the game. In another game, we take two or three of those.

“Dundalk are a team in good form again now, with good players, so I am pleased with how we reacted. It shows we have resilience in the team and that we can bounce back from set-backs.

“We can turn around results – we have shown that in games against Derry City and Longford Town.”

Thanks to a mix of suspension and injuries, Long was forced into making changes to his starting XI against Dundalk and made five substitutions during the game as he looks to keep players as fresh as possible during a hectic schedule.

Thankfully, Ciarán Kelly (knee), Keith Buckley (groin) and Ali Coote (illness) are considered fully fit having only been available for the bench on Friday, while Rory Feely returns from suspension.

But James Finnerty (groin) and Stephen Mallon (hip) remain out.

Long said: “We had to make changes against Dundalk.

“Ciarán Kelly took a knock in training and we were just about able to patch him up to put him on the bench in case we needed him.

“It meant that with Rory Feely suspended and James Finnerty injured, we had to play Anto Breslin – a full-back – at centre half.

“Ali Coote was sick for 10 days, not with Covid, but he had only trained the last two sessions, so we had to use our squad for a number of reasons.

“There is a quick turnaround after playing on Friday now too. We are going to have to rely on our squad again and the powers of recovery.

“We have a big game tonight and a big game on Friday. In reality they are all big games between now and the end of the season.”