SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday July 28 2023, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Tickets: tickets.bohemians.ie

Bohemians manager Declan Devine has said nothing less than 100% focus and a high-level performance is needed against UCD at Dalymount Park.

Although the Students are cut adrift at the bottom of the table – 14 points separate them at ninth-placed Cork City – this season, Bohs know from previous meetings that they cannot let their guard down.

In March, Devine’s men had to come from behind to beat Andy Myler’s side 2-1 at Dalymount Park, and in April they were held to a 1-1 draw at the UCD Bowl.

Devine said: “Listen, UCD have caused us problems this season. In Dalymount, they took the lead and should have been two ahead before we got a grip of the game.

“We dropped points in Belfield too so we know we need 100% focus from the start. Last week is in the past, nobody is thinking about anything other than UCD.

“We need a high-level performance, nothing less.”

Bohs come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Shelbourne in the Sports Direct FAI Cup at Dalymount Park.

Johnny Afolabi’s fifth goal in as many games avenged last year’s reversal in the same competition at Tolka Park.

Devine was delighted with his side’s performance against a side they have struggled to break down in recent encounters, but believes they could have done more to put the game to bed.

He said: “I felt a performance like that at home had been coming. There has been an appetite in our performances in Dalymount – we saw it in the way we came from behind to beat Dundalk and coming from behind to draw with Rovers.

“What was important about last week’s game is that we started so strongly. We started with hunger. Our aggression, our intensity and our desire was there right from the start.

“If anything, we should have won by more, and we talked about that this week. We need to be more ruthless in front of goal. We had chances to put the game to bed.

“When we are creating chances, we need to smell blood, and we need to put games to bed.

“So we want to be more ruthless, and I feel with the players coming back from injury and players we have added in this window, that we can do that.”

Having seen the loan spells of defenders Grant Horton, Jay Benn and Drew Baker come to an end this month, Devine has been busy during this transfer window trying to shore up his backline options.

Right-back Bartlomiej Kukulowicz arrived from Poland, Cian Byrne was recalled from his loan spell with Longford, while fellow centre-back Louie Holzman signed today on loan from Reading until the end of the season.

Devine is pleased with his options. Kacper Radkowski was particularly impressive against Shels, while Byrne seized his opportunity when he came on for the injured Krystian Nowak.

Devine said: “Louie is a very welcome addition to the squad, and will give us competition in defence.

“Krystian came off last Friday feeling a tightness in his quad. Separately, he took a hit off the ball earlier in the game. Thankfully he was able to continue after that, but he is touch and go with his quad for UCD.

“Cian came on and did exceptionally well. That wasn’t a surprise to us. He is well regarded here having come through the academy, and we signed him on his first professional contract at the start of the season for a reason.

“We knew he had to go out on loan to test himself at senior football but we have been monitoring him at Longford since the start of the season.

“We kept a really close eye on him, and Cian really impressed. So I am delighted that when he got an opportunity in such a big game for us that he took it.

“We have good defenders. Because he has been such an important player for us and played every minute for us this season, people might forget that Kacper is only 22 years of age.

“But he has been outstanding for us. Not just on the pitch, but in the group. He’s the kind of player who is the first to arrive in the morning and the last player to leave, working away in the gym.

“It’s not easy for someone his age to come and live in a different country and culture, but he has embraced every minute of it since day one, and brings so much to the group on and off the pitch.

“He has been a shining light for us this year, in terms of his attitude, his strength, and his professionalism. He is thriving here, has so much potential, and I feel he is only going to get better.”

Another man thriving is James Clarke. Perhaps frustrated that he has not started as many games as he might have hoped for this season, he made his qualities known right from the start against Shelbourne, and was a key man as Bohs dictated the tempo of the game.

Devine added: “James was outstanding. The big space in Dalymount suits his style of play – he scored in his previous start in Dalymount.

“We have a lot of talent now, and it is really pleasing to see the likes of James grab his opportunity.

“That’s one of the qualities of this team. Players are never sulking when they are not in the team, they work extremely hard so that when an opportunity comes their way they seize it.

“You saw that with our subs last week too, they came on and helped to manage the game very well.

“We will need that between now and the end of the season. We will need our squad.

“There will be times when players have to be patient but there are a lot of games left to play – and certain games suit certain players more than others – and we need everybody to be at it when called upon.”

TEAM NEWS

Krystian Nowak (quad) is a doubt.

Dean Williams (ankle) has returned to light training but remains out.

Luke Dennison (hand) also remains out but is expected to return in the very near future.

Danny Grant is pushing for game-time for the first time since rejoining from Huddersfield.

Bohemians are delighted to confirm the signing of defender Louie Holzman on loan from Reading until the end of the season.

Subject to international clearance, the 19-year-old centre-back will go straight into the matchday squad for tomorrow’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division game against UCD.

Welcoming Louie to Dalymount Park, manager Declan Devine said:

“We are delighted to bring Louie in. He is someone we wanted to bring to the club in January so I am really pleased to get him in now.

“We have tracked his progress and development over many months now and I believe we have got a very talented player with a lot of potential.

“We lost three defenders this window with the loans of Grant Horton, Jay Benn and Drew Baker coming to an end, so it was really important that we strengthened our options in defence.

“We don’t just want cover, we want competition for places and I believe we will have that with Louie, and also with the return of Cian Byrne – who did so fantastically well when he played against Shelbourne last week – from his loan spell with Longford.

“Louie is highly rated at Reading. He has come through their academy, has been training with their first-team squad, and has already tasted first-team football with them in the FA Cup last year.

“He is a really welcome addition to the squad, he has looked good in training, and we are really looking forward to working with him and getting him up to speed.”

Sports Direct FAI Cup First Round
Friday July 21 2023, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Tickets: tickets.bohemians.ie

Bohemians manager Declan Devine has demanded a performance ‘full of energy, heart and soul’ when his side host Shelbourne in the FAI Cup at Dalymount Park.

He says Bohs need to improve on last week’s performance against the same opposition – his side drew 1-1 in the league at Tolka Park.

Devine’s men go into the tie boosted by the addition of winger Danny Grant to the matchday squad for the first time since he rejoined the club last week from Huddersfield Town.

Devine said: “We are looking for a performance – a performance full of energy, heart and soul.

“We want our players to really come to the party as it is all about winning this game. Nothing else is important.

“We have got to make sure – by hook or by crook – that we are in that draw for the next round.

“There will be a lot of clubs going out this weekend and we have got to make sure that we are not one of them.”

Johnny Afolabi netted his fourth goal in four games against Shels last week as Bohs battled back to earn a point in Drumcondra but Devine was disappointed with his side’s performance.

He said: “We have to be better than we were last week. We were disappointed with ourselves. We have to be harder to play against. We have to be tighter together in transition offensively and defensively.

“But there is no team in the country who have gone to Tolka this year and had it easy. They are very good in Tolka, they are very hard to play against.

“They have players who can hurt us and we know that. But we also have players who can hurt them.

“We have been very good here in Dalymount but we have to stop giving ourselves mountains to climb, that is something we have to fix.”

The return of Grant to Dalymount was greeted with delight from Bohs fans, and Devine says he has been impressed with what he has seen from the 23-year-old in training so far.

He hopes to see more of Ali Coote and James Akintunde too – the duo have had limited game-time recently due to persistent niggles but are now back in contention to start.

Devine said: “Danny is added to the squad and will be involved at some stage, which gives a huge lift.

“He is looking great. I am sure he is itching to get back playing again – he has been a massive addition in training.

“But even before Danny comes into the squad, we have incredible attacking options. We have some of the best attackers in the country. The competition for the front three of four positions is exceptional.

“Ali came on last week, and has trained well again this week. James has trained well the last week to 10 days too.

“We need to tighten up at the back, and try to get another body or two in, but our attacking options, even just watching them today in training, really really excite me.”

Efforts to improve defensively were bolstered by the arrival of Bartlomiej Kukulowicz – the right-back made his debut as a second-half substitute in Tolka last week.

His introduction saw captain Keith Buckley move back to his natural position in midfield and with him pulling the strings in the centre of the park, coupled with the introduction of the lively duo of Coote and James Clarke, sparked Bohs back into life.

Devine added: “Bartlomiej has come in and did very well in the 15 minutes. Bucko has experience of playing there and with new players coming in during this window, sometimes it takes time for them to get up to speed because they haven’t played.

“Bucko knows the right-back role, he has been outstanding any time he has played there this year. Yes, him playing there is a loss in the middle of the park but we have other quality midfielders also.

“We just have to make sure that players we bring in at this time are safe, and look at the bigger picture that there is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season.”

TEAM NEWS

Luke Dennison (hand) and Dean Williams (ankle) remain out.

Danny Grant is set to be named in the matchday squad for the first time since his return to the club.

• Some Des Kelly Stand tickets for tomorrow’s game remain on sale from tickets.bohemians.ie

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday July 14 2023, Tolka Park, 7.45pm

Declan Devine says last week’s comeback victory over Dundalk gave everyone at Bohemians a huge lift.

But he expects another tough game in tonight’s sold-out Dublin derby away to Shelbourne, who he says are one of the hardest teams in the league to break down.

Bohs have the opportunity to break back into the top four this evening, and have been bolstered by the signing of Polish right-back Bartlomiej Kukulowicz last week and the return of a fans’ favourite, winger Danny Grant, who joined yesterday.

Devine was frustrated that they again gave themselves a mountain to climb against the Lilywhites – James McManus had given Bohs the lead on 15 minutes but they found themselves 2-1 down 20 minutes later.

But he was delighted with his players’ resolve as they never gave up in the second half, and finally got their rewards with goals in the 81st minute from substitute John O’Sullivan and in the 84th minute from Johnny Afolabi.

He was particularly pleased for O’Sullivan, whose first year at the club has been disrupted by injury, meaning he has had to bide his time for opportunities to show what he is capable of.

Devine said: “I am delighted for John. John has had a difficult first year with the club with his injury. But he puts himself about on the training pitch everyday, and he got his reward last week.

“It was really pleasing for him, and it was really pleasing for the group too as he is a popular guy within the group.

“If you back at the goal, his movement and his ability to see things happen showed a lot of ability and experience.

“He is a good fella and hopefully now that can be the catalyst for John to push on and have a really strong end of the season.”

Already buzzing from O’Sullivan’s equaliser, Dalymount erupted when Afolabi coolly slotted home the winner after a fine through-ball from substitute James Clarke.

Devine said: “I was worried because he had just picked up a yellow card before the goal and with the emotion of him scoring, I was thinking ‘please, please, please do not take that top off!’ It would have been a long ten minutes with ten men!

“Johnny has been carrying a niggle for six or seven weeks and it has only recently cleared up. Now we are seeing the best of him.

“There is nobody in the league who has had the physical competition that that man has had. But he just gets up and gets on with it, and now he is bringing goals to his game, and defenders are afraid of him.”

As delighted as he was with his team’s resolve to fight back, Devine says they need to stop giving themselves mountains to climb.

He added: “We have a really difficult game. Shelbourne are undoubtedly one of the hardest teams in the league to break down.

“But we are confident in ourselves and in our ability. We have looked at where we can hurt Shels but we have got to learn from previous games in terms of game management.

“We have got to understand that we cannot give teams head starts or ways back into games, that is something we have talked about all week.

“Our application this week and the lift last week’s result and performance has given us is huge. We learnt a lot about ourselves last week, and our ability to drive and come from behind. But individual errors have got to stop.

“We will bring a huge crowd over to Tolka Park. We want to make sure we send those people home happy.

“It’s going to be a physical game and a tactical game, but it is one we have prepared well for.

“This team cares and works hard. This team leaves everything out on the pitch. Yes we make errors and individual mistakes but as a group we keep working, keep driving on and finish games strongly.

“We have a lot of talent for a team that has only been assembled for such a short period of time.

“There is a real unity in our group and I think you can see that in our performances. No matter what happens in games, we are brave, and aggressive in our play. This team has character in abundance.

“But we know we can’t keep giving ourselves mountains to climb because eventually the mountain will be too high.”

TEAM NEWS

Ali Coote (hamstring) and James Akintunde (quad) are back in contention.

Kris Twardek (thigh) is a doubt, while Luke Dennison (hand) and Dean Williams (ankle) remain out.

Bohemian Football Club is delighted to confirm the return of Danny Grant to Dalymount Park.

Grant, 23, came through the Bohs U19s, breaking into the first team in 2018 where he quickly established himself as a regular and a firm fans’ favourite.

The winger’s form in 2019 helped Bohs qualify for European football for the first time in seven years while he also won the first of his three Ireland U21 caps.

His standout season came in 2020 when he helped Bohs to a second-place finish, winning the PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year, the Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for August, and being named in the PFA Ireland Team of the Year in the process.

That form saw him earn a move to English Championship side Huddersfield Town from whom he rejoins after spending last season on loan with League Two side Harrowgate.

Welcoming Danny back to Dalymount Park, manager Declan Devine said:

“I am over the moon. I have been in constant contact with Danny for several months, have been over to see him in England, and I was always of the opinion that if he became available that I wanted to bring him back to the club.

“He has the DNA of the club running through him from his past stint here, which was a very successful period for him.

“He is at an age profile too where he really fits into this group. He has experience of playing in the league and of playing in England.

“I am delighted he wants to be part of the club again. He adds a dynamic and a quality to what we are trying to grow here.

“I remember trying to set teams up against Danny when he was here before, and it was extremely difficult.

“He is an exciting player, and is someone who brings tremendous excitement. He is also someone who has matured. He has developed physically, he is a much stronger lad. He has worked extremely hard on his physicality. 

“He is another piece of the jigsaw. He gives us a real ability to be penetrative in our play. The way we are playing, Danny brings technical quality in abundance. 

“A fit and happy Danny Grant certainly makes Bohemian Football Club a whole lot better.”

About Bohemian Football Club

Established in 1890, Dublin’s Bohemian Football Club, or Bohs, is one of the oldest clubs in Irish football. The club is 100% fan-owned club and aims to use football as a force for good in society. Rooted in a history of active citizenship, earlier this year the club launched a Football Social Responsibility Strategy to guide the development of our work in the communities around Dalymount Park in Phibsborough.

About The Spark

The Spark is a Pobal-funded initiative based in Dublin 7 that aims to enable local communities build local wealth through climate action. It’s the capacity-building element of the Bohemian Climate Cooperative, a unique, place-based and community-led initiative. Through The Spark, the Cooperative will inspire and empower the community via training programmes, after-school activities, and engagement with the green economy. Key prototypes such as a cooperative premises, a Green Skills Training Programme, a Bicycle Library, a Library of Things, an AfterSchool Climate Action Programme, and an Intergenerational Dialogue will be developed and implemented to catalyse community participation and build the capacity of the community to work as a cooperative. The Spark brings together numerous local and national entities such as Connecting Cabra, Cosybatter, the Football Association of Ireland, the Grangegorman Development Agency, Mountjoy Prison, the Neighbourhood Network, the Phibsboro Village Climate Club, Rothar, Stoneybatter Pride of Place, and the Technological University Dublin.

Role Summary

We are seeking a dynamic, resourceful, and motivated individual to join The Spark as a Project Coordinator. The Project Coordinator role is a key part of our team, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness by working in concert with the Project Manager to ensure the successful realization of the project’s goals. This is an excellent role for anyone looking to gain practical and rounded experience in mobilising community-led climate action.

• Download job description
• Applications (please send a CV (2 pages), with a cover letter (1 page), before midnight on Sunday the 23th of July): applications@bohemians.ie

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday July 7 2023, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Tickets: tickets.bohemians.ie

Bohemians manager Declan Devine has challenged his side to get back to the level of performance they showed they are capable of earlier this season.

Bohs suffered their heaviest defeat of the season when they were beaten 3-1 by Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds last Friday.

It was a particularly frustrating result given Bohs have shown they are well capable of beating the Bit O’Red – winning 1-0 at the Showgrounds in April and 2-0 at Dalymount at the beginning of last month.

So Bohs come into tomorrow’s game against Dundalk in patchy form, but boosted by the signing of Bartlomiej Kukulowicz, who Devine describes as an ‘out-and-out right-back’ and who ‘ticks a lot of boxes for us in the way we want to play’.

Devine said: “We have dropped a lot of points over the last eight or nine games. There have been a lot of tough games but we certainly should have had a better points return. We have spoken about that.

“Friday night in Sligo was our worst performance of the season, there is no doubt about that.

“We didn’t get to grips with the game, we didn’t start the way we wanted to start. To find ourselves 2-0 down at half-time, we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

“Sligo outworked us, outfought us and outplayed us. That is something we cannot let happen again. I think it’s the first time this season that we were second best in all three of those strands.

“There have been times where we have been outplayed but where we have outfought the opposition but that didn’t happen in Sligo.

“We were seriously lacking. Everyone is hurting. We know there is more in us. I still believe there is a lot in this group of players.

“We have a very tight group and we have spoken about the points left behind us. We are confident we can get back to the level of performances we are capable of.”

Bohs have four points from their two games against Dundalk this season – a 2-1 victory in Dalymount in February and a 2-2 draw in Oriel Park in May when Devine’s side battled back from 2-0 down.

The Lilywhites come into this game in fourth place, four points and one place ahead of Bohs, although Stephen O’Donnell’s side have played two games more.

Devine said: “The top teams are not too far ahead of us. We have games in hand but that means nothing as you still have to win those games.

“The four teams above us will be heading into Europe very shortly, which shows how important this game is. We want to be closer to the top teams when they are playing in Europe than we are now.

“We want a proper response now. We have played some good stuff at home and we want to get back to that. We want to put in a performance in front of our fans, and we want everyone to rally together and push on.”

Although frustrated with the manner of the defeat last week, Devine revealed his options were limited due to injuries of some of his key men.

He said: “We are carrying a lot of niggles and knocks at the moment. We didn’t have enough players to fill the bench properly. Ali Coote couldn’t come on, James Akintunde couldn’t come on and Keith Buckley was carrying a knock that we weren’t willing to take a risk with.

“With so many niggles in the group, we have to be very careful as we don’t want a situation where because we have taken a risk a player ends up being out for six, seven weeks like Dean Williams is and like Luke Dennison is now. We can’t afford any more.”

Those concerns forced Devine’s hand when it came to Monday’s Leinster Senior Cup semi-final away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park, and he opted to hand the reins to U19 manager Trevor Croly.

Captain for the night, James McManus, and Cian Byrne, in his first game back after being recalled from his loan spell at Longford Town, were the only players with significant senior football experience yet Croly’s side came out on top of a Shelbourne side that featured several first-team regulars.

In an entertaining end-to-end tie, Bohs twice sacrificed a two-goal cushion but came out 4-3 winners thanks to goals from Adetobi Jinadu, Jack O’Reilly, Taylor Mooney and Peter Grogan to progress to the final against Usher Celtic.

Devine added: “It was a brilliant game and a brilliant atmosphere. We had originally planned to have five or six first-team players in the team but with the injuries and niggles we have, and the manner of the defeat in Sligo, we felt that we needed a full week’s training schedule.

“We got in touch with Trevor Croly immediately after our game on Friday night to tell him that. Each and every one of his players who took to that pitch on Monday night should be so proud and their families should be so proud.

“They were up against a very difficult opponent – Shels’ U19s are very strong and they had five or six senior players with a wealth of experience.

“So for them to go toe-to-toe with them and perform in such a pressurised situation was a credit to themselves but also a testimony to Trevor Croly, the coaching staff and all who have coached them in the academy.

“Nobody wants to lose a semi-final, it doesn’t matter if it is your senior team or your U19 team, so to come away from Tolka with a win is huge for them.

“To be pegged back to 3-3 and to then have the bravery and quality to go up again and get that fourth goal was very pleasing.

“All of the first team and coaching staff were in the main stand and I think we cheered even more than the fans because we were just delighted for them – the sheer enjoyment of it – and we knew how much it meant to them.

“After the game, for the first team to go into the dressing room to congratulate the U19s, and get behind them and support them, was special. It was a lovely unity, and we look forward to the final now, which we hope is in Dalymount.”

TEAM NEWS

Ali Coote (hamstring), Luke Dennison (hand) and Dean Williams (ankle) are out. James Akintunde (quad) and Keith Buckley (calf) are doubts.

It is hoped that new signing Bartlomiej Kukulowicz will join the matchday squad, while Cian Byrne is set to be included having been recalled from his loan spell with Longford Town.

Grant Horton and Drew Baker’s loan spells at the club have come to an end.

Bohemians are delighted to confirm the signing of Polish right-back Bartlomiej Kukulowicz.

The 22-year-old joins from Polish side Nieciecza having come through the youth ranks at Legia Warsaw and has signed until the end of 2024.

Subject to international clearance, Kukulowicz will go straight into tomorrow’s matchday squad against Dundalk.

Welcoming Bartlomiej to Dalymount Park, manager Declan Devine said:

“I am delighted to bring him to the club. He is a player who has been on our radar now for a number of months and we have kept a close eye on him.

“He comes with a good pedigree and has played at a very good level.

“We have been crying out for an out-and-out right-back and he ticks a lot of boxes for us in the way we want to play.

“He is an attack-minded right-back – he is very much on the front foot, and he has trained really well this week.

“My first impression is that he is a really good person, and the boys have been really welcoming to him. Now it is about showing him what the league is about and getting him up to speed as quickly as possible.

“The two Polish lads we have here already – Kacper Radkowski and Krystian Nowak – know him well. Hopefully he can have a similar impact and settle in as quickly as they have.

“Kacper has played every minute for us and Krystian is really consistent, and goes about his job in a quiet but very effective manner.

“Only recently when Kacper was on his break he met up with Bart, and there has been good dialogue between us all, us and I know they will help Bart settle in.”

Devine is working hard with Director of Football Pat Fenlon and his coaching staff to strengthen in this transfer window.

Devine said: “Every club is crying out for signings but we have to be sure that we bring the right player in. Players have to be the right fit for our environment, and they have to make us better.

“We have got to learn our lesson from last summer. Good players came in during that window who continue to play an important part for us, but there were also players who came in and then left in a very short period of time.

“We have been actively working hard behind the scenes – myself, Pat and all the coaching staff – for months for this window to open.

“It is a difficult window as there are a lot of players in Britain who want to stay there and fight for their careers, take part in pre-season and try to prove to new managers that they are worthy of staying at their clubs.

“I don’t want players just to make up the numbers, I want us to strategically go after players that we need. If they are not available, I am not just signing players for the sake of it.

“I want players who fit who we are.”

Everyone at St Francis Hospice, Bohemian Football Club, the Dignam family and Aslan wishes to express our gratitude to everyone who supported our one-off fundraising jersey in memory of Christy Dignam.

Thanks to your support, a cheque of €141,976 – all profits from shirt sales – was presented to St Francis Hospice today, which will go a long way to helping them provide the extraordinary service to loved ones and their families.

We also wish to extend our thanks to our partners Des Kelly Interiors for recognising the importance of fundraising for St Francis Hospice and making this initiative possible by giving up their main sponsor space at the front of our jersey for last month’s Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers.

Christy, the much-loved Aslan frontman, overcame significant personal challenges to uplift generations across our communities.

He was cherished by so many, and it has been a privilege to stand with his family and support those who gave him the care and love that he deserved in his final days at St Francis Hospice.

St Francis Hospice provides a specialist palliative care service for the people of north Dublin city and county and surrounding counties and we encourage anyone who missed out on ordering the Aslan jersey to get behind their fundraising initiatives in any way they can: sfh.ie/donate

Pictured today at St Francis Hospice are Christy’s wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera, son-in-law Darren and grandson Cian; Greg Kelly from Des Kelly Interiors; Bohemians staff Declan Devine, Laura Clifford and Daniel Lambert; and St Francis Hospice staff.

Sligo Rovers v Bohemians
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday June 30, The Showgrounds, 7.45pm

Bohemians’ Dublin derby comeback showed character and resilience but now Declan Devine wants his side to learn from their mistakes and remain fully concentrated for 90 minutes against Sligo Rovers tomorrow.

A crazy ten-minute start to the second half against Shamrock Rovers last week saw Bohs 2-0 down and with a mountain to climb.

But Bohs didn’t give up. They dusted themselves down and stormed back to claim a point thanks to goals from Johnny Afolabi and James Clarke.

Devine said: “We need to learn that if we go a goal behind we certainly can’t go a second goal behind so we have to learn from that.

“We didn’t start the second half well which is uncharacteristic of us as that has been one of our strong points.

“I was very disappointed that we gave ourselves a mountain to climb but I am absolutely over the moon with how we responded. We suffered two huge setbacks but we went out and got a point, and probably should have won it.

“To go two goals down and then get a point against a quality side who really don’t throw away two-goal leads shows the character of this team.

“For us as a group, for our supporters, and for the whole club, it was such an important game for us not to lose.

“I was very pleased with how we turned the game around – our subs were outstanding. It was a high level performance, apart from 10 minutes where we showed a lack of concentration, which is something we need to address.

“The place was absolutely rocking – our fans on both sides, in the Jodi Stand and the Des Kelly Stand, really drove us on to get something out of the game and that is something we want to build on when we are playing at home.

“We have come from behind now on two difficult occasions, away to Dundalk and at home to Shamrock Rovers. That shows that no matter what is thrown at us that we have the character to pull ourselves back.

“We showed we have firepower throughout the team too – I was delighted for Afolabi getting such an important goal for us and James Clarke again showed the quality he has.”

Bohs have beaten the Bit O’Red twice already this season – a 1-0 win at the Showgrounds in April, and an impressive 2-0 win at Dalymount Park at the start of this month.

But Devine warned that both of those victories were hard-earned, and that he expected Sligo to come out fighting after their surprise defeat to UCD last week.

Devine added: “We have prepared all week for a very difficult game. I have been going to Sligo for 20 years and have never had an easy game there.

“Derry went there a couple of weeks ago and lost 1-0, so we have to understand that it is a difficult venue against a team that is going to be hurting on the back of last week, playing in front of their own fans who will be demanding a response.

“Sligo have a lot of talented players, so we are under no illusions that it will be a tough game. Our mindset has been good all week and we know we have to get back to winning ways.

“We have got to take care of ourselves. The two games we have played against them have been tough games. We have had to work extremely hard to win those games and that’s the level we need to be at again.

“We are going to have to expend a lot of energy and aggression, and be forceful in attack. We have a lot of talented players, so we have to look at our strengths and go there and be demanding of ourselves.”

TEAM NEWS

Dean Williams (ankle) and Luke Dennison (hand) are ruled out.