Jack Moylan put Bohs ahead after just six minutes but Antonis Gaitanidis hit back four minutes later.

The Gypsies dominated possession and worked the opposition keeper throughout. But Christos Tallchmanidis was a man possessed in the PAOK goal.

As well as denying a Dawson Devoy spot kick, he pulled off a rake of stunning saves, particularly in the dying embers of the game as Bohs piled on the pressure.

Sexton said: “We played very well, but we hope to improve on our first-leg performance by being a little bit more clinical. With the chances we had in that game, we probably could and should be coming over here with a lead.

“But we’re not, so we there’s no doubt in our minds as to what we have to do over here.

“We can’t sit back. We have to score or we’re out. PAOK have the away goal so we know the objective here is to go out and play and try to score.”

Sexton’s travelling party has been bolstered by the inclusion for this leg of Andy Lyons, who has enjoyed a real breakthrough season in the first team, deputising with a maturity beyond his years when called upon to fill in for skipper Derek Pender at right-back.

He, along with skipper Alex Byrne, Seán Bohan, Ross Tierney, Thomas Considine and Mitchell Byrne, is one of six players to have been involved in last season’s Uefa Youth League ties against FC Midtjylland of Denmark, which Bohs lost 4-2 on aggregate.

It is an altogether new experience for the group of which Evan Ferguson, who turned 15 last week, is the youngest.

Sexton said: “Travelling abroad, staying in hotels, playing in big stadiums, this is new for a lot of them but they’ve settled in well.

“We got to see the stadium yesterday. It’s great venue. A big, old wraparound stadium, 30,000 all-seater, so it will something most of them will be experiencing for the very first time.

“But the mood in the camp is great. They’re relaxed, fully grasp the challenge that is ahead of them and are looking forward to it.”

While this is an altogether new experience for most of them, many of Sexton’s squad have of late been gaining much experience on other fronts.

Ross Tierney in action in the first leg - Sportsfile

Lyons, who starred at the U19 European Championships this summer, is by some stretch the most experienced of the group.

But the likes of Ross Tierney, Dawson Devoy and Ferguson have sampled first-team football in the league, while others like Seán Bohan, Alex Byrne and Mitchell Byrne have been involved with first-team matchdays squads as well.

Tierney, a St Kevin’s Boy since he was eight, in particular has caught the eye for the first team in recent months having shone throughout the Bohs-SKB partnerships teams and Bohs U19s previously.

He has taken the step-up his stride and has become something of a fans’ favourite in the process, while Devoy has had encouraging appearances in recent weeks also.

Both men have benefited from a freak run of injuries for Keith Long’s first team but have not looked out of place when called into action.

There has been international recognition too with Bohan, Tierney and Devoy all making their first appearances for Tom Mohan’s Ireland U19s in a friendly against Denmark last week.

Sexton said: “The likes of Ross and Dawson have been the lucky ones this year but they’ve rewarded the trust Keith Long has shown them. They’ve both made a huge impact, particularly Ross. I think Keith has probably found it hard to drop him!

“Ross is Ross. He’s an infectious character on and off the pitch. He’s not a bawler on the pitch, he lets his football do the talking. He leads by the way he plays.

“If there’s a mould of the kind of player we want to bring through, Ross is it.

“You’re hoping experiences like this year and last can stand to these players if and when they make the step-up to the first team.

“Ultimately that’s my job and the job of all the managers and coaches down through the Bohs-SKB U17s, U15s and U13s is to get the best out of players and get them ready to be funnelled into Keith’s first team or beyond.

“Keith drives all of that – throughout the set-ups. We’re lucky we have a first-team manager who will give youth a chance and isn’t afraid to back them.

“That’s yielded great results this season and hopefully we’ll have more given that opportunity next season. That’s what this is all about.”

Kirk said: “There’s a lot of expectation tonight but we’re really looking forward to it. The manager has reminded us and hammered home to us that we will get nothing handed to us, that we have to work for it.

“At the start of the season some were tipping us to be involved in a relegation battle but as a group we felt we had a lot of talented players and felt we could aim high.

“We would love to get over the line tonight but it will be a tough game. We’ve prepared like we would any game and we feel we’ve done our homework and we know how good St Pat’s can be.

“There’s nowhere else you would like to be than playing in Europe for Bohs in Dalymount next year but we have to work for it.”

Kirk has has to be patient this season to get a chance in the team but has enjoyed an extended run of late thanks to an injury suffered by regular left-back Darragh Leahy while on international duty for the Ireland U21s last month.

Kirk said: “I’m delighted to get a run of games. You always want to test yourself by playing every week.

“Obviously you want to play as many games as you can. But I’m not the only one who has had to bide my time. You look at Scott Allardice, he’s had to wait for his turn too and has come in and has done really well.

“But that’s why we’ve got such a competitive squad. We’re all pushing one another and thankfully my chance has come at the business end of the season.”

Danny Grant and Paddy Kirk celebrate - Stephen Burke

Having captained and starred for the Bohs U19s, 21-year-old Kirk is another success story of the quality of young players coming through the club in recent seasons.

His brother Rory is part of the coaching team with the Bohs-SKB U15s so he is a keen supporter of the pathway structures now in place.

He added: “I guess the likes of myself, Andy Lyons, Danny Grant and Ryan Graydon can be held up as an example of the pathway that is there now.

“There’s great work going on and great players coming through the club and through the link-up with St Kevin’s from U13, U15, U15 and through to the U19s and first team. It all bodes well for the future of both clubs.”

TEAM NEWS

Danny Mandroiu misses out through suspension. He received an additional one-match ban for his red card against Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup last month but this was not served against Dundalk last week as he was on international duty with the Ireland U21s.

Rob Cornwall (knee) will sit out the rest of the season after coming off against Dundalk and Darragh Leahy (ankle) will also miss the final two games.

There was better news elsewhere though with Keith Buckley (hamstring), Andy Lyons (knee) and Conor Levingston (groin) all returning to training this week.

Better news still for long-term absentees Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) and Dinny Corcoran (ankle). Magerusan is back to full training. Corcoran has resumed training but time is against him to feature again this season.

2019 FAI NATIONAL DRAW: CLUB DRAW PRIZES

• €50 drinks voucher for the Back Page
• 4 x €30 vouchers for Camile
• One-month membership (value €100) for Tri Train Drumcondra
• Bottle of Dingle Whiskey small batch release courtesy of Celtic Whiskey
• Bottle of Teeling Pot Still courtesy of Celtic Whiskey
• Bottle of Coole Swan Lliqueur courtesy of Celtic Whiskey
• 1 x Package for 4 people for an Irish international match including premium level tickets and hotel accommodation for the night
• 4 x Weekend tickets to the 2020 Big Grill Festival courtesy of Bodytonic
• 4 x €50 vouchers for Lavanda Restaurant on Brunswick St
• 2 x €100 vouchers for Des Kelly Interiors
• 1 Craft Beer Hamper from Grand Cru Beers
• 1 x Hamper from Lilliput Trading
• 2 x Vouchers for lunch/dinner for 2 in Cowtown Café
• 3 x Vouchers for lunch for 2 in Bang Bang
• 2 x Case of beer from Trouble Brewing
• 1 x Voucher from Frame FX
• 1 x Voucher for Rua Pizza in Phibsborough
• 1 x Voucher for a Boiler Service from Atlantic Facilities
• 2 x Signed Ireland jersey
• 5 x Pair of tickets to an Ireland international match
• 2 x Pair of FAI Summer Soccer Schools vouchers
• 2 x Hospitality Packages for 4 people to a 2020 Bohs match
• 6 x 2020 Bohs Jackets thanks to O’Neill’s
• 4 x 2020 Bohs Jerseys
• 2 x €50 Bohs shop vouchers
• 4 x 2020 Bohs Polo Shirts
• 2 x Signed Bohs Jerseys
• 4 x Footballs signed by the Bohs squad
• 10 x Pair of tickets to a 2020 Bohs match

There was reward for another Bohs man though as in-form Danny Grant was drafted into Kenny’s squad for the first time ahead of the Iceland trip.

While he didn’t feature this time around, at 19, time is on his side to make an impact at this level and his inclusion at this stage is encouraging for the future.

Prior to this season, the last Bohs player to play for the Ireland U21s was Paddy Madden away to Armenia in 2009.

IRELAND U19s

Bohemians trio Seán Bohan, Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy all made debuts for the Ireland U19s in their 2-0 friendly defeat against Denmark at the Showgrounds on Monday.
Bohs were the best represented club in Tom Mohan’s 28-man squad.

Tierney started the game, playing 60 minutes, while Devoy and Bohan were introduced after half-time and on the hour respectively.

Ross Tierney played 60 minutes

Tierney and Devoy had been excused from Mohan’s squad for the 1-0 loss against the same opposition and at the same venue on Friday.

The former instead had a starring role in Bohs’ 2-1 win over champions Dundalk that night and the latter, still only 17, had another encouraging cameo off the bench for the final 10 minutes of the same game.

Dawson Devoy was introduced after half-time

All three have come through the Bohs-SKB partnership teams and travel to Greece next week for Bohs U19s’ Uefa Youth League tie second leg against PAOK in Thessalonica on Wednesday.

Craig Sexton’s side go over with a 1-1 draw from the first leg and with everything play for.

Sean Bohan played the final 30 minutes

Disappointingly, their bid to make it three league titles in a row came unstuck 10 days ago at the quarter-final stage of the league with a cruel 3-2 defeat in extra time at home to Galyway Utd.

Bohs finished the game with just eight men having had two men sent off and another forced off through injury after all substitutions had already been made.

It was harsh on Bohs who had lost just once in 20 games in the league section and topped the Northern Elite Division by nine points.

But as well as the Uefa Youth League return leg to look forward to, they are not finished domestically either.

They have a home final in the Enda McGuill Cup against Shamrock Rovers to come as well. No date has been set for that but it is likely to be the week after they return from Greece.

Bohs are the current holders of the McGuill Cup having beaten St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 away last season in the final with two goals from Ali Reghba.

It is a trophy Mowlds previously guided Bohemians to in 2016 but the latest was an important first – the first trophy won by a Bohs-SKB partnership team.

Stephen Burke took extensive pictures from during and after the game which he has uploaded to two albums: 1) Match photos and 2) Celebrations.

Bohs-SKB will hope that victory can lay the groundwork for an assault on the league when they host local rivals Shelbourne in the last four.

Bohs-SKB needed extra-time to beat Cabinteely 3-2 in the league quarter-finals, while Shels were comfortable 3-0 winners in their last-16 tie.

St Patrick’s Athletic host UCD in the other semi-final.

Bohs U17s huddle - Stephen Burke

At 2pm, Bohemians U17 women host Peamount United at the Oscar Traynor Centre in the Só WNL U17 Shield final.

This is Bohs’ first season competing at this level in women’s sport and it would be a remarkable achievement for the girls to cap off the season with a trophy.

Once again, all support is most welcome to help get them over the line.

With a squad ravaged by injury and devoid of any luck in recent months, Bohs were entitled to feel we were due that bit of good fortune.

Long said: “We got a little bit of luck in terms of the goal but I felt we managed the second half quite well and James Talbot in goal was not overly tested.

“With so many injuries, the squad is really stretched but the lads continue to stand up and fight.

“The emergence of some of our younger players has been a real plus and while at this time of the year it’s all about results, the performances of the young lads have been fantastic which gives you great hope.

“We are a young, vibrant team and if we can continue to grow together who’s to say what we can’t achieve?”

The strength in depth of Bohs’ squad will be put to the test once more when runaway champions Dundalk come to Dalymount Park tonight.

Long said: “I admire Vinny Perth and his management team for what they have achieved this season.

“Stephen Kenny moving into the Irish international set-up left a void at the club, one that was quickly filled by Vinny who had worked in tandem with Stephen for many years and gained invaluable experience.

“Dundalk are clearly the best team in the land with many talented players operating in a culture rich, player-driven environment.”

As Long mentioned, his team are once again missing some of this season’s star performers.

Danny Mandroiu is away on international duty with Ireland U21s, while Keith Buckley (hamstring) and Conor Levingston (groin) are serious doubts once again.

Full-backs Darragh Leahy (ankle) and Andy Lyons (knee) are out alongside long-term absentees Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate).

Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney have been excused from the Ireland U19s’ game against Denmark tonight and will instead link up with Tom Mohan’s side ahead of Monday’s friendly against the same opposition.

Mandroiu’s absence is all the more frustrating given that the fact he is away on international duty with the Ireland U21s this week means that his one-game additional ban for his red card against Shamrock Rovers will now not be served until next week’s Dublin derby away to St Patrick’s Athletic.

That frustration was perhaps compounded further by the fact he remained on the bench for the Ireland U21s’ 0-0 draw with Italy last night.

Long added: “The FAI rulebook continues to be a source of frustration. Danny should serve his additional suspension tonight but because he is deemed ineligible due to his involvement with the Ireland U21s, this suspension rolls over into next week. This is a ludicrous situation.

“We are effectively being punished for having players involved in international set-ups. In the case of Danny, he came back from the last U21 squad injured and missed three games before returning to play against Rovers.

“He served his automatic game on Friday last v Cork and will now miss tonight’s game and next week’s game v Pats, meaning he misses three games instead of two.

“This is not correct or fair on clubs who put a heavy emphasis on youth development. It is in fact anti-development. If we are serious about moving forward with a new FAI, the rulebook is a good place to start. It needs to updated and modernised so it is fit for purpose and doesn’t punish clubs that are doing their business correctly.”

2019 FAI NATIONAL DRAW: CLUB DRAW PRIZES

• 1 x Package for 4 people for an Irish international match including premium level tickets and hotel accommodation for the night
• 4 x Weekend tickets to the 2020 Big Grill Festival courtesy of Bodytonic
• 4 x €50 vouchers for Lavanda Restaurant on Brunswick St
• 2 x €100 vouchers for Des Kelly Interiors
• 1 Craft Beer Hamper from Grand Cru Beers
• 1 x Hamper from Lilliput Trading
• 2 x Vouchers for lunch/dinner for 2 in Cowtown Café
• 3 x Vouchers for lunch for 2 in Bang Bang
• 2 x Case of beer from Trouble Brewing
• 1 x Voucher from Frame FX
• 1 x Voucher for Rua Pizza in Phibsborough
• 1 x Voucher for a Boiler Service from Atlantic Facilities
• 2 x Signed Ireland jersey
• 5 x Pair of tickets to an Ireland international match
• 2 x Pair of FAI Summer Soccer Schools vouchers
• 2 x Hospitality Packages for 4 people to a 2020 Bohs match
• 6 x 2020 Bohs Jackets thanks to O’Neill’s
• 4 x 2020 Bohs Jerseys
• 2 x €50 Bohs shop vouchers
• 4 x 2020 Bohs Polo Shirts
• 2 x Signed Bohs Jerseys
• 4 x Footballs signed by the Bohs squad
• 10 x Pair of tickets to a 2020 Bohs match

This is Bohs’ second successive year in the competition. In their debut season, they lost out out 4-2 on aggregate to Danes FC Midtjylland, but were up against a side with designs on winning the competition and who subsequently knocked out giants Roma and Manchester United before bowing out against eventual winners Porto.

It was a commendable effort by a Bohs side depleted due to the tournament’s complex and unfamiliar eligibility rules, something they have learned from this season.

Sexton said: “Preparations have been great this time around. They’ve been a lot better than last year.

“That’s not a negative towards how we prepared last year but they’ve run a lot smoother in terms of player availability. We are without three of our older guys – Marlon Marishta, Peter Adigun and Mikey O’Keane – but we found out a lot earlier who we’d have, so we’ve had a lot more time to prepare.”

When the draw was made last month, Sexton admitted he knew little about the opposition but he and his backroom team have been working hard gathering information since.

He said: “By hook or by crook, we’ve got information on them! We’ve had to beg, borrow and steal to get as much information as you can but we’ve managed to our hands on footage.

“We’ve done our homework. We’ve watched them. They’ve seven players who played for Greece against the Ireland U17s in the European Championships in Dublin over the summer too.

“That’s an indication of the level of player. That finished 1-1, Greece scored late on. They are a strong outfit.

“They played the likes of Spurs. They’ve played top quality opposition in this tournament already so that could be a challenge. They’re more used to this, perhaps more comfortable with it than some of our boys but that’s fine.

“But they are coming to Dalymount – they won’t be used to that! We need to take advantage of that.”

The level of support for Bohs’ second leg tie against FC Midtjylland last year gave Sexton’s side a noticeable lift.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Bohs briefly led on away goals after Ali Reghba’s first-half penalty put them ahead on the night.

It was also something of a celebration and coming together of all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes at youth level at Bohemians and through the club’s partnership with St Kevin’s Boys, with whom many of the current U19s have cut their cloth.

Sexton sad: “It was a massive plus for us having our players exposed to that environment with a big crowd behind them. The lads were really able to feed off the fans in what was a new experience for most of them.

“We need that again against PAOK. We need the place full, noisy and boisterous. We need that and more. At times it may get tough and we might need a little help over the line from our fans.”

The likes of Reghba and Andy Lyons made their mark in this tournament last year and with a first-team manager in Keith Long willing to give youth a chance, more will be looking to follow them and, most recently, Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy, into his thoughts.

Sexton added: “This is a chance for them to showcase what they can do. They’re putting themselves on a stage. Instead of playing in Blanch IT they are playing, hopefully, at Dalymount Park in front of a couple of thousand people.

“As a group they get to show how good they are. A lot of them have been around the first team now which is a big help. They’ve seen big nights in Dalymount.

“Hopefully that will make them a bit more comfortable. A lot of them have experience from last year too which they can carry into this year. They shouldn’t be overawed. They might be but they shouldn’t be!”

WATCH: Alex Kelly, Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy talk to FAI TV