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All the latest club news and updates from Dalymount Park.

“CONFIDENCE IS THERE”

SLIGO ROVERS v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Saturday October 7 2017, 7.45pm, The Showgrounds

​Keith Long has challenged Bohemians to once again pick up where they left off.

The Gypsies have sat out three weekends of the last six with no competitive game due to the scheduling of this year’s FAI Cup.

But despite a stop-start fixture list, they have so far managed to maintain good form and have now built up a five-point cushion in sixth place.

Long said: “The gap between our games hasn’t been ideal, you would like a bit more continuity.

“But we’re in good form. We’ve only lost one in our last seven league games, so there is confidence there.”

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Bohs’ last run-out saw them come out 3-2 winners in an enthralling Dublin derby against St Patrick’s Athletic at Dalymount Park a fortnight ago.

Long said: “We played some really good stuff. We played with a lot of purpose and our attacking play was excellent.”

Last month, Long challenged his team to be more clinical in front of goal and they responded with seven goals in two games.

That hasn’t gone unnoticed with play-maker Keith Ward, who hit a hat-trick in the 4-1 win against Drogheda United three weeks ago, nominated for the September SWAI/SSE Airtricity Player of the Month Award.

He said: “The front four have been excellent. Izzy Akinade caused St Pat’s endless amount of problems.

“Dinny Corcoran has been excellent all year – I can’t praise him enough. His finishing has been outstanding all season.

“Keith has been in great form too and he deserves the recognition of being nominated for Player of the Month.

“We will really miss Paddy Kavanagh through suspension tomorrow, he’s been in good form for us lately too.”

Another man sitting this one out is Warren O’Hora as the Cabra man is in Waterford on international duty with the Ireland Under-19s.

But Long is happy to see a product of Bohs’ Under-17 and Under-19 teams get the recognition he deserves.

Having made his first-team debut off the bench against St Patrick’s Athletic in July, the 18-year-old has earned great plaudits for his confident performances ever since.

Long said: “Warren’s accomplished a lot since he’s come into the team.

“He’s assured and has a level of mentality beyond his years, especially in such a key position.

“There aren’t many 18-year-olds playing as a regular centre-half in the Premier Division but he’s taken it in his stride.”

While the Bohs’ current position and recent attacking flair belies pre-season predictions, tomorrow’s opposition will feel they have under-performed this season as find themselves in the relegation zone.

Long added: “They’re another team fighting for their lives. We know we’ve work to do.

“We have to be organised and ready for them.”

TEAM NEWS

Warren O’Hora (international duty), Paddy Kavanagh (suspension), Lorcan Fitzgerald (knee) and Eoin Wearen (cruciate) all miss out.

Oscar Brennan comes back into the reckoning having been suspended for the St Pat’s game.

Bohemians v St Patrick's Athletic - SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

COME ON YOU BOHS IN GREEN

Best of luck to Warren O’Hora who is included in the Ireland Under-19 squad for their European Championship 2018 qualifying triple-header, which kicks off at the RSC today.

O’Hora made his Ireland Under-19 debut in a 2-1 friendly win against Czech Republic last month.

Ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Azerbaijan, the FAI have released a short video interview with Warren previewing the games.

You can watch the video below.

UEFA Under-19 Championship 2018 Qualifying Round Group 7

Wednesday, October 4
Azerbaijan v Republic of Ireland, RSC, KO 15:00

Saturday, October 7
Republic of Ireland v Cyprus, RSC, 19:00

Tuesday, October 10
Republic of Ireland v Serbia, RSC, 13:00

Warren O'Hora

BOHS BUS TO SLIGO

The Bohemians supporters bus is bound for The Showgrounds this Saturday for our SSE Airtricity League clash with Sligo Rovers.

  • Departs: 3.30m sharp (from Dalymount Park/St Peter’s Road Car Park)
  • Kick-off: 7.45pm
  • Fare: €20
  • Email bus@bohemians.ie to reserve your place.
sligo-bohs-new

FOUNDATION’S DUTCH OF CLASS

Reproduced courtesy of the Northside People

The Bohemian Foundation have succeeded where many top professionals have failed by picking up winning medals at an international tournament.

The Foundation was representing Ireland at Euro Football Norgerhaven, a unique 7-a-side tournament that took place at an open prison in the Dutch village of Veenhuizen.

The tournament was made up of teams from soccer foundations in Germany, Norway, UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, and the fans were mostly inmates of Norgerhaven Prison.

Many of the players taking part were former prisoners who use soccer as part of their rehabilitation, while some were from disadvantaged communities who had turned their lives around through sport.

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Others were former internationals, like Glenn Helder, who played four times for Holland and was George Graham’s last signing for Arsenal before the arrival of Arsene Wenger. What they had in common was a desire to give something back to sport, and collectively the teams had much to prove at Norgerhaven.

The Irish team had the smallest squad of the tournament, with only seven players available, but Bohemian Foundation President Thomas Hynes says what they lacked in numbers, they made up for in talent and confidence.

“They’re Northside lads mostly from Ballymun who play together in the Leinster League,” he told Northside People.

“A lot of them would have grown up together and gone to the same schools.

“They play as the Bohemian Foundation team in all the tournaments and exhibition games we’re involved in.

“I was worried about how we’d get on in the tournament but the lads were convinced from the start that they’d win.”

The 12-team tournament involved two groups of six teams with the top two progressing to the semi-finals.

The small Irish squad was supplemented by super subs, 46-year-old coach Kenneth Coakley and Bohemian Foundation community director Jeff Conway.

As the tournament progressed, other teams and the crowd began to sit up and take notice of the Bohemian Foundation team as win followed win.

They progressed through their group unbeaten, with keeper Graham Bedford pulling off a series of fantastic saves, and an impressive German side was disposed of in the semi-final.

The Irish team then won the tournament in a tight final against a Norwegian side thanks to a late winner from Karl McMahon, who was the competition’s top scorer.

“The standard of the games was really high and they were all really tight,” said Hynes.

“When we got to the final everybody there was convinced we were going to be beaten. The place went silent when Karl scored. It was brilliant.

“It was very nice because we were presented with the Irish flag and the played Amhrán na bhFiann. It was a wonderful moment for the team. I’m sure some of them never thought they’d be representing their country at an international tournament.

“The lads did really well and I think the authorities over there were impressed with both the team and the work the Bohemian Foundation does.

“We’ve been invited back next year to defend the trophy.”

Hynes says Irish representation at the tournament, which attracted attention from the Dutch media, is thanks to Mountjoy Prison, where the Foundation regularly brings over Bohs players to coach inmates.

“We were greatly helped by the Governor of Mountjoy who gave us a generous donation that allowed us to bring the team over to Holland and we’re very thankful for that,” he said.

Bohemian Foundation celebrate in the Netherlands

COME ON YOU BOHS IN GREEN

Those working behind the scenes with our elite underage teams are enjoying the fruits of their labour in the form of international recognition for Bohemians players.

Having made his Ireland Under-19 debut last month in a 2-1 friendly victory against Czech Republic, Warren O’Hora has now been selected for the squad for their upcoming European qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Greece.

Both games will take place at Waterford’s RSC on Wednesday October 4 (3pm) and Tuesday October 10 (1pm) respectively.

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Having previously captained both our Under-17 and Under-18 teams, O’Hora has been a mainstay at the heart of Bohemians’ first-team defence since breaking into the team in June.

His mature performances saw him sign his first pro contract at the start of August – that deal sees him contracted to the club until the end of next season.

Two further Bohs players, Jamie Hamilton and Ryan Graydon, are on the Ireland Under-19 standby list for the same games.

O’Hora’s call-up does, however, mean he will be unavailable for Bohs’ SSE Airtricity League trip to face Sligo Rovers in eight days’ time.

Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic - Under 19 International Friendly

BOHS U19s ARE TOP OF THE PILE

Graham Lawlor’s Bohemians Under-19s have finished top of the SSE Airtricity League Under-19 Elite Northern Division.

Their 2-0 win away to Athlone Town on Sunday saw them finish four points clear of nearest challengers Sligo Rovers having lost just twice all season.

The top four teams from both the Northern and Southern divisions now progress to a quarter-final stage.

Bohs have landed a home draw and will host Limerick at Dalymount Park in two weeks’ time at 2pm on Saturday October 14 at Dalymount Park where they hope they can count on your support.

Congratulations to Graham, Craig Sexton and all of their players on a remarkable season so far.

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Full SSE Airtricity League Under-19 Elite League quarter-final draw:
11/10/2017 – UCD v Drogheda United, The UCD Bowl, 7.30pm
14/10/2017 – Bohemians v Limerick, Dalymount Park, 2pm
14/10/2017 – Sligo Rovers v Cork City, The Showgrounds, TBC
15/10/2017 – Cobh Ramblers v St. Patrick’s Athletic, St. Colman’s Park, 2pm

Meanwhile, our Under-17s have also progressed to the quarter-final stage having finished third in the SSE Airtricity League Under-17 Elite Northern Division.

Jimmy Mowlds’ side have been handed an appetising draw – a Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, also at 2pm on Saturday October 14.

Full SSE Airtricity League Under-17 Elite League quarter-final draw:

14/10/2017 – Waterford United v Dundalk, RSC, 2pm
14/10/2017 – Finn Harps v Cork City, Finn Park, TBC
14/10/2017 – Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, Tallaght Stadium, 2pm
15/10/2017 – St. Patrick’s Athletic v Galway United, Richmond Park, 2pm

U19s by A. Baldiemann

FAI project will fund Bohs’ community work

Bohemians are delighted to have been chosen as one of two beneficiary clubs to receive support and funding through the FAI’s new More Than A Club initiative.

The project, run alongside the Welsh social enterprise Vi-Ability and funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aims to strengthen clubs’ community links.

Bohs and Cork City were picked after 11 SSE Airtricity League clubs made presentations to the FAI outlining proposals as to how they would utilise the funding.

The project will empower Bohs to hire Football Enterprise Coordinators for an 18-month period to build the club’s work in the community and to complement the strides already made in this area by the Bohemian Foundation.

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Welcoming the announcement, Bohemians President Chris Brien said: “We are delighted to participate in the project and will benefit from having three employees – two full-time and one part-time – working exclusively in the community on behalf of the Bohemian Football Club.

“It will allow us to significantly expand the excellent community work we are already doing in our catchment area.”

The FAI will also provide guidance from the project management team on how to develop the Football Enterprise scheme and the social programmes.

FAI Project Manager Derek O’Neill said: “The FAI believes that engaging with the community in a more inclusive way can positively affect a football club’s prospects of sustainability.

“Participating in innovative community partnerships can facilitate this.

“The FAI is delighted to have secured this EU funding, which will be used full to support the two clubs to develop their community remit.”

FAI Director of Competitions Fran Gavin said: “The Consultation Process Report recognised that along with sporting and business interests, community engagement was another essential development pillar of successful and sustainable football clubs. The club’s five-year strategic plans have shown a strong emphasis on community engagement.

“This community focus can serve to attract new club stakeholders with more people, businesses and agencies becoming advocates of the club and admirers of the programmes which they can deliver. The clubs can become more than just football teams and be more relevant to more people within their communities.”

FAI More Than A Club Launch

“It should be a good spectacle”

Keith Long believes there will be many twists and turns between now and the end of the season.

And he has challenged his Bohemians players to make sure they are at the right end of it.

Last Friday’s 4-1 thumping of Drogheda United brought Bohs one step closer to securing Premier Division football for 2017.

The position of tomorrow’s opponents looks more precarious – Liam Buckley’s side are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

But Long has ruled out any notion of complacency as he looks to consolidate Bohs’ place in the top half of the table.

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He said: “We’re not safe yet, despite what some may say.

“We still need points and we want to finish the season as strongly as possible.

“The complexion of the league table will change again tomorrow night.

“It’s up to us to look after our own result and our own performance to make sure we don’t get dragged down.”

A big crowd is expected for Bohs’ final Dublin derby of the season.

St Pat’s came away with the bragging rights from their last trip to Dalymount Park after a comprehensive 4-0 win in March.

But Bohs got revenge with a 3-1 victory at Richmond Park in June.

Long said: “It’s a big game, a good game to be involved in.

“They’re going to come here looking to win and so are we.

“It should be a good spectacle.”

Before last week’s trip to United Park, Long challenged his team to be more ruthless in front of goal having come up short in their previous league outing against Galway United, which ended 1-1.

They did just that with Keith Ward claiming a hat-trick against the division’s bottom side, while Dinny Corcoran added the icing on the cake with a sublime long-range effort.

Long added: “Wardy was on fire and Dinny’s goal was top notch.

“We asked the players to be more clinical and to deliver a 90-minute performance and they did.

“It’s not an easy place to go to, despite Drogheda’s position in the table.

“But it’s a different proposition tomorrow and we have to deliver another good performance.”

TEAM NEWS

Oscar Brennan (suspended) and Dylan Hayes (hip) will sit this one out alongside Eoin Wearen (cruciate).

Bohemians v St Pat's

“WE NEED TO BE MORE CLINICAL”

DROGHEDA UNITED v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Friday September 15 2017, United Park, 7.45pm

Keith Long says Bohemians are going to have to dig deep once more to get another victory at United Park this season.

Bohs face a Drogheda United side rooted to the bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division and in last-chance saloon if they want to beat the drop.

But Pete Mahon’s side have twice proved dogged opponents against the Gypsies this season.

Only a Dan Byrne header from a set-piece separated the sides at the same venue in March, while nobody could break the deadlock when they met at Dalymount in June.

Long said: “It’s a big game for both teams.

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“We had to work really hard for the points in United Park the last time, so we know we will have to produce a resilient performance again if we are to come away with the right result.”

An early exit from the FAI Cup saw Bohs go last weekend without a fixture and Long says his players are keen to get back on the pitch.

He said: “It’s been stop-start with the way the cup has been scheduled this year. But we’ve had plenty of tough training sessions instead and we’re ready to go.”

Long has also challenged his side to show more of a killer instinct in front of goal.

Last time out a fortnight ago, his side dominated Galway United in the first half but were disappointed to go in at the break leading by just one goal.

Bohs failed to carry the first-half tempo into the second period as Galway fought back to earn a 1-1 draw.

Long added: “The Galway first and second-half performances were like night and day. It was a reflection of our season in some ways.

“We were excellent in the first half but we need that for the full 90 minutes and we need to be more clinical in front of goal when chances present themselves.

TEAM NEWS

Lorcan Fitzgerald, whose free-kick set up Byrne’s winner at United Park last time out, misses out with a knee injury picked up in training.

Dylan Hayes (groin) and Ian Morris (suspension) return to the squad but Eoin Wearen (cruciate) remains out.

Keith Long - by Michael Ryan

“Anybody who doesn’t return to Mountjoy is a job well done”

The Bohemian Foundation will lead the Ireland representation at an international 7-a-side football competition for reformed prisoners in the Netherlands next week.

The trip to Veenhuizen is the result of an evolving five-year relationship between Bohemians and Mountjoy Prison organised through the Foundation.

Bohs have been conducting regular training sessions for prisoners in Mountjoy since 2012.

Thomas Hynes, Community Director at Bohemians and co-founder of the Bohemian Foundation, explains how the relationship started.

Hynes said: “I was working with the Simon Community with St Pat’s (Institution for young offenders, which has since been amalgamated into the Mountjoy Prison Complex) in the area of alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

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“They found out I was involved with Bohemians and asked if the club could help out with bringing in players.

“I said we would see what we could do and over the last five years, it’s grown and grown. We’re in twice a week now.

“Through sport, they’re all on first-name terms, enjoying each other’s company. They can’t wait for Tuesdays and Thursdays to come.

“It relieves a lot of tension around the place and it helps show them there’s light of the end of the tunnel for them when they get out.

“We don’t just play football in the prison and leave it at that. We try to get them involved in local football when they are released – playing and coaching.

“The team that’s representing the Foundation and Ireland at next week’s competition are all people we’ve worked with over the past five years.

“We have nine guys travelling with us to the Netherlands – prisoners who have been released and who have not re-offended for a minimum of two years.”

Donnacha Walsh, Deputy Governor of Mounjoy Prison, adds: “I met Tommy five years ago and told him I’m an avid Cork City supporter.

“He told me about his involvement with Bohs and it started from there.

“It has had a very positive effect. Lads have left here and taken up playing football when they leave and have reintegrated into the community.

“Most importantly, they haven’t returned here. Anybody who doesn’t return to Mountjoy is a job well done.”

This season, it has been the turn of Bohemians first-team players Shane Supple and Oscar Brennan to volunteer their time on behalf of the Foundation.

They have conducted training sessions twice a week – on Tuesdays and Thursdays – for the past 3½ months.

Supple said: “It’s been good craic. We go in every week and we just try to let the lads play.

“They don’t get much time in the yard. They do have other bits to keep them going – work in the kitchen and stuff like that – but the lads say to us that it’s only really when we come in that they get an opportunity to go out and play.

“The more time they have out there is beneficial to them and their mental well-being. It’s a two-way thing too. They’ve taken an interest in us.

“They see our games on the telly, they see us on Soccer Republic.

“Every time you come in on a Tuesday, they’re either praising you or slagging you: ‘Jaysus Shane, that was some save’ or ‘Oscar, what were you doing there?’

“We all know these lads have done something bad. But maybe they’ve just made mistakes and want to rehabilitate themselves.

“The dynamic is interesting, there hasn’t been a bad tackle!

“Hopefully we can play a small part in how they view where they want to be when they get out.

“It’s been going for a number of years now – the lads going over to the tournament in Holland haven’t re-offended.

“In two years’ time, if some of the lads we’ve been involved with in training and coaching this year are in the same position, then it’s been a success.

“It’s small margins, but that’s what it’s all about.”

Brennan, in his first season at Dalymount Park, is studying sports and leisure management at UCD.

He was keen for his college placement to tie in with the work being done by the Foundation.

Brennan has volunteered in a number of areas with the Foundation, including working with YouthReach as well as conducting walking football sessions with people with mental and physical disabilities.

But he was particularly keen to work with Mountjoy Prison and he too is encouraged by the progress made by prisoners over the course of his short time dealing with them.

Brennan said: “I was eager to go in, I wanted to see what it was like and see what way I could help and luckily enough I got the opportunity to do so.

“When we went in first, a lot of the lads didn’t know each other’s names.

“From what I’ve seen, it’s hard to go up when you’re a prisoner and introduce yourself to other lads inside.

“It was a great way of breaking down barriers. Now you can see they’re all socialising with each other. It’s more of a community.”

Last Saturday, the prisoners and the Bohemian Foundation went head-to-head for the Conway Cup, a trophy donated by family of Bohemians members in honour of their father Jimmy Conway Snr.

The Foundation team edged the now-annual game 8-6. The match was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Mícheál Mac Donncha, who was also on hand to present the trophy and medals to both teams at the post-match reception.

Hynes said: “The Conway Cup cemented our relationship with the prison. It gave the prisoners something to look forward to every year.

“But this is the first year it’s been so close, Shane and Oscar must be doing something right in the coaching sessions!”

Having enjoyed the Conway Cup in the Mountjoy training yard, now the prisoners are looking forward to going one step further – playing under lights at Dalymount Park for the Foundation Cup.

Hynes added: “At the end of Bohs’ season, we bring up about 15 prisoners who are on day-release to play a football game against a Foundation team for the Foundation Cup, which has been sponsored by Denis Cruise, who also sponsored the medals on Saturday.

“We play at 5 o’clock so they get to play under the floodlights.

“How that came about was because when I used to come into the prison first, the lads would say to me ‘that sounded like a great match on Friday’ and I couldn’t understand how they knew.

“But from some of the cells, they could see the floodlights on from Dalymount and hear the roar of the crowd.

“It’d nearly break your heart. So I thought we had to do something, so when some of these guys were on day release I said ‘would you like to come up to Dalymount?’

“Through the Prison Service and through Governor Walsh, we organise for the day-release of 15 prisoners, under escort, up to Dalymount.

“Their families aren’t even told when we’re having it. It’s fully behind closed doors but we get a Foundation team out to play them and hopefully give them something to aspire to.”

Luke O’Riordan, Public Relations Director, Bohemian FC

Photos by Stephen Burke

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE BOHEMIAN FOUNDATION

To enable the Foundation to plan with confidence and extend its reach, further funds are required.

We appeal to you to join us as a Friend of the Bohemian Foundation for €10 a per year. We will email you our updates on at least a twice-yearly basis to keep you informed of our plans and progress.

YOU CAN DONATE BY

Posting a cheque, bank draft or postal order made payable to the Bohemian Foundation to: The Bohemian Foundation, Dalymount Park, Dublin 7, D07YXWO. Remember to left us know your email address so we can send you our updates.

Donate by bank transfer: Bank of Ireland, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. BIC: BOFIIE2D. IBAN: IE80BOFI90062356161655. If you make a transfer, please let us know by emailing foundation@bohemians.ie.

 

 

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