With that in mind, Long is keeping feet firmly on the ground as the Gypsies welcome Sligo Rovers to Dalymount Park.

He said: “It was a very important win against St Pat’s.

“In previous seasons, we have been slow coming back off the mid-season break so it was vital, having drawn our last home game against Drogheda, that we got something from the game.

“Our second-half performance was really good and it was in line with what we feel this group of players is capable of.

“In the first half, we weren’t at the races. Pat’s deservedly went in at half-time in front.

“Oscar Brennan set the tone for the second half by showing great desire to be first to a 50-50 ball and great composure to slot the ball home to bring us back into the game.

“Dinny Corcoran continued his fine form in front of goal with an expert finish from a sublime Keith Ward pass.

“The night was complete when Georgie showed great energy to get on to another piece of clever play from Wardy and finish to the bottom corner.”

The victory sparked joyous celebrations in The Shed End of Richmond Park and Long appealed to those same supporters to assist the Player Fund set up by club members and fans last week.

Long said: “The scenes afterwards typify this club. We brought another big travelling support and the atmosphere generated on the back of what the lads produced on the pitch really spurred the players on.

“We all want more nights like that – more performances like the second half. If we can produce that, it could be an exciting second half of the season.

“We must, however, guard against any sort of complacency – throughout the club. We are not good enough to be complacent against any team.

“We are involved in a massive battle. The transfer window will open on July 1 and it’s important we try and strengthen our squad to give us the best chance of competing.

“Our rivals will invest. Case in point is our opponents tomorrow announcing the signing of two professional players from the UK (Rhys McCabe and Benny Igiehon).

“With three teams going down this year, other clubs will follow suit.

“It’s a difficult window to get players in but, if possible, we must recruit well and affect the squad in a positive way.

“Resources are finite and the recent appeal for donations to a player fund highlights this fact.

“But Bohs supporters are proud people who love their club and have always got behind any drive to support the club.

“We need their support. I have always said I want the players and supporters to be together. The rapport this group has built up with them is fantastic.

“Now we need them now more than ever to get behind the lads.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohemians welcome Lorcan Fitzgerald back from suspension. But Dylan Hayes remains suspended as he serves the last of his three-game ban.

Defenders Rob Cornwall (hip) and Ian Morris (knee) are both doubtful meaning 18-year-old defender Warren O’Hora, who made his league debut off the bench last week, could once again step in.

Ismahil Akinade (surgery to remove spleen) and Eoin Wearen (cruciate) remain on the sidelines.

Four of Bohs’ six wins this season have come away from home and Long is determined to add to that tomorrow.

He said: “We could have done without the mid-season break, I don’t really see the point of it.

“But it’s a good game to start back with. It’s a Dublin derby and Richmond Park is a great surface to play on.”

A full-time side, few would have predicted that St Pat’s would be sitting in the relegation zone.

But Long says his side will not get lulled into a false sense of security – Liam Buckley’s side have already humbled the Gypsies 4-0 in Dalymount Park this season.

Long added: “The table doesn’t lie but they turned us over the last time we played them, so we know all about the quality they possess.

“But we have to concentrate on our own game and ensure we put in a good performance.

“We’ve worked hard in training all week and we’ve hammered that home to the players.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs must plan without suspended duo Lorcan Fitzgerald (five yellow cards) and Dylan Hayes (additional two-match suspension following red card v Limerick).

Ismahil Akinade has stepped up his rehabilitation from surgery (to remove his spleen) by playing 45 minutes in a training game on Wednesday night. But he is still not ready to be considered for first-team action.

Eoin Wearen (cruciate) remains sidelined. Striker Steo Donnelly, signed from Usher Celtic, is not yet eligible to play.

“I’ve worked closely with Jimmy Mowlds, the Bohs under-17s manager, at the FAI’s Centre of Excellence.

“I’ve also previously worked with players at the club earlier in their careers – the likes of Warren O’Hora, Jamie Hamilton and Eoghan Morgan, who are doing well with the under-19s and on the fringes of the first team now too.”

Glynn’s backroom team will comprise of Conor Murphy (UEFA B Licence holder/Bohemians under-16s premier manager), Glen Byrne (UEFA B Licence holder/Bohemians under-15s premier manager) and Jamie Wilson (strength and conditioning coach with the NDSL Kennedy Cup team).

Glynn said: “We’re looking forward to getting started and recruiting the right kind of player to the club.

“We want to bring in players who will be capable of progressing right through the age groups – to Jimmy’s under-17s, to Graham Lawlor’s under-19s and, hopefully, all the way through to the first team for Keith Long.”

It is an exciting time in domestic football with the new SSE Airtricity League under-15 league, which will commence in August, finally providing a pathway for players to progress from schoolboy football right through to League of Ireland first teams.

Glynn added: “The restructuring is going to be of massive benefit to young players and a real chance for them to progress, whether that be to first-team football here in Ireland or to further afield.

“It’s going to be a big step-up for them from schoolboy football to be competing on a national basis. They will be pitting themselves against the best players in their age group from right around the country, so we are really looking forward to that challenge.”

Welcoming Glynn to the club, Bohemian FC Youth Development Officer Ian Morris said: “We are absolutely delighted to have JJ on board. As soon as we sat down for the first time, I knew he was the man we wanted.

“His knowledge of developing players at this age is unquestionable. The working relationship between Jimmy Mowlds and Graham Lawlor is excellent. This is something I was keen to build on.

“The communication between each age group’s manager is key and we have that in abundance here as can already be seen by the amount of players who have progressed into the first team and who have made their debuts this season.

“Conor, Glen and Jamie are all young knowledgeable coaches, who all work in Emerging Talent Programmes. Their enthusiasm and work ethic is constant and I am really pleased we have them all on board.”

“I really can’t wait to play for that jersey, it will mean a lot.

“I’ve had the best year of football this year with Usher and I owe everything to everyone at the club but I’m looking forward to the challenge of stepping up to a higher level now.”

Before teaming up with Usher, Donnelly spent the previous five years in the United States where he completed a soccer and physical education scholarship with Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.

“It brings people together at a national and local level every weekend in parks and stadiums across the island. Here at Bohs, we want to bring football fans who are currently in Direct Provision into this fold.

“We view these new fans as integral parts of the ‘new Ireland’ and we want to show them that Bohs and football in general holds the door open for them to take their place amongst us on the sidelines, in the terraces and on the pitches.”

Bohemians as a club and through our supporters have previously, working alongside the Irish Refugee Council, highlighted the conditions of those living in direct provision through fan displays, murals at Dalymount Park and by our players wearing campaigning t-shirts during their warm-ups.

Extending the club’s welcome to our newest fans, Bohemian FC president Chris Brien said: “People of many nationalities now call Ireland ‘home’ and as Dalymount Park is the traditional Home of Irish Football, we want to let them know they are always welcome to join us here  as equals and as part of our club and community.”

They bounced back with a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Galway United last Friday night and now Long has told his troops to match that level of performance at home.

He said: “We will endeavour to end the first half of the season on a positive note before the mid-season break.

“Dalymount is a fantastic place to play football but we have to improve our home form in order for us to gain a measure of consistency.

“We have lost too many games at Dalymount despite the fact that our attendances have been very good and our supporters have been right behind us in every game.

“We’ve let ourselves down to an extent at home so far this campaign. We need to start grinding out results and make home advantage pay.

“If we can do that and continue our decent away form, we will give ourselves every chance of climbing the table.”

Long was particularly disappointed with the manner in which his side failed to register any points on the board from their last home game.

Having fallen behind to Limerick after 15 minutes, the Gypsies equalised through Georgie Poynton on the half-hour mark.

Momentum was in Bohs’ favour going in at the break, but they failed to push on in the second half and were left empty-handed when miscommunication at the back saw Dan Byrne’s own goal win it for Neil McDonald’s men.

Long said: “We were extremely disappointed. If ever there was a game that highlighted our home form, that was it.

“We didn’t play particularly well. When the game was in the balance, we needed to bring the game to the opposition but came up short.

“We conceded a late goal which was gut-wrenching in a game that we didn’t play well in but should have got something from.

“As a group we can learn from this and ensure that in future we are more demanding of each other and have leaders all over the pitch who are prepared to whatever it takes to get the job done.”

Despite the manner of that defeat, heads did not drop for the trip to Eamonn Deacy Park three days later as goals from Dinny Corcoran and Lorcan Fitzgerald secured all three points.

Long said: “We scored two really good goals in the first half and were dangerous on the break. But we really had to dig deep and soak up a lot of Galway pressure in the second half to get the points.

“It was difficult for the players having played three games in a week but the lads showed great determination and spirit to come away with a hard-earned win.”

In Pete Mahon’s ninth-placed Drogheda, Bohs once again face another side looking over their shoulders and scrapping for points.

Long added: “Drogheda have proved difficult opponents for us this season and we enjoyed the rub of the green in United Park.

They have some talented players and a very experienced backroom team. It is imperative now that we try and follow up last Friday’s good result with another win.”

TEAM NEWS

Paddy Kavanagh, who missed last week’s trip to Galway with a rib injury, remains a doubt. Dylan Hayes returns from suspension.

Eoin Wearen (cruciate) and Ismahil Akinade (recovering from surgery to remove spleen) remain sidelined.