SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division
Saturday March 11 2023, 3pm, Dalymount Park
Bohemians host champions Shelbourne in a Dublin derby in their first home SSE Airtricity League Women’s Premier Division game of 2023 with Ciara Maher admitting the squad are buzzing to get back playing in front of a big crowd at Dalymount.
Bohs had a winning start in their opening game against Treaty United last weekend, with Rachel Doyle’s penalty on 63 minutes the difference between the sides at Markets Field.
Now Maher is relishing the prospect of playing in front of home fans at Dalymount, where games this season will take place with a new kick-off time of 3pm.
Maher said: “We have looked back at last Saturday’s game. We played well but there are things we can improve on against Shels. We know this weekend is going to be a bigger challenge so we have to get stronger again.
“But we are absolutely buzzing to be back in Dalymount. I love playing in Dalymount the whole time, I just hope the weather holds up now!
“The atmosphere in Dalymount is something else. The stadium brings so much culture to this league. Even walking up the lane, the graffiti as you walk in, it’s just different to everywhere else.
“You can’t beat the vibe you get walking out onto the pitch at Dalymount, so we are really looking forward to playing our first home game of the season there.”
Maher is looking to make up for lost time too.
After three years with DLR Waves, her debut season at Bohemians in 2022 was disrupted through injury, although she still managed to line out 17 times.
She said: “Last year was one of the worst injuries I have ever had. I was dealing with a metatarsal break, and it was really tough.
“But it made me realise how much I love playing and how much I missed it.
“So this season I am so determined to progress and show people my full potential. I feel I have a lot more to bring.
“I have had a good pre-season so I am just really looking forward to hopefully having an injury-free season and playing as many games as I can.”
She is enjoying being back in defence too, and believes she has developed a strong partnership at centre-back with Lisa Murphy.
Maher said: “For the previous 3½ years I was playing in midfield but I am back playing centre-half now, which is where I started off. That was my main position growing up.
“I am really enjoying it back there. Me and Lisa are working really hard together and I feel that we are getting stronger. We are communicating better and we have a really good understanding of how we both play now.”
There is an added expectation and professionalism surrounding the team this season, and Maher has embraced it.
Crowds are expected to grow this season, strong commercial partnerships with Dublin Bus have added to investing in the team on and off the park, with Maher and Co hoping to reap the benefits of training in the same facilities as the men’s team in the DCU Sport Complex.
Maher added: “Pre-season this year flew by. We were adjusting to a lot of new players coming into the squad, and players leaving.
“We have new training facilities – training at the same centre in DCU as the men’s team – so all the new faces and new surroundings have created a fresh atmosphere.
“Having the facilities at DCU, in particular the high performance gym, brings more professionalism to the whole set-up. The facilities are first class and there is a different vibe.
“It takes time to gel all the new faces together but I feel we are gelling well together now. We are well prepped now for the season, and I feel we have built again this season on the squad we had from before.
“It is going to be a tight league and it is going to be very competitive but that is what we want. We are really looking forward to it, and looking forward to the challenge of playing Shelboure in Dalymount.”
Manager Pat Trehy said: “We are coming into this game after a good win last week and a very good pre-season.
“We have brought in some good signings and have strengthened up the team, but shels have also signed some new players from the States.
“We aren’t here to take part, we are here to win games.”
- Please note that SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division games at Dalymount Park this season will kick-off at the earlier time of 3pm unless otherwise stated.
- Admission is included for all members, season ticket holders and Junior Gypsies.
- General admission is just €5 and tickets can be purchased in advance from tickets.bohemians.ie.
