Alan Reynolds says Bohemians are going to have to give absolutely everything of themselves on and off the pitch to get past Derry City in their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup semi-final tomorrow.
Beaten finalists in 2021 and 2023, Bohs go into the game looking to salvage their season with a date at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday November 10 against Drogheda United or Wexford on offer for tomorrow’s victors.
But despite being at home at Dalymount Park, the bookies have Reynolds’ side as the underdogs for this last-four tie against Ruaidhrí Higgins’ Candystripes who, just four points off table-toppers Shelbourne, are very much eyeing up a league and cup double.
Reynolds: “There is no doubting the size of the challenge ahead of us. Derry on their day are the best team in the league so, to a man, we will have to give absolutely everything of ourselves.
“We haven’t had the season we want in the league, so this is a massive opportunity for us to achieve something this year.
“This is where we want to be, and want to be regularly; in high-pressure games against the best teams in the league with prizes on the line. That is what we are all working towards and we have to seize the opportunity that is in front of us tomorrow.
“To do that we need to be at our very best from the first whistle. Against a team as good as Derry, we need to be ruthless in possession, in winning back possession, and show a killer instinct in front of goal that has evaded us too often this season.
“Our players go into this game with that determination. We know how good Derry are but we have shown that when we are at our very best, and have that vocal backing of our supporters, that we are capable of beating the best teams in this league.
“In the first round of this competition we were underdogs against Shamrock Rovers and with our players and supporters pulling together in the right direction, we pulled through.
“That’s the level we need tomorrow, and more again. We need everyone on and off the pitch giving everything of ourselves.
“We need Dalymount hopping, because as we have seen before, that can be the difference in games of such high intensity like this.”
Bohs come into this game having got back to winning ways against Oriel Park last week. Coming on the back of frustrating 1-0 defeats to Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers, that victory was important to lift the mood ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final but also to maintain the four-point gap between ninth-placed Drogs.
After a disappointing first half, Bohs looked a different side in the second with a super strike from Dawson Devoy settling nerves as Reynolds’ men ended up comfortable 2-0 winners.
He added: “We weren’t happy with our first half performance, Dundalk shaded it and had chances. The pitch didn’t help us but we still needed to be better. As I said after the game, we rode our luck but maybe we were due a slice of luck.
“I felt that we were much improved in the second half. Dawson’s goal was a moment of real quality that set the tone, and we could and probably should have won by more in the end.
“We needed that win. Where we are in the table, we need to maintain that gap ahead of Drogheda as they have shown what they are capable of over the last few weeks and months, but it was a needed lift heading into tomorrow’s game too.”
Team news
Jordan Flores returns but James Akintunde, Leigh Kavanagh and Alex Greive are doubts. James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.
