Two in-form teams meet on Friday night when seventh-placed Bohemians go to the Brandywell to take on sixth-placed Derry City, writes LUKE O’RIORDAN.
Bohs – unbeaten in six in all competitions – travel north buoyed having finally secured their first home league win of the season with an emphatic 2-0 victory against title challengers Cork City last Friday.
“We knew that win was coming,” said manager Owen Heary. “We’ve been playing well but a lot of little things have cost us at home all year: sendings-off, penalties, not taking our chances and some refereeing decisions.
“But we’ve been strong throughout. We’ve been creating a lot of chances but not taking enough of them – I would have been more worried if we weren’t creating opportunities and players weren’t getting into positions.
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“Nobody really gave us a chance against St Pat’s or Cork City but we got four points out of those games, so we won’t be lacking in confidence.”
Heary, however, is expecting a tough test at the Brandywell. Bohs’ last win at the venue came in September 2009 – they have lost four and drawn one of their five games there since.
Just three points separate the sides now with Derry sixth on 27 and Bohs seventh on 24 but the task facing the Gypsies is all the more daunting as the Candystripes have hit top form under Peter Hutton, who replaced Roddy Collins as manager in May.
Hutton’s men are unbeaten in six domestic games and have scored 11 in their two most recent victories over UCD (6-1, a) and Bray Wanderers (5-0, h).
And Heary said: “Derry are a much-changed team since the side we played in Dalymount (1-1 in May). We should have won that game but Peter came in shortly afterwards and has changed everything around.
“I know him well from his time at Shelbourne and from coaching courses. I knew he’d go in and do well and they’re on a high now.
“But our confidence is high too. That’s the thing about young players, they don’t lack confidence, especially after a run of good results.”
With one eye on Monday’s EA Sports Cup semi-final against rivals Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park, Heary is relieved to have a full squad to select from tomorrow.
Steven Beattie was eventually withdrawn as a precaution after banging his head while scoring the opener against Cork City last week, but he has suffered no ill-effects. Anto Murphy (shoulder) sat out training on Monday but has played a full part in sessions since.
“It’s important that we have everyone available as we’ve two massive games over the next four days,” Heary said. “We’ve got a settled team now and everyone is enjoying it but we’ll have to rotate a little between the two games.”
Heary is also delighted to have kept hold of his most important players over the July transfer window, with 23-year-old midfielder Kevin Devaney the most recent player to sign professional terms after two years as an amateur with the club.
“Kevin’s improved a lot as a player and there was interest in him over the window,” Heary added. “We haven’t got great resources here but thankfully we’ve kept the squad intact.
“There was interest in the likes of Eoin Wearen too, but he is already under contract until the end of the season. It’s a squad game and other clubs taking notice is a testament to how well Eoin and the other young players around him have done in recent weeks and months.
“When you’re keeping someone like Dave Mulcahy out of the team, you know you’re doing something right.”
Pic by Eddie Lennon – eddielennonsportingimages.com
