League Preview: Bohemians -v- Dundalk

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians will play host to Dundalk FC for the 156^th time at Dalymount Park tomorrow night in what can be classed as one of the stand-out fixtures of the season played between two of Ireland’s most successful clubs.

Keith Long won his first piece of silverware in the Gypsies hot-seat on Monday night, winning the Leinster Senior Cup by annihilating Wexford Youths 4-0. Skipper Roberto Lopes scored a brace, while former Dundalk title-winner Kurtis Byrne continued his fine form recently by also finishing to the net twice.

Bohs are also buoyed by their recent upturn in league results and performances. Byrne was also on the scoresheet during the north Dubliners' first victory over St. Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park in six years last Friday night.

Despite exiting the FAI Cup to Derry City a week earlier, Bohs have embarked on a run of four league games without defeat since the Candystripes won the league encounter in Phibsborough in late July. As a consequence of their improving league form, the Gypsies have climbed above Galway United and into seventh place.

Long’s men will go into the league game on Friday evening quietly confident of taking something from the back-to-back Premier Division champions. The Gypsies have proven to be somewhat of a bogey side for Dundalk in recent seasons having inflicted the one and only league defeat upon Stephen Kenny’s side in 2015. Indeed, Dundalk were one of Bohs’ victims en route to their Leinster Senior Cup victory.

As mentioned, Kurtis Byrne has begun to find his feet at Dalymount Park in recent weeks – putting in the performances that made him a mainstay of Kenny’s Dundalk sides of 2013 and 2014. His partnership with the always threatening Ismahil Akinade will be paramount to any hopes that the Gypsies have of overturning the three-in-a-row chasing Lilywhites.

Aymen Ben Mohamad and Dave Mulcahy both exited Dalymount Park in the transfer window, meaning that the likes of Jake Kelly and Derek Prendergast have gotten more regular game time. Both, Kelly and Prendergast will need to perform should the Gypsies hope to merge a meaningful challenge in tomorrow evening’s game.

DUNDALK

Champions Dundalk FC make their shortest league trip of the season on Friday night when they travel up the M1 to Dublin's northside to face great rivals Bohemians.

The Lilywhites’ comfortably defeated Keith Long’s team in the side’s previous league fixture, despite not playing to the best of their ability. Daryl Horgan’s sensational free-kick prior to the interval gave Dundalk the lead, before the Galway native doubled his side’s lead in the second-half.

Despite not playing as well as we’ve come to expect them to, Dundalk dug out the three points on that night. Indeed, Stephen Kenny’s men have had to grind out numerous three-pointers this term, with late goals and, more importantly, late winners keeping the champions firmly in the driving seat in their quest for a first ever three-in-a-row.

The Lilywhites progressed to the FAI Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night with a facile victory over Leinster Senior League outfit, Crumlin United. That victory came at a cost though, with Robbie Benson and Ciaran O’Connor both leaving the field with knocks during the second period.

Although, O’Connor was just suffering from a bout of cramp, Benson will miss the game with an ankle complaint. More positively though, Kenny was able to give full competitive debuts to recent additions Dean Shiels and Alan Keane on Tuesday night, with Shiels capping off his night with a goal.

Dundalk will head to Phibsborough tomorrow evening knowing that a victory could be crucial to the destination of the title. Cork City closed the gap at the summit of the table to a single point by demolishing Bray Wanderers at Turners’ Cross on Tuesday evening, and the Lilywhites will need to continue their excellent recent record both, in Dalymount Park and in Dublin in general over the next few months should they desire to continue challenging on all fronts.

The men from the Carrick Road haven’t lost a league match in Dublin 7 since the Stephen Kenny era began and with Bohs enduring a fairly disappointing league season in comparison with their 2015 efforts, the Lilywhites should be fairly confident despite losing their grip on the Leinster Senior Cup at the Jody Stand venue in April.

Ahead of the match, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny spoke to dundalkfc.com and offered his thoughts on both, Bohs and Dundalk’s title competitors, Cork City.

Kenny said: “We have to make sure that we are ready for Dalymount. Bohemians have been in really good form. They won the Leinster Senior Cup the other night. It was Keith Long’s first trophy and I am sure he will go on to win many more.

“The good thing about Dalymount is that we always bring a strong support with us to Bohemians. We always bring a good crowd to the Des Kelly stand behind the goal.

“The nine-three penalty count is very interesting. Cork have had nine penalties this season compared to our three. Those statistics speak for themselves. If an empty crisp packet blew in front of the Shed End in Turner’s Cross a penalty would be awarded!”

Referee: James McKell

MATCH FACTS

It has been almost 20 years since there has been a goalless draw in the league between the sides at Dalymount Park.

Dundalk have kept 81 clean sheets in the history of the fixture.

Stephen Kenny (Dundalk manager), Stephen O’Donnell (Dundalk), Jake Kelly (Bohemians) and Kurtis Byrne (Bohemians) will all be facing their former club’s tomorrow night.

MATCH BETTING

Bohemians 6/1; Draw 14/5; Dundalk 1/2.

MATCH PREDICTION

Bohemians 1-2 Dundalk

Bohemians

Injured: Derek Pender.

Doubtful: Ismahil Akinade, Stephen Best, Mark Quigley.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Ciaran Kilduff, Robbie Benson, Darren Meenan.

Doubtful: Dane Massey.

Suspended: None.