2021 Season Preview: Bohemians

Keith Long's side have set a high bench mark for themselves after impressing in recent campaigns.

Keith Long's side have set a high bench mark for themselves after impressing in recent campaigns. Credit: Clare McCahill (ETPhotos)

Manager: Keith Long

Stadium: Dalymount Park

Players in: Tyreke Wilson (Waterford), Georgie Kelly (Dundalk), Thomas Oluwa (Shamrock Rovers), Ali Coote (Waterford), Rory Feely (St. Pats), Stephen Mallon (Sheffield United), Bastien Hery (Linfield), Liam Burt (Celtic) Bradley Rolt (on loan from Peterborough)

Players out: Dinny Corcoran (Drogheda United), Patrick Kirk (Longford Town), Daniel Grant (Huddersfield Town), Michael Barker (Shelbourne), Daniel Mandroiu (Shamrock Rovers) Evan Ferguson (Brighton), Andre Wright (Ayr United), JJ Lunney (Shelbourne), Dan Casey (Sacramento Republic), Glen McAuley (Shelbourne)

Extratime.ie Key Man: Bastien Hery

The French born midfielder joins Bohs this season from Linfield with whom he won the Northern Irish Premiership and made 11 European appearances for the Belfast club. 

His signing by Keith Long adds experience to what is a young squad with Hery previously having played in the League of Ireland with Limerick and Waterford. The creative midfielder has the potential to provide the attacking impetus that Bohemians will require to match their second-place finish achieved last season.  

Hery who has played senior international football for Madagascar will hope to replicate the form that saw him included in the PFAI Team of the Year in 2018. 

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Dawson Devoy

Devoy returned to Bohs from Watford and went back into their youth setup in 2019.



Despite his obvious talent his progress last season was remarkable given he was competing with Danny Mandroiu and Keith Ward for the No 10 role. The Meath teenager gained rave reviews with his playmaking ability and intelligence on the ball and even featured in the Europa League when he came on as a second half substitute against Ferervar. 

It will be fascinating to see if Devoy can pick up where he left off last season especially with the experience of Bastien Hery and another young talent Liam Burt drafted in to bolster the options for Keith Long in his midfield.  

How they did last season:

Premier Division

It was another satisfying season for Bohemians in the league as they improved on their 3rd place finish in 2019, finishing runners up to Shamrock Rovers.  

The season got off to a terrible start when they lost the Dublin Derby to Shamrock Rovers on a wet, windy and miserable day in Phibsborough. 



However, they then went on to reel off four consecutive victories before COVID-19 halted the league in March of 2020. The resumption of the league saw them win another four games before losing a top of the table clash with Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght. A shock home loss in their next league fixture against Waterford realistically ended their title challenge but they finished strongly after this to comfortably claim 2nd place. 

FAI Cup

It was another year of disappointment for the Gypsies in the FAI Cup as they lost to Dundalk in the quarter finals.  

Two goals and an assist from David McMillian in the first half for Dundalk did the damage as the Phibsborough side ended up losing the tie 4-1. 

Bohemians have reached the semi-finals twice in the last three cups and should advance to the later stages of the competition once again this season.

What to expect this season:

So, what should we expect from Bohemians this season? Steady consistency under Keith Long’s management has been the club’s identity since he took up the role in 2014.  This culminated in a 2nd place finish last season improving on their 3rd place finish in 2019. 

The Dublin side recently announced a partnership with DCU to develop facilities at the university that will be used by their first team and underage sides. Bohemians are hoping that this will help them produce more players through their youth system which has the potential to have a major transformative impact on the club. 

So, with exciting long-term developments for the club off the field, in the short term the expectations for the season ahead are still high. 

Experienced campaigners such as Rob Cornwall, Keith Ward and Keith Buckley remain at the club with Tyreke Wilson and Ali Coote joining from Waterford after impressing for the Blues last season.  

Forward Thomas Oluwa made the brave decision to sign for the Gypsies after a number of years with Shamrock Rovers underage teams alongside four appearances for their first team. He has found the net and impressed in pre-season, so he will be one to watch as the league gets under way. 

Despite the quality of the arrivals at Dalymount it has not been all good news for the Phibsborough club in the off season with two key attackers from last season departing, in the form of Andre Wright & Danny Grant. This duo scored 15 league goals between them last season and their loss could mean Bohs will be unable to replicate last season’s performance which saw them emerge as title contenders for at least part of the season. 

However, Bohemians should see a top three finish as a realistic prospect and with Europa League football to look forward to the club has an exciting season ahead. Can they turn their steady progress into a trophy? It will be tough with Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk both strengthening their squads, but the ambition is there and with some luck their first major trophy since 2009 could be achievable.   

Title Odds: 13/2

First game: Finn Harps (A)

    About Paul Walsh

    Paul Walsh is a contributor to Bohemians' matchday programme and first wrote for Extratime.ie in 2011 View Full Profile