Fenlon revels in "fantastic achievement"
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
When Bohemians began their campaign back in March few would have
suggested it would be anyone other than themselves who would be
crowned champions for a second year running. Yet what was to unfold
over the course of the season and right up until Friday night would
have had even their most assured backers on tenterhooks.
That runaway title success last year was a measure of the gulf in class between the Gypsies and the rest, but with Shamrock Rovers in the ascendancy, title retention this year was all about showing the right stuff. Mounting challenges off the pitch seemed to overshadow much on it. Blips in performance had to be overcome, wages had to be reduced and players persuaded to stay. It was all done and still they won. They had that right stuff and the commander-in-chief has been the one leading by example.
“Yes it has been a long year,” stated Pat Fenlon on Friday night. “It’s been difficult at times but it’s culminated in a fantastic achievement. It’s a fantastic group of people that I work with from the players right through to the staff and I’m delighted for them as well.”
The win against Sligo Rovers on Friday was the culmination of their best run of form this year, winning five on the trot after losing to Shamrock Rovers in early October. It was a loss that could have had a domino effect, but the character shown in the games thereafter is something Fenlon believes is borne out of having been there and having done it before.
“As I’ve said before, when you’re at the top of the table, we have a little bit of experience and obviously Rovers don’t. It’s a first for a fair few of their players and in fairness they’ve had a fantastic season. I think they would have taken [at the outset] where they finished at the moment…….sometimes it’s difficult to understand how hard it is to retain titles and the players have shown great hunger to keep going.”
That the title was effectively won at Dalymount prior to a visit to the Carlisle Grounds next Friday night was perhaps a fitting end for the local support and staff who endured some uncertain and difficult periods in the past eight months.
“It’s a great night for the club and that’s what it’s about at the end of the day. It’s about the supporters and the people running the club. We’ve had hard times, we’ve had to work really hard as a club obviously trying to get wages down and everything and we’re doing that and we’ll continue to do that. To be able to do that and retain the title is a great achievement but we need to make sure the future of the club is secure and that’s what we’ll do,” stated Fenlon.
Jody Moylan is a sports journalist working for extratime and is a freelance sports researcher and reporter for the Saturday and Sunday Sports Show(s) on Newstalk 106-108.
He once held season tickets for MLS side The Chicago Fire but his first love is German outfit Energie Cottbus where he regularly attends home games.
That runaway title success last year was a measure of the gulf in class between the Gypsies and the rest, but with Shamrock Rovers in the ascendancy, title retention this year was all about showing the right stuff. Mounting challenges off the pitch seemed to overshadow much on it. Blips in performance had to be overcome, wages had to be reduced and players persuaded to stay. It was all done and still they won. They had that right stuff and the commander-in-chief has been the one leading by example.
“Yes it has been a long year,” stated Pat Fenlon on Friday night. “It’s been difficult at times but it’s culminated in a fantastic achievement. It’s a fantastic group of people that I work with from the players right through to the staff and I’m delighted for them as well.”
The win against Sligo Rovers on Friday was the culmination of their best run of form this year, winning five on the trot after losing to Shamrock Rovers in early October. It was a loss that could have had a domino effect, but the character shown in the games thereafter is something Fenlon believes is borne out of having been there and having done it before.
“As I’ve said before, when you’re at the top of the table, we have a little bit of experience and obviously Rovers don’t. It’s a first for a fair few of their players and in fairness they’ve had a fantastic season. I think they would have taken [at the outset] where they finished at the moment…….sometimes it’s difficult to understand how hard it is to retain titles and the players have shown great hunger to keep going.”
That the title was effectively won at Dalymount prior to a visit to the Carlisle Grounds next Friday night was perhaps a fitting end for the local support and staff who endured some uncertain and difficult periods in the past eight months.
“It’s a great night for the club and that’s what it’s about at the end of the day. It’s about the supporters and the people running the club. We’ve had hard times, we’ve had to work really hard as a club obviously trying to get wages down and everything and we’re doing that and we’ll continue to do that. To be able to do that and retain the title is a great achievement but we need to make sure the future of the club is secure and that’s what we’ll do,” stated Fenlon.
Jody Moylan is a sports journalist working for extratime and is a freelance sports researcher and reporter for the Saturday and Sunday Sports Show(s) on Newstalk 106-108.
He once held season tickets for MLS side The Chicago Fire but his first love is German outfit Energie Cottbus where he regularly attends home games.
