League Preview: Bohemians -v- Dundalk

Bohemians celebrate James Akintunde's winner against Dundalk on Monday, 15 April 2024.

Bohemians celebrate James Akintunde's winner against Dundalk on Monday, 15 April 2024. Credit: Conor Ryan (ETPhotos)

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians will be looking to replicate the great form they showed when dumping Shamrock Rovers out of the FAI Cup last weekend when they return to league action this Friday night with a home match at Dalymount Park against Dundalk (kick-off is at 7.45pm). 

That 1-0 FAI Cup win against the Hoops was probably their best performance of the season but they have been inconsistent in league action all year and are at the wrong end of the table, currently sitting in eight position, only one spot ahead of Dundalk.

Prior to the Rovers game they had not won in six outings, their last three pointer being away to Sligo Rovers over two months ago.

There has been some player movement at Dalymount Park since that win with a number of players moving in and out of the club.

Two players who returned to the Gypises after spells in the UK were Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy, with both playing a significant part in that thrilling FAI Cup win last Friday night.

Both played in the midfield engine room for the full 90 minutes against Rovers with Tierney also winning the crucial penalty which Dayle Rooney converted to send Bohs through to the last 16 and an away clash against First Division Kerry FC.

Manager Alan Reynolds is keen to park the Cup win and refocus on the task ahead on Friday night, a point he emphasised when he spoke to the Bohemians media team this week.

He said: "Last week is very much in the past now. The important thing and challenge for all of us is that we keep building on it. It needs to spur us on to have more nights like that.

“That has to be the aim, but we know we have plenty of work to do to make it happen. We need to be able to play under that pressure and expectation, and we need to encourage our young players to improve and push on.”



Frustratingly, Bohs will be without prodigal son Dawson Devoy after an EFL Cup suspension from December was carried over to the League of Ireland when he rejoined Bohs last week.

Reynolds commented: “It’s a strange rule and Dawson will be frustrated to miss this one as he wants to be playing but we have a stronger squad now with everyone wanting to play, so it’s a chance for whoever comes in to assert themselves.”

DUNDALK

Dundalk’s troubled season continued last weekend when the last open door that might have allowed some light to shine on the club was firmly shut as Drogheda dumped then out of the FAI Cup on a two one scoreline at Weavers Park.

The early FAI Cup exit means that they now have only survival from the automatic relegation to the First Division to worry about for the remainder of the year.

That remains a real concern given their inconsistent form all season, and even though they are ahead of tenth placed Drogheda by five points heading into Friday nights trip to Dublin, they will continue to look over their shoulder for the coming months until they are mathematically safe from that trap door.



They played well when defeating the Drogs a fortnight ago, four -two on the night, but could not put back-to-back performances together when faced with the same opposition last weekend, losing two-one to their neighbours.

There has been a huge turnover of players at Oriel Park in recent weeks with eight departing the border club and nine new arrivals, making it very difficult for manager Jon Daly to field a settled side each week.

Daly spoke to the Dundalk Democrat this week in advance of the game and said: "The Cup win was a big result for Bohemians.

“They’ll get a bit of momentum from that I’d say and they’ll get a bit of confidence from that as well, but it’s a different competition. It’s now about going into the league and trying to win the game to give ourselves the best chance of trying to catch them."

Dundalk also announced that Cameron Elliott has left the club to return home to Scotland and rejoin East Kilbride.

After arriving at Oriel Park in January 2023, the 25-year-old made 48 appearances for the club, scoring one goal, the winner in a 2-1 victory over Cork City last May.

Referee: Eoghan O’ Shea

 

MATCH STATS

A total of 46,722 spectators have attended all of Bohemians home games this season so far. averaging 4,247 for each game.

This is the third highest attendance in the Premier Division, only slightly behind St Patricks Athletic who average 4,532 per home game with Shamrock Rovers topping the attendance charts with 6,151 at each home game.

In contrast, Dundalk’s struggles this season are reflected in their home attendances, with an average of only 2,434 at Oriel Park for home matches.

This is the ninth lowest average attendance in the league, and no coincidence that it is also the same position that the Lilywhites currently hold in the league table.

PREDICTION

Bohemians 2-0 Dundalk

 

Bohemians

Injured:  Rob Cornwall, Keith Buckley, Jake Carroll, James MacManus

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Dawson Devoy

 

Dundalk      

Injured: Paul Doyle

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

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