Rico looking for positive experience
Credit:
Despite the forced exclusion of Shamrock Rovers’ players from his
Airtricity League panel, Damien Richardson could scarcely have asked
for a better time to announce his 18-man squad. For all the misuse of
the dreaded cliché, sometimes the words ring true; not even the length
of a full week- the past three days have seemed like a long time in
domestic football.
In the wake of Rovers’ heroics in Tel Aviv and a date with la Vecchia Signora of Juventus, the new Aviva seemed like a fitting place to shine a light on the Airtricity League-Bohemians detrimental loss to The New Saints on Tuesday last seemed something of a memory as Richardson named six Gypsies in his squad.
Gary Rogers from St Pats’ looks set to start in goal while one noteworthy inclusion was the sole representative from the First Division; Derry City’s Gerard Doherty, who fended off any competition he may have had from the likes of Peter Cherrie (named as a stand-by) and Richard Brush for the second goalkeeping berth.
Five Premier Division clubs are represented with Bray, UCD, Drogheda and Dundalk registering no selection in the first team squad.
Paddy Madden was an obvious inclusion given current form while Galway United’s Karl Sheppard was also chosen as a forward. Madden’s team mates Jason Byrne and Raffaele Cretaro may have been eyeing up selection but recent injuries to both might well have curtailed their chances. Dundalk’s Faz Kudozovic is named as a stand-by having made an impression, despite his club’s poor form of late.
Richardson opened up to the assembled media at the Aviva Stadium with a declaration of intent as to the goals he is looking to achieve. “What am I looking for? I’m looking for this to be a very positive experience, for everybody concerned. For myself and the players, for the clubs that the players come from, for the league itself and just as important for me- the Airtricity League supporters”.
‘Rico’ believes the Bohemians’ players in his squad are well equipped for the challenge of taking on Alex Ferguson’s side despite the mental blow of their midweek drubbing in Europe. “I have great faith in the Bohemians’ players here [in his squad]…I’m delighted to have those players in my squad and I know professional footballers; I’ve no doubt whatsoever that those players in particular, over the next few weeks will be willing to set the record straight….and when this fixture comes around I think it’s a perfect occasion for these players to show people exactly, what their real worth is”.
With the game on the 4th set to be played amidst something of a carnival atmosphere given the nature of official openings, Richardson is in no doubt that Man United will be treating it seriously, “This game is coming at a very important time for United, it’s the week before the Premier League opens up….it’ll be the return of the World Cup players like Rooney, Evra and Carrick, so this will be a very important fixture and perhaps on the back of their [Man Utd’s] North American tour it’s the first time with the whole club coming together in preparation for the season. They won’t be treating it as an exhibition game or a friendly”.
Airtricity League Squad: Gary Rogers (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Gerard Doherty (Derry City), Brian Shelley (Bohemians), Ger O’Brien ( Sporting Fingal), Ken Oman (Bohemians), Gavin Peers (Sligo Rovers), Conor Powell (Bohemians), Conor Kenna (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Paul Keegan (Bohemians), Shaun Williams (Sporting Fingal), Alan Kirby (Sporting Fingal), Joseph Ndo (Sligo Rovers), Richie Ryan (Sligo Rovers), Stephen O’Donnell (Galway United), Killian Brennan (Bohemians), Paddy Madden (Bohemians), Karl Sheppard (Galway United), Ryan Guy (St. Patrick’s Athletic).
Stand-by: Peter Cherrie (Dundalk), Alan Keane (Sligo Rovers), Patrick McEleney (Derry City), Dave Mulcahy (St Patrick’s Athletic), Ciaran Kilduff (UCD), Padraig Amond (Sligo Rovers), Fahrudin Kudozovic (Dundalk)
Back room staff: Mick Spillane (physio), Alan Kinsella (fitness coach), Stephen O’Brien (goalkeeping coach), Tony McCarthy (masseuse), Gerard Murphy (team doctor)
In the wake of Rovers’ heroics in Tel Aviv and a date with la Vecchia Signora of Juventus, the new Aviva seemed like a fitting place to shine a light on the Airtricity League-Bohemians detrimental loss to The New Saints on Tuesday last seemed something of a memory as Richardson named six Gypsies in his squad.
Gary Rogers from St Pats’ looks set to start in goal while one noteworthy inclusion was the sole representative from the First Division; Derry City’s Gerard Doherty, who fended off any competition he may have had from the likes of Peter Cherrie (named as a stand-by) and Richard Brush for the second goalkeeping berth.
Five Premier Division clubs are represented with Bray, UCD, Drogheda and Dundalk registering no selection in the first team squad.
Paddy Madden was an obvious inclusion given current form while Galway United’s Karl Sheppard was also chosen as a forward. Madden’s team mates Jason Byrne and Raffaele Cretaro may have been eyeing up selection but recent injuries to both might well have curtailed their chances. Dundalk’s Faz Kudozovic is named as a stand-by having made an impression, despite his club’s poor form of late.
Richardson opened up to the assembled media at the Aviva Stadium with a declaration of intent as to the goals he is looking to achieve. “What am I looking for? I’m looking for this to be a very positive experience, for everybody concerned. For myself and the players, for the clubs that the players come from, for the league itself and just as important for me- the Airtricity League supporters”.
‘Rico’ believes the Bohemians’ players in his squad are well equipped for the challenge of taking on Alex Ferguson’s side despite the mental blow of their midweek drubbing in Europe. “I have great faith in the Bohemians’ players here [in his squad]…I’m delighted to have those players in my squad and I know professional footballers; I’ve no doubt whatsoever that those players in particular, over the next few weeks will be willing to set the record straight….and when this fixture comes around I think it’s a perfect occasion for these players to show people exactly, what their real worth is”.
With the game on the 4th set to be played amidst something of a carnival atmosphere given the nature of official openings, Richardson is in no doubt that Man United will be treating it seriously, “This game is coming at a very important time for United, it’s the week before the Premier League opens up….it’ll be the return of the World Cup players like Rooney, Evra and Carrick, so this will be a very important fixture and perhaps on the back of their [Man Utd’s] North American tour it’s the first time with the whole club coming together in preparation for the season. They won’t be treating it as an exhibition game or a friendly”.
Airtricity League Squad: Gary Rogers (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Gerard Doherty (Derry City), Brian Shelley (Bohemians), Ger O’Brien ( Sporting Fingal), Ken Oman (Bohemians), Gavin Peers (Sligo Rovers), Conor Powell (Bohemians), Conor Kenna (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Paul Keegan (Bohemians), Shaun Williams (Sporting Fingal), Alan Kirby (Sporting Fingal), Joseph Ndo (Sligo Rovers), Richie Ryan (Sligo Rovers), Stephen O’Donnell (Galway United), Killian Brennan (Bohemians), Paddy Madden (Bohemians), Karl Sheppard (Galway United), Ryan Guy (St. Patrick’s Athletic).
Stand-by: Peter Cherrie (Dundalk), Alan Keane (Sligo Rovers), Patrick McEleney (Derry City), Dave Mulcahy (St Patrick’s Athletic), Ciaran Kilduff (UCD), Padraig Amond (Sligo Rovers), Fahrudin Kudozovic (Dundalk)
Back room staff: Mick Spillane (physio), Alan Kinsella (fitness coach), Stephen O’Brien (goalkeeping coach), Tony McCarthy (masseuse), Gerard Murphy (team doctor)
