Heary - "The first goal is crucial".

Last Friday saw Bohemians keep league champions Shamrock Rovers at bay for 79 minutes, until a momentary lapse of concentration at the back saw them breached before an injury time strike from Billy Dennehy flattered the hosts. This Friday the Gypsies welcome Premier Division newcomers Cork City to Dalymount. With neither team living up to their supporters’ expectations thus far, both teams will see Friday’s game as the perfect opportunity to register their first win of the season. Earlier this week Extratime.ie caught up with Bohemians captain and assistant manager Owen Heary.

Firstly Heary talked to us about last Friday night’s game and the killer first goal.

“I think the first goal killed us. We had ten players behind the ball and we still conceded a sloppy goal. One ball in and he was allowed take a touch, turn, and finish. From that aspect of it we weren’t too happy. If we possibly had that bit of luck that we needed then we could have equalised, but they went up the pitch then and caught us on the break. But we were throwing a lot of bodies forward at that stage.”

“If we just got the first goal, and gave us something to hold onto, then it might be a different game for us and we could catch teams on the break but at the moment we seem to be chasing teams every game when we concede the goal.”

Looking to this Friday night, the two-time double winner is expecting a tough contest and can see similarities between the two teams.

“I know Cork are in the same boat as ourselves, although they drew with Rovers at home and things, but they need the points as well.”

“You look at the Cork team – I think they should be getting better results than they have been doing. I think they’re a decent side, they’ve a lot of decent players, and I know Tommy’s a good manager - so you’d expect them to come good at some stage.”

With just five games gone, it is still early in the season but already the table is taking a somewhat familiar shape. Even at this early stage, Bohs will want to keep touch with the teams around them and Heary is not underestimating how vital three points would be against the Leesiders.

“If we can win this we go ahead Cork. I know it’s early in the season to be thinking it’s a six-pointer but in actual fact if we win we go ahead of them, but if they win they push themselves right away from us. That is something we have to rectify hopefully this weekend and get the result.”

Bohemians are bottom of the table, but if you are to look at the table as it stands the most telling column is without doubt the Goals Scored column. Five games in and Bohemians are still to register their first league goal of season. Having strength and experience at the back, if Bohemians were to break find their scoring boots and get the first goal, they would look to play to their (defensive) strengths and see out the game.

“The first goal in this game I think is going to be crucial. If we score, it gives us something to hold onto, but the last thing we want to be doing is chasing the game again and getting caught out and not scoring.”

“But we need a goal. We’re desperate for a goal, it’s just that little bit of luck that’s missing.”

Luck does seem to have deserted Bohemians somewhat this season. Karl Moore nearly nicked a win in the recent televised clash versus St Pats, while Dinny Corcoran nearly levelled matters last in injury time in Tallaght.

“We just need that little bit of luck,” Heary continued, “and hopefully the lads don’t get nervous – sitting back trying to defend the lead – that we would be able to take the game to them and when they’re attacking us we might be able to counterattack.”

“The first goal in our games is crucial. In every game they’re crucial, but for ourselves especially because we haven’t scored goals. We haven’t managed to claw a team back and get a goal. We’re hoping that if we get the the first one, it might give us confidence and we might go on a little bit of a roll.”