Callaghan satisfied with opening day victory

A misty Dalymount Park welcomed the return of the Airtricity League on Friday night, and it was to be the home side who were to emerge with all three points after what was, in truth, a scrappy victory over UCD.

After the match, ExtraTime.ie caught up with Bohemians manager Aaron Callagahn to get his thoughts on the game.

“Ya I’m happy with the result, but I think there’s certain parts of the performance that I think we can change. One or two of the lads were a little bit below par.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game with UCD, I mean they play football the same as us. But it’s our second game on grass pitch since kick-off of preseason, which is eight weeks ago. And that’s difficult like.

“Most of our preseason games have been on an all-weather pitch because we haven’t been able to get in Dalymount. Mervue United there last week, that was our first game in Dalymount.

“Taking all those things into consideration, you know we worked hard fitness wise on the lads, and they dug in when they needed to and as I said great result.”

There were times in 2012 when it seemed that Lady Luck had deserted Callaghan’s side, but only 20 minutes into 2013 they were awarded a contentious penalty which also saw UCD defender Mark Langtry sent for an early shower. New signing (ironically from UCD) Chris Lyons stepped up to convert the penalty to score the opening goal of the 2013 Airticity Premier Division but when asked whether he thought it was a penalty or a red card, Callaghan could offer no insight.

“I actually couldn’t see it to be honest with you.

“There was five or six midfield players or defenders in front of me and from the box like I just seen the referee give it – and obviously when he’s given it you’re delighted with it. But to be honest I couldn’t tell you if it was or it wasn’t because I haven’t seen it.”

UCD themselves were awarded a penalty as referee Rob Rogers adjudged Bohemians’ goalkeeper Dean Delany to have fouled David McMillan in the box.

“And again I couldn’t see it. I’m going to have to get up on the hoardings up there in the stand to have a look down!

“There’s so many players in front of the box. I think it sort of ricocheted off Dean and then I think he ran into Dean more so, but again I couldn’t really see it.”

Last season also saw Bohemians fans have to wait until the sixth game before they were to celebrate a goal. This season they have two already with Lyon, Hanaphy and Devaney offering plenty of options up front.

“I think to be fair UCD made a couple of changes to get back into the game, and it worked for them.

“Then we decided to make a couple of changes and what we did was we put Kevin [Devaney] up front. When he came to the club last year we started him up front for a few games, and the win in Tallaght, he scored when we beat Rovers over there.

“We know he can play up front and I think he changed the game for me. He had three or four chances prior to scoring, and he hit the post a couple of times.

“To be fair young Karl Moore also gave us a bit of zest down the wing.”

The two sides are due to meet again on Monday in the EA Sports Cup, again at Dalymount. This will be their third meeting in recent weeks after their recent Leinster Senior Cup fixture and Callaghan will re-assess his squad before making any changes.

“We’ll take stock in the morning; see what injuries are like and fitness for some of the players.

“We’ll give them a recovery swim and we’ll do a bit of training with the lads that didn’t play and we’ll take stock from there. We’ll probably look at Sunday now before we start naming the side for that.”