Dundalk FC -v- Bohemian FC

• Graeme McQueen
• Thu, Mar 05 2009


Bohemians begin the defence of their Premier League title on Friday night with a mouth-watering trip to take on First Division champions Dundalk at Oriel Park (kick-off 7.35pm).

Familiar faces
Dundalk’s first game in the top flight since 2002 will see new boss Sean Connor square up against his former employers for the first time, a little over 15 months since his acrimonious departure from Dalymount Park. He won't be the only member of the Lilywhites’ panel coming face-to-face with his old club as former Gypsies Thomas Heary, Chris Turner, Liam Burns, Harpal Singh and Michael McGinlay have all signed on at Oriel Park during the close season. However, former Bohs striker Darren Mansaram is out of the game after picking up a groin injury in pre-season.

Bohs benchmark
Looking ahead to his first competitive match in charge, Connor has challenged his newly-assembled squad to use Bohs as the benchmark over the coming season. “It doesn't come any bigger than the double winners,” Connor said. “Bohs are the benchmark for the rest of us on the pitch. I know that off the park Dundalk are in better shape than them. In terms of our supporters and how we are organised off the park we are a better club than Bohs.

Passionate
“It's up to us on the coaching and playing staff to get up to the level that Bohs are at over the next few years,” he added. “With every day I live in Dundalk I realise more how big the club is and its potential. The passion and the love of the club that the fans have are obvious. They are the best fans I have ever encountered. I am very much looking forward to this match. There should be a special atmosphere.”

Contrasting form
The Lilywhites have experienced a mixed pre-season, scoring just two goals in their six warm-up matches. Bohemians on the other hand emerged victorious in five of their six pre-season outings, finding the net no less than 16 times and conceding just twice. Despite a pre-season of considerable upheaval at Dalymount Park, the crux of Bohs’ double winning side from last season has been retained, meaning that the starting line-up for this encounter is likely to closely resemble the one which won the league by a record 19-point margin.

Difficult date
But Bohs manager Pat Fenlon says he is expecting a tough match against last year's First Division champions. “It goes without saying that the opening fixture will be difficult,” Fenlon said. “Dundalk is a football town and the atmosphere in the stadium will be good. We have watched the opposition and while they are not an established team yet, they have enough quality in their ranks to cause us some difficulties.

Cutting costs
“Our pre-season went very well,” he added. “We know we have a smaller squad this year and we have to try and manage it but players need to train and they can’t be holding back. I am very happy with some of the younger players graduating from the A championship and Under-20s sides. Ryan McEvoy will be in the squad and several other members of the academy teams will make similar strides this season. We have had to cut back and that gives the younger players a better chance to move up."

Team News
Bohs go into the game without left-back Conor Powell who is likely to miss the first two weeks of the season with an ankle injury. Mark Rossiter was expected to deputise for the youngster, but he too is struggling with a hamstring injury. Fenlon could hand debuts to midfielder Paul Keegan and on-loan Celtic midfielder Graham Carey, who performed impressively as a second-half substitute in Bohs' final pre-season game with Shelbourne last weekend. Meanwhile, Brian Shelley, a close-season signing from Drogheda United, is likely to step in for the injured Ken Oman (groin). Striker Jason Byrne is also a doubt (back). Aside from Mansaram, Dundalk are also likely to be without Dwight Barnett who is yet to receive a work permit.