Credit:
Bohemians -v- Coleraine
- Jody Moylan
- Tue, Oct 06 2009
It’s back to the less glamorous task in hand of overcoming Coleraine in the second group game of the Setanta Cup for Bohemians on Tuesday night(kick-off 7.45pm). Coming hard and fast as they are, the recent build up of games has proven to be a double-edged sword for Pat Fenlon and his Gypsies.
While this cup competition provides the extra avenue of potential revenue it does however distract a Bohemians side whose priority must lie solely with retaining the league title, such is their delicate position both on and off the field. Such a financial conundrum might well be appealing in different times but fine lines, tight ropes and deadlines seem about as common as cash these days.
Setanta’s financial instability of late has seen the prize money reduced this year but the argument remains that the station's airing of games can only be a good thing for club football on the island.
Bohs have already picked up one piece of silverware this season after they beat Waterford Utd in the EA Sports Cup Final last month. Having threatened to play a weakened side on that occasion, Pat Fenlon ultimately lined out a battle-hardened outfit.
It will be interesting to see the eleven he puts out here, but all indications coming from Phibsborough seems to indicate he will this time hold true to a more recent comment along the same lines. With only six league games remaining, and the next against Drogheda Utd on Friday night, the Gypsies boss can scarcely afford adding to recent injury woes. Mark Rossiter and Jason McGuinness, who have had more than their fair share of injuries, are both again ruled out with knocks. After beating Glentoran in Belfast back in August, Fenlon believes his troops can carry on with another win here.
“It’s going to be a tough game. If we can get six points on the board, it’ll be brilliant and we’ll be fairly close to qualifying too.”
Coleraine come into this match after a scoreless draw against Glentoran in their first match of the competition. The Co. Derry side recently climbed up from near-bottom of the IFA Premiership table and now lie eighth, 13 points behind league leaders Crusaders. Coleraine have won just four of their 11 league games to date and were beaten 4-0 by Portadown in their most recent match.
Midfielder Stephen Carson seems likely to miss out through injury. The Ballymoney man has been struggling with tendonitis in recent weeks and looks likely to remain in the stands for the Bann-siders' toughest fixture of the season so far and says he’s disappointed he won‘t be taking part.
“These are the matches we all want to play in. We all want to test ourselves against the top teams and Bohemians are certainly one of the best, if not the best, in Ireland,” stated Carson at the weekend.
Prediction: Bohs to win it 3-0.
