Cooke set-piece recipe for Bohs win

Ten minutes after a vital Derby result and a first home league win since April 26^th , Bohemians midfielder Keith Buckley left the dressing room on his bike. He was in a hurry, with work as a lounge boy in a local pub starting at ten.

On his two wheels Buckley rode past manager Owen Heary, a real life illustration of the point the Bohs boss was trying to get across.

“You know it’s tough for our lads playing against a full professional side that are training day in day out. I know what its like because I’ve been on the other side of the coin where you’re are expected to win, its tough for Rovers but I’m just worried about us – we got three points,” Heary said

The previous two hours had been a rollercoaster of emotion for the 2,761 that turned the Phibsborough venue into a fortress of noise.

“It makes it sweeter for the players and for the fans, there’s no question about that. It’s a big Dublin derby, you see the amount of fans at it cheering, slagging that goes on.”

The game was less then three minutes old when veteran midfielder Dave Mulcahy doubled on a scuffed Luke Byrne effort to score the only goal of the contest. The lead up to Byrne’s shot was well worked, the inspiration for which came from the most unlikely of sources.

“It was something that we worked on last night and it came off for us. I have to thank Mick Cooke for that one because they done it against us and it hit the crossbar.”

The following 88 minutes were defined by a tenacious Bohs rearguard, fronting up to a constant wave of Shamrock Rovers pressure. Among those who impressed in the middle was Daniel Byrne, making his home debut in front of the support he was so often a part of.

“Yeah Daniel’s a good player, I’ve had him here under 19’s and unfortunately then he was let go. We managed to persuade him to come back then when he was with Kilbarrack, and he didn’t take much persuasion to be honest because he is a Bohs fan. He came on last week and made his debut and this is his first home match. Against a club like Rovers, because he follows Bohs, would be massive for him. Again he showed that if you give young fellas a chance they can come in and do the business.”

Heary would have loved to contribute on the pitch, but he knows that multi-tasking at such a crucial time for the club is not going to work out.

“I miss it, I said this was going to be my last year playing but you know at the moment you can't do both, because it’s hard enough when your on the sideline playing everyone’s game."

But would he come back if needed down the stretch?

“If we’re mathematically safe I could see myself playing again for a bit, my last game was a sending off so I’d like to change that around.”

It’s a whirlwind at the moment for Heary, trying to help Bohs avoid relegation for the first time in their hundred plus year history, while also trying to learn the tricks of the management trade. But once the season winds down and the dust settles would it be something he would look to continue?

“I’m not even panicking about it, if the pro-licence doesn’t come up I have no problem waiting. I’m in no rush to go into management, alright this year was a case of needs must and I said I’d come in and help do a job, but I’m in no rush."

A week off next week, owing to their early FAI Ford Cup exit, Bohs then have the task of crossing the Liffey and taking on league leaders St. Pat’s.

“There all massive games coming up. I think Pats will win the league but hopefully we can go over there and give a performance.”.

In the meantime he’s going to keep fine tuning in his new role. Asked whether he’s enjoying the job he flashes a wry smile.

“I am when the game is over and the results are like that. It’s hard because I’m still learning and that’s the management side of it – I couldn’t relax my heart was in my mouth, I thought I was going to have a heart attack at one stage. But the roaring and shouting, that’s in my nature.”

And with that he’s back into the dressing room, outside the fans are still singing, they aren’t going anywhere fast. Up the road Keith Buckley has just started his shift. This is the League of Ireland.