Midseason Report Card - Bohemians

Club: Bohemians

Manager: Keith Long

Stadium: Dalymount Park

Highest attendance this season: 3,622 (vs Shamrock Rovers, May 12th).

Highest league goalscorer: Dinny Corcoran (8).

Mid-season position: 7th.

 

How we thought they would do

In our season predictions, our writers predicted Bohemians would finish tenth.

 



How they really have done

So far, they've just about exceeded predictions as they've loitered around the top of the pack of six teams in danger of taking the three relegation places at the end of the season. The second-worst home record in the league (after St Patrick's Athletic) of just two wins and two draws has been offside by good form on the road where they've won half of their eight games.

 

Moment of the season so far

It could only be the remarkable comeback victory over Bray Wanderers in March when Bohs, who had lost both of their first two games, came up against a Seagulls side in flying form after comfortably winning theirs. That pattern looked set to continue when Bray scored twice in the space of two minutes just after half time, but a Dinny Corcoran brace either side of Keith Ward's equaliser earned three points for the Gypsies and set them on a run of four games unbeaten.

 



Star Player: Dinny Corcoran

No contest here: Dinny Corcoran may have missed half of the season so far with injury, but the Dubliner – who returned from an unhappy spell with St Patrick's Athletic over the winter – has scored over half of their goals: eight from 15. Corcoran's absence through injury from the end of March left Bohs without a recognised striker and it showed as they went their next six games without scoring. Bohs are a different team with Corcoran up front and he offers a goal threat they haven't been able to replicate elsewhere.

 

Surprise star player: Fuad Sule

It's fair to say not an awful lot was expected of midfielder Sule on his arrival from St Patrick's Athletic during the winter. Missing most of pre-season as a result of his college schedule, Sule didn't get an opportunity until thrown into action in an EA Sports Cup win over Cabinteely in April, where he was sufficiently impressive to earn a starting spot against Sligo Rovers and Cork City. He revelled in the physical battle with Garry Buckley and Gearóid Morrissey against the league leaders and was unfortunate to come out on the losing side, and he's continued to improve since despite losing his starting spot for a short time. Still only 20, Sule is one to watch for the future.

 

Young player: Georgie Poynton

The loan signing from Dundalk may return to his parent club after his loan expires at the end of the month and his loss would be keenly felt in a midfield that has – at its best – held its own with the likes of Cork City and Bray Wanderers. Poynton has been shifted out to the right wing at times in order to accommodate Keith Ward in the centre, and it was from there he netted against Limerick, but the Meath native looks at his most natural driving from the middle.

 

Star signing: Rob Cornwall

Bohemians have had little to crow about defensively this season, with a heavy defeat to Derry City on the opening day setting the tone for some heavy defeats at home. Captain Derek Pender has been inconsistent, Lorcan Fitzgerald dropped and Dan Byrne has scored as many goals at his own end as the opposition's, but through it all the winter arrival from Shamrock Rovers has emerged as a leader in defence. They came into the break with a clean sheet at home to Drogheda United – only their fourth of the season – and Cornwall will be central to any improvement in that regard.

 

What they need to do in the transfer market

Bohs' major deficiency so far this season has been a lack of options up front and Keith Long has readily addressed it during the window, with the AUL Premier A top scorer Steo Donnelly recruited from Usher Celtic. He may take time to find his feet at this level, so the likely addition of another proven at this level in former Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers man Gareth McCaffrey will provide Bohs with a viable option up front and out wide.

 

The areas of full back have been a problem for Bohs for most of the season, with the full backs Derek Pender and Lorcan Fitzgerald looking increasingly sluggish going forwards and backwards. Dylan Hayes was brought back in during the season but was sent off in one of his rare appearances off the bench and appears not to have fully convinced Long of his merits yet.

 

Where we see them finishing: 8th

The Gypsies, like each of the five other sides in danger of the drop, have shown glimpses of the quality necessary to stay up but have struggled to show it consistently. With all six teams likely to strengthen in certain areas over the coming month and a half, it will go to the death but if Bohs manage to keep their strikers fit for a prolonged period they should have enough creativity and spark to eke out the points they need.