Bohemians -v- UCD

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians open their Airtricity League campaign with the visit of UCD on Friday evening. The fixture is the second installment of an early season trilogy between the two sides and their pre-season Leinster Senior Cup meeting ended in a 2-1 extra time defeat for the Phibsborough outfit.

Manager Aaron Callaghan said the outcome of that game won’t have much bearing on Friday’s game “There was nothing between the teams. They play a similar game to us and their fitness levels are high. But the line-up of both sides will look very different on Friday from what it was on Sunday.”

Bohs were slow out of the blocks last season and Callaghan is aware that a good start is vital in building momentum to challenge later in the season. “We have been able to put a bit of shape and structure on the team but we will see better when we have played a few league games. A good start can give you momentum, as Drogheda demonstrated last year. It can help the confidence of both the players and the fans and you never know where it can take”.

They have already impressed in pre-season scoring five goals on three separate occasions. They won their four friendly games against Longford Town, Hardwicke FC, Greystones United and Mervue United. Their only defeat to date has come against this weekend’s opponents.

Bohs have retained 15 of last years squad and have added signings such as Chris Lyons, Dean Delany and Darragh Hanaphy. Callaghan believes the club will benefit from this stability. “The fact that we kept so many, and who can help new players coming in, is very good from our point of view.”

UCD

UCD will look to continue on from an impressive pre-season when they travel to Dalymount Park to take on Bohemians on Friday night.

They recorded four wins and only one defeat during the pre-season period, including a 2-1 victory over tomorrow nights opponents in the Leinster Senior Cup.

The Students finished last season two positions and five points behind their Northside opponents but striker Dave McMillan believes the changeable fortunes of teams means UCD can make a big impact on the 2013 season. “You only have to look at how well Drogheda did last season to see how unpredictable the LOI can be year in, year out and we hope to emulate the season they had and show the same sort of character and determination to go with our attractive style of play.”

Teammates from last season Chris Lyons and Ciaran Nangle will be in opposition to their former team mates after off-season switches to Bohs, and centre-half David O’Connor, who will captain the side in the absence of the suspended Mick Leahy, believes this will add extra bite to the tie.

“Playing Bohs in Dalymount is always a great occasion, and never an easy task. There will be an added edge with the connections between ex-players and coaches, however we will be focused solely on ourselves and our own performance.”

This will be the second of three encounters between the students and Bohs over a two week period. UCD came out on top two weeks ago when the two sides met in the Leinster Senior Cup, with a Gary Burke goal and a Ciaran Nangle own-goal being enough for the visitors. They will return to the all too familiar Dalymount on Monday night for the final chapter of the trilogy in the EA Sports Cup. 

Manager Martin Russell is wary that Bohs will be looking to be quick out of the blocks for the coming season “Bohemians are traditionally one of the biggest clubs in the country and Aaron will be looking to achieve more than last season. They, like us, will be hoping for a good start to the season and we are expecting a tough game.”

Russell has included new signings Craig Walsh, Dinny Corcoran (ex-Bohs) and Robbie Creevy in his match day squad.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

MATCH STATS

The three Bohs vs UCD Airtricity League games last season saw Bohs winning two and the other ending in a 2-2 draw.

Bohs won their four pre-season friendly games on an aggregate score of 18-4.

Bohs took only two points from their first five Airtricity League games last season.

BETTING

Bohemians 10/11; Draw 9/4; UCD 3/1. 

PREDICTION

Bohemians 1 v 1 UCD

Bohemians

Injured: Shane Fitzgerald (ankle), Kevin Devaney (ankle) and Kevin O’Leary (illness).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None

UCD

Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Mick Leahy, Gareth Matthews.