Bohemians will look to extend their impressive unbeaten run to five games this afternoon (3pm) as they return to Dalymount Park to host Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, writes GARY O’CONNOR.
Bohs head into today’s clash buoyed by the character they showed last time out in the Dublin Derby, coming from 2-0 down at half-time to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw away to Shamrock Rovers. It was a game that demonstrated the growing resilience and belief within Alban Hysa’s side, who now sit sixth in the table after three wins and a draw from their last four matches.
The derby started in the worst possible fashion for Bohs as they struggled to find their rhythm and went into the break two goals behind. But the second half was a different story entirely. Alannah McEvoy pulled one back just after the hour mark before half-time substitute Hannah O’Brien completed the comeback with a composed finish in the 72nd minute. The result not only underlined the team’s mentality but also kept their momentum building ahead of the final stretch of the season.
Reflecting on that comeback, manager Alban Hysa was particularly pleased with the character his players showed:
“We started the game slow, I don’t know if the three games in a week affected us but Rovers were on top and took the lead with a deflection which unfortunately no one can do anything about but I didn’t think we played our best football in that first half, they then got a counter attack to make it two. We could have taken one or two chances from free kicks and corners. In the second half we made a change, it took us a bit of time to kick on in the second half but in the last half hour we were the better team by far, we missed a few one on ones and we should have won the game really. It was great character shown by the team to come back from 2-0 down, this is what pleased me the most, we have built strong characters in our group.”
That character will be key again when Sligo Rovers visit Dalymount. The sides are yet to be separated this season, with both previous meetings ending in draws, a 0-0 stalemate on the opening day of the league campaign and a 1-1 draw in the All Island Cup back in April.
Sligo currently sit 10th in the table and have struggled for form, losing three and drawing one of their last four games, including a 4-1 defeat to Peamount United last weekend. But despite their position, Hysa is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
“It will be quite interesting we have played Sligo twice this season and both have been draws in the cup and league, in both games we were the better team but we didn’t seem to be able to go and kill the game in terms of scoring especially in the first game of the season. That was the first game for us as a group and we weren’t really the team that we are now. In the cup we should have won that game within the first twenty minutes.
“We could have scored four or five but we didn’t manage to do that, they went up and scored, we seemed to drop off after that something which has been rectified as seen by the result against Rovers in terms of coming back stronger and having that character to push on, it has taken us a while to build that. It will be a strong test and one of those teams that will give us a stern test, they have got some very good young players and no doubt it will be a tough game.”
The Bohs boss is also encouraged by how his side is developing its style of play as the season progresses. With one of the youngest squads in the league, the signs of growth and maturity are becoming increasingly clear.
“Yes there are a lot of young players in the squad and the staff have been wonderful in terms of building their character and to get them to where they need to be at. We know that we are not the finished product but we are quite happy with how far they have come in the last seven months as a team and that will only improve.”
With the FAI Cup final on the horizon and the team pushing for a strong league finish, Hysa believes the support from the Dalymount faithful could make a huge difference in the run-in, starting this weekend.
“It will be very important for us to get the fans back at Dalymount on Saturday and keep building the momentum for the cup final. I think it is so important for the team to see the fans, they have been amazing all season, we have got the best crowd in the league, we have got the best numbers in the league and we are hoping that Saturday will be no different and we hope to be in a position where we have as many fans in the stadium as possible in order to push the girls on and give us a 12th voice on the pitch which is so important for our young team.”
With confidence high, form strong and belief growing, Bohemians will be aiming to make it five unbeaten and keep their upward momentum going when they step out at Dalymount Park on Saturday afternoon.
Team News
Shauna Carroll (foot) and Aoibhe Fleming (foot) remain out.
Today’s final SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division programme of the season is a bumper full colour 24-page issue costing just €2 edited by Stephen Burke.
Packed full of commemorative photos from the cup semi-final against Treaty a fortnight ago, it also features an interview piece with starlet Emma Gaughran.
Ned Simpson writes his review of the season and as part of her Hinterland series Fiona Delaney profiles winger Sarah McKevitt and captain Rachael Kelly picks her Hinterland XI from all of Fionas columns this year.
Also, Abby Rooney gives her thoughts on the u19 scene to date as they prepare for both an FAI Cup final and league play-off series. Get yours from the halfway line today.