Alan Reynolds says his Bohemians side have proven they have the fight, determination and ability to put it up to any team in this league.
Bohs bounced back from 2-0 down against Shamrock Rovers in the most memorable of fashions on Easter Monday.
First Dawson Devoy pulled one back in the 70th minute, Ross Tierney equalised in 81st before 18-year-old substitute Rhys Brennan won it in the sixth minute of injury time.
With games coming thick and fast, and the daunting prospect of title favourites St Patrick’s Athletic coming to Dalymount Park this Friday, the Bohs management and players were quick to move on from Monday’s win.
But Reynolds believes the character of the comeback, on the back of the previous late surges against Sligo Rovers and Cork City in recent weeks, has shown what his team are made of.
Reynolds said: “This is a very tough league this season and it hasn’t always been plain sailing for us but I hope now that supporters appreciate we have a group of players who are giving their all for the jersey.
“We’ve made mistakes in games, we’ve been on the back foot in others, but what you have seen particularly in the past number of weeks, is a team with quality and great potential, who keep fighting, for each other and for the club.
“It wasn’t just Monday’s game, which was obviously particularly special. But you look back at the games against Sligo Rovers and Cork City too.
“We had the perfect start against Sligo Rovers, 2-0 up after a few minutes only to be pegged back to 2-2. We didn’t fold, our heads didn’t drop – we dug deep and worked hard to win 4-2.
“Against Cork City, we had a goal disallowed – very late in the game – but the lads didn’t cave. We struggled to break Cork down, but we never stopped trying, and a bit of magic from James McManus was reward for how hard the team worked.”
Sandwiched between a narrow 1-0 defeat away to champions Shelbourne, that hard work saw Reynolds’ men win back-to-back home wins for the first time since April 2024, and brought some cautious optimism going into the trip to Tallaght, a venue where Bohs had failed to win since 2019.
Reynolds said: “For the first half an hour, and we’ve obviously watched it back, we played some really good stuff. Our build-up play was good and we were pleased with the way we were taking the game to Rovers, particularly away from home.
“So to then find ourselves a goal down and then 2-0 down two minutes later was really hard to take. Obviously the Rovers fans are lauding it then, and our fans are voicing their frustrations.
“That can be hard to take. But to a man, we dug deep and didn’t buckle. Fifteen minutes into the second half, and you’re still 2-0 down, it can be hard to keep the faith but I could feel it turning.
“We brought players on who could change the game, and collectively we showed great character. I’m delighted for them as when you’re 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go, nobody but ourselves would have given us a chance.
“They didn’t stop at 2-2 either, they had something to prove and they proved it. I’m delighted for Rhys too, he was denied a goal last week against Cork City but that won’t matter to him now – there’s no better way to get your first goal for Bohs.
“The fans and players enjoyed the win on Monday but as soon as we left the ground, you have to draw a line under because St Pat’s is a massive game for us now.
“What I would take out of it though is my hope that our fans now see what this group of players is capable of. They’re a young team, they’ll make mistakes and there’ll be bumps along the road. But get behind them, encourage them and be patient with them, and together we can be a match for anyone in this league.”
Stephen Kenny’s title favourites St Pat’s provide the opposition at Dalymount Park tomorrow, with Reynolds’ men looking to avenge last month’s 3-0 reversal at Richmond Park.
Reynolds added: “St Pat’s are a brilliant team, everyone knows how good they are. Stephen had them motoring towards the end of last season and they’re only a point off the top now.
“They’re title favourites for a reason, you wouldn’t expect anything less with a manager like Stephen and the players that they have.
“But we are learning every week, getting better, so we have a group of players who want to test themselves and prove themselves against the best.”
Team news
Bohemians are without Dawson Devoy (suspended), Liam Smith (groin), Alex Lacey (hamstring), Connor Parsons (hamstring) and Lys Mousset (Achilles).