Bullish Bohs can turn over Rosenborg

BOHEMIANS manager Stephen Kenny yesterday admitted they faced a huge task in their bid to become the first Irish team to qualify for the third round of the Champions’ League but refused to rule out the possibility of an upset win against Rosenborg in Norway next week.

Kenny suggested it was significant that Rosenborg's only goal at Dalymount Park on Wednesday followed a corner kick. "We have shown we can deal with their attack in general play," he said, "and if we can prevent them scoring from set-pieces then we have a chance."

Kenny was justified in 'talking-up' Bohs' prospects even if it was obvious that Rosenborg were appreciably the stronger team. Bohs have won away from home in recent seasons against opponents of substance Aberdeen and Kaiserslautern.

Their win in Germany was an accomplishment to be proud of even if it did not profit them, for they were eliminated after losing the home leg.

It is difficult to see them travelling to Trondheim and winning despite their excellent home performance in Dublin.

Bohs played with real maturity and the quality of their football was excellent. Footballers in Ireland tend to be a relatively small race of people and Bohs suffered by comparison with physically powerful opponents.

"Playing away from home will not worry us. I cannot see them having too many scoring chances against us because we worked out the system they use for scoring goals and countered it," Kenny said.

I believe we have a little more in the locker that we can call upon for the second leg but we know we will have to play out of our skins if we are to do anything."

The two areas where Bohs succeeded in giving Rosenborg problems were out side where Barry Ryan or 'Bobby' as he is popularly known and Mark Rutherford had the skill to go past their immediate opponents. Both players have plenty of ability but their final ball and their crossing were not up to the same standard of the rest of their game.

Every credit to Bohs, however, for setting up such a successful event and for playing their part in a good-quality contest. They are playing their part through their professional set-up to lift the standard of the league and they deserve congratulations for that.

Cork City manager Pat Dolan confirmed that he will introduce his latest signing, Ryan Casey, in tonight's Eircom League tie against Derry City at Turner's Cross but he has yet to decide whether Casey will start of the game.

Cork need to improve on their performance of last week when they lost in the Cup to Shelbourne and Dolan commented: "The fact is we were not good enough. You could say their goalkeeper performed really well but we have given away goals too regularly this season for our own good.

"But we will carry on with the job of building the strongest team in the country.

Derry will be buoyed by their Cup win over Cobh Ramblers for they have found it extremely difficult to get results this season away from the Brandywell. Their new manager, Dermot Keely, will be relieved at having survived his first test and Derry will be more confident as a result, especially as they beat Cork here in the Cup semi-final last season.