Fenlon rallies Bohs for Dublin derby showdown
For the champions, still smarting from the heartbreak of their last minute exit from the Champions League, the bonus is that their first game since losing 0-1 to Red Bull Salzburg pits them against their arch-rivals and leading contenders in the league.
“It will be easier to pick the players up for this match than for one against any of the so-called weaker teams,” notes manager Pat Fenlon. “It would be nice to bounce back after the disappointment of Wednesday night and hopefully put a smile back on everybody’s face again. But I do think that it’s a bigger game for Rovers than it is for us.”
That’s certainly true in terms of the gap at the top, with Bohs five points clear of the Hoops going into the game. But the visitors are on a superb run and still basking in the glow of a dream night in Tallaght with the visit of Real Madrid.
“It was undoubtedly a great night,” says Rovers boss Michael O’Neill, “but I’m glad it’s all over. I’m even happier that it didn’t affect the players and that we won the games in the run-up to Monday.”
Looking to Sunday’s game, O’Neill says: “It’s first against second so that’s going to provide some added spice to the derby. And it’s one win each so far – they won in Dalymount and we won in Tallaght – so it’s very evenly balanced. Now, going back to Dalymount to face Bohs offers the ultimate test of how far we’ve come this season and we’re looking forward to facing that challenge.”
Rovers will be without the suspended Sean O’ Connor, who caught the eye with a fine performance against Real Madrid, while Bohs will again be without injured skipper Owen Heary. However, Joseph Ndo and Gary Deegan, both of whom shipped knocks against Red Bull Salzburg, are expected to be fit for the league leaders.
Meanwhile, on the day before the High Court is due to decide the club’s future, the players and management of Cork City must attempt to keep their eyes firmly on the ball when they travel to face Derry City – fresh from their victory over Skonto Riga in the Europa League – at the Brandywell tomorrow evening (kick off 7pm).
But they will do so without the services of Colin Healy who spoke yesterday of his delight at being given the chance to make an impact in English football again after sealing his move to Ipswich Town.
The 29-year-old midfielder could feature for Roy Keane’s side in a testimonial against Colchester later today.
“The move to Ipswich came out of the blue,” Healy said.
“I was going to Hartlepool last week when the manager rang me and asked me to come down for a chat.
“I have played against Ipswich a few times and I know it’s a very good club. It looks like it’s a club on the up and I’m glad to be part of it.
“The manager has very high ambitions here and that’s the way it should be. He’s proved what a good manager he is and I’m really looking forward to my time here.
“It’s another challenge for me now to step up to a higher level and I’m ready for it. There are some big teams in the Championship, with the clubs coming down from the Premier League, and there are some good players in the league. There’s a strong squad here though and I think we’ve got a good chance of doing well.
“With the injuries I had I did think that at one stage I might not get back at all and then having gone back to Ireland, I probably thought that I would stay back there and play in the League of Ireland.
“I was playing okay at Cork though and now I’ve got the chance to play at a higher level again, I’m delighted.”
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