Alan Reynolds: 'Dublin derbies are more than just a game'
MILESTONE: Bohemians Ross Tierney, left, celebrates with team-mate Connor Parsons after scoring their side's winning goal. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Milestone occasions at the national stadium are usually reserved for the end of the season but Ross Tierney’s goal delivered a springboard for Bohemians to start their campaign yesterday.
Before a record-breaking crowd of 33,208, any concerns of being overawed by the fervour were dispelled when the midfielder grabbed the one and only goal of this weekend opener.
Not since 27,000 fans packed in Flower Lodge for the final-day decider between Cork Hibs and Waterford in 1972 was a league game so well-attended but switching the fixture from Dalymount to Lansdowne Road was vindicated with interest.
Rovers were flying high from Thursday’s 1-0 Conference League first leg win in Molde but their sluggish start cost them as Bohs offered early evidence of an uptick from their disastrous 2024.
“Dublin derbies are more than just a game - if you lose it’s the end of the world and, if you win, you’re on top of the world,” admitted Gypsies boss Alan Reynolds afterwards.
“We had to dig in for the last 20 minutes – that’s where the hard running from coming back for pre-season in the cold of early December stood to us.
“There are 35 games to go. If we can finish up like we started, I’ll be a happy man.”Â
Not only were Rovers the goal down at the break but two players down, as debutant Adam Matthews and Gary O’Neill were forced off with injuries by the 40 minute mark. A third, Danny Mandroiu, followed them with a limp 20 minutes from the finish.
James Talbot in Bohemians goal wasn’t worked either as the side officially the home at home settled better into their temporary southside surrounds.
Reynolds opted to restore Talbot in a now-look Bohs team, stung by last year’s eight-placed finish and equipped with a striker once bought for £10m for Sheffield United.
Lys Mousset was the league’s surprise acquisition during the off-season, the 28-year-old without a competitive game for 18 months seeking a club to place their trust in him.
Bohs structured the contract to mitigate against the risk of Ireland becoming his latest stopoff and while Reynolds promised involvement it was a leap of faith to start him.
Within minutes, the voluminous Gypsies fanbase occupying the lower south stand assigned to the hardcore Ireland fans for international belted out their signature song: “Olé Olé Mousset.” Fitness was bound to be an impediment but the Frenchman’s permanent class was apparent by his contribution to the goal on 25 minutes.
Reynolds took another gamble by releasing Danny Grant into the arms of Rovers in order to recruit his former Waterford winger Connor Parson and he combined with Mousset to create the breakthrough.
A one-touch flick around the corner by Mousset on the halfway line with Dan Cleary shadowing him released Parsons down the left.
When he shimmied past Pico Lopes, Ed McGinty advanced and the new goalkeeper diverted the dink onto the upright.
Dashing in to bundle the loose ball over the line was Tierney, first to react ahead of two Rovers defenders.
“My two new strikers, Lys and Collie Whelan, hadn't played last year,” said Reynolds of his sharing game-time between the pair.
“They’re both off it but they score chances and being involved here will do them the world of good. Their overall game will be so much better in six or seven weeks.” Corkman Matt Healy, on for O’Neill, slipped in Burke as the break approached, yet his hook across the six-yard box was to empty space rather than a teammate quick enough to anticipate.
McGinty stooped low to bat away Dayle Rooney’s half-volley as Rovers were guilty of sloppiness at the back and it would require a vast improvement in the second half from the side determined to regain their title from Shelbourne.
A noticeable shift in in tempo ensued for the second half, without it generating sustained pressure.
Unsurprisingly, midweek hero Michael Noonan was at the fore, initially seizing upon an underhit backpass from John Mountney to round Talbot.
Despite penalty claims, the stopper nicked the ball before the player and Burke was unable to produce one of his specialist long-range efforts with Talbot stranded.
Tierney blasted over on the stretch but the best chance of a goal fell to the two youngest players on the pitch at the other end with 19 minutes left.
Victor Ozhianvuna recently turned 16 but could have rivalled Noonan for profile within minutes of his introduction by stabbing home Burke’s square pass.
That he got his feet in a tangle and Noonan struck teammate Aaron McEneff with a shot from a yard out underlined fortune eluding Rovers on this showpiece occasion.
“We could have recruited 10 different players in the off-season for his but Victor is ready for this,” asserted Stephen Bradley. “We shouldn't block his path and he’ll have a big part to play for us this season.”Â
: J Talbot; L Smith, L Kavanagh, R Cornwall, J Mountney; D Devoy (A McDonnell 74), N Morahan; D Rooney (A Meekison 74), R Tierney, C Parsons (K Buckley 88); L Mousset (C Whelan 56).
: E McGinty; D Cleary (V Ozhianvuna 70), R Lopes, L Grace; A Matthews (D Grant 29), D Watts, G O’Neill (M Healy 40), J Honohan; D Mandroiu (A McEneff 70), G Burke; M Noonan.
: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
: 33,208.
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