In-form Bohs expecting Galway battle, insists Reynolds

Alan Reynolds was Joh Caulfield’s assistant at Cork City for a period.

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026 - 20:45

John Fallon

High-flying Bohemians continue their quest to be part of the title equation by hosting a Galway United side with just one from five so far.

John Caulfield’s squad stamina was stretched into the final stages at St Patrick’s Athletic last week, eventually succumbing to a late Kian Leavy winner.

Alan Reynolds was Caulfield’s assistant in Cork and knows how refreshed the westerners will be upon landing at Dalymount Park.

“We are delighted with our form going into this game and the results we have had give us great confidence,” said the Waterfordman.

“But everything we have got so far has been hard-fought-for, and that level of commitment and concentration needs to be there once more for what is going to be a really tough game.

“We know how good Galway can be, they have already come up to Dublin and taken a point off Shelbourne this season.

“We are facing a team and manager who have caused us plenty of problems in the past, so nobody should be under any illusions about how well organised and hard to beat a team managed by John Caulfield will be.

“But our focus will always be on our own game. We will be looking to start with the same intensity we have in recent games and push on again.” Despite their roaring start to the season, the first player of the month award went to Derry City’s Michael Duffy.

Reynolds added: “Our players are getting the praise they deserve from supporters and we want that to continue. We had three of our players - Dawson Devoy, Colly Whelan and Pat Hickey - take up three of the six nominations for the February Player of the Month. Maybe that was one too many though and split the vote because Michael Duffy from Derry City ended up winning!

“But having three nominees in the first place shows how well our players have performed in that period, and we probably had others who could have been in contention too. The challenge for us now is to replicate that consistency into this month and build on it.”

Shelbourne eked out a 1-1 draw against champions Shamrock Rovers on Monday. The big battles are coming thick and fast as Joey O’Brien’s side are in the north-west, where they clinched the 2024 title.

Squad depth doesn’t seem to an issue for Derry boss. Goalkeeper Brian Maher along with Carl Winchester, Darragh Markey, Liam Boyce, Rob Slevin and Brandon Fleming are all sidelined, pressurising a panel funded by billionaire Philip O’Doherty.

"It's a great test for us," says Derry manager Tiernan Lynch. "You hope and pray that at 7.40pm I'm having to get knocked out of the way to let them out the door.

“We're chasing games rather than throwing games away. You look at the Pats win over Shels and the goals they've conceded from set pieces. The other night against Rovers they were a bit unfortunate, and there's lots being made about Rob Hennessy's decision.

"Ultimately, every team has weaknesses and areas that can be exploited. Our job is to make sure we do that. First of all we have to get ourselves right and our attitude going into the game and our mentality and what we need out of the game.”

Sligo are next up for their fellow Rovers. “We now have a Shams team coming to Sligo who are justifiably title favourites and are brimming with talent,” says Sligo chief John Russell.

“It's been the case now for a few years, but their biggest strength is their depth.

"Against Shels they brought in Graham Burke, Michael Noonan and Jack Byrne from their bench. Then Victor Ozhianvuna and Adam Brennan come on, two of the best young talents in the country. No other club has that depth, so that illustrates what we're up against.

"But our form against them has been decent recently and we'll back ourselves again. I think as the weeks go and we continue to work together and the pitches improve, we'll get even better. So there's plenty for us to look forward to over the next few days."