Bohemians -v- Dundalk

• Sam Griffin
• Mon, May 09 2011


Bohemians v Dundalk Former Bohs’ favourites Jason Byrne and Mark Quigley return to their forming stomping ground on Monday night as Dundalk take on Bohemians for the second time this season (Kick off 7.45).

The pair have been in impressive form for Ian Foster’s side, bagging nine goals between them in the league campaign to date. Despite the away side’s potent strikeforce, Dundalk have made an unremarkable start to the season and currently occupy seventh place in the table, three points behind Bohemians.

The Phibsborough club, for all their problems, can be very happy with their performances to date and will go into this one full of confidence after their 1-0 away win over Drogheda on Friday night. The victory means Bohs sit in third place, and only five points behind league-leaders Shamrock Rovers.

While Bohs will be full of confidence, they are also likely to be feeling the effects of a hectic schedule of late. Friday’s win was the club’s fifth match in only 15 days and the fixture pile-up is something Pat Fenlon has been very critical of as his side struggles with injuries to key personnel.

Chris Fagan and Glenn Cronin are both ruled out with hamstring and knee strains respectively. Barry Murphy is also definitely out as he continues to battle a groin strain. Defender Ollie Cahill’s troublesome hamstring means he too is likely to miss out again.

Outside of injuries, Pat Fenlon must also contend with Keith Buckley’s additional one game suspension, while Fenlon himself serves a touchline ban following his dismissal in the game against Derry almost a fortnight ago.

Despite the away side’s mid table position, their recent form suggests they are a side to be reckoned with and will also be brimming with confidence. Manager Foster will certainly have one eye on the EA Sports Cup Final against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday, but is likely to field a strong side regardless, as the Lilywhites look to improve on their league table position.

If history is anything to go by, Dundalk face a daunting task. The Louth club haven’t beaten Bohs in 18 attempts. Foster’s personal tally doesn’t read much better having lost seven out of his nine encounters with the Dublin club. The record isn’t something that fazes the manager however and he’s confident his side can take something from the game.

He said: “It’s important that we come away from Bohemians without losing the game. But we’ll desperately try to win it, like we always do. We’ll try to cause Bohemians as many problems as we can but they’re a good team.

Foster isn’t helped by an ever-growing injury list that now includes striker Quigley and Stephen McDonnell who were both forced off early in Dundalk’s win over Galway last time out. While the pair remain doubts, Eoghan Osbourne (broken leg) and Stephen Maher (hamstring) will definitely not play any part in the game.

Doubts also remain over Colin Hawkins, Dean Bennett, Greg Bolger and Shane Guthrie.

Despite both teams’ injury problems, this should be an open and keenly contested encounter that both sides will want to come away from three points the better. Bohs and Dundalk have showed impressive form of late and apart from saying this could be a high scoring match, it’s really too close to call.

Bohemians
Injured: Chris Fagan (hamstring), Glenn Cronin (knee), Barry Murphy (groin).
Doubtful: Ollie Cahill
Suspended: Keith Buckley

Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osbourne (fractured tibia) and Stephen Maher (groin)
Doubtful: Stephen McDonnel (knee), Mark Quigley (foot), Greg Bolger (thigh) Shane Guthrie (concussion), Colin Hawkins, Dean Bennett (both hamstring)
Suspended: None

Referee: Neil Doyle
Paddypower Odds: Bohemians 21/20 Draw 11/5 Dundalk 5/2
Extratime.ie prediction: A 2-2 draw