Bohs have been called many things this season, but boring is not one of them
Rob Cornwall knows that Bohemians have been called many things this season - but boring is not one of them.
Gypsies fans have been heavily critical of their own side at times and Dalymount Park hasn't always been a beacon of light. Manager Alan Reynolds has been in the firing line, often taunted by rivals supporters about 'getting sacked in the morning'.
And yet no team has won more Premier Division games this year than the Gypsies, who sit sixth in the table but only two points off top spot.
Their six wins is one victory more than the top four - Drogheda United, St Patrick's Athletic, Galway United and Shamrock Rovers - have managed. But only tonight's opponents Waterford and bottom side Sligo Rovers have more defeats than Bohs' six from 12 games.
Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
"It's a mad season this year. You can't call us a boring team anyway! We'll keep you excited,' Gypsies stalwart Cornwall told Mirror Sport.
If Bohs were struggling to catch a break over the first series of games, they've hit a purple patch of late to energise those fans after a run of late, late shows.
First up was an 85th minute winner at home to Cork City, but that was just a sign of things to come. Bohs then summoned a stunning comeback away to arch rivals Shamrock Rovers on Easter Monday, rallying in the second-half to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win. And last Friday, Cornwall headed a 90th minute equaliser against St Pat's before Sean Grehan sparked pandemonium in Dalymount with a 97th minute winner.
Centre-back Cornwall said: 'It was the first time in a long time that we've had Dalymount properly buzzing. It reminded me of our European run. There was something in the air. There was a thing going around online saying we haven't won a game after a Rovers match in a long time. That motivated us against St Pat's to not just fall into the old cliche of 'only getting up for Rovers games' because you hear that sometimes.'
Suddenly, Bohs are the form team in the league and they could shoot up the table with another win tonight, and if results elsewhere go their way. And while Cornwall knows that Bohs have to back up recent wins by developing a consistent streak, he paid tribute to Gypsies boss Reynolds.
"It's great for Rennie,' he said. 'Even in the Rovers game, at half-time and 2-0 down, I think the whole stadium was telling him it's his last day, pretty much. So to go and do that, and then nearly have the same situation again on Friday but do it again, it's testament to him. He just puts his head down and does his work. He's not one to be fist-pumping the fans. He'll let his results do the talking when they can. He's probably the most resilient of all the lads as he lives and breathes it.'
After missing the 2024 season with an ACL injury, Cornwall is relishing being back in action for Bohs, who he feels are turning a corner.
"I was only saying it to Jordan Flores at training yesterday that there's no better feeling walking out to training on a sunny day, getting to play football as your job,' he said. "It's mad to say that in your 30s, you sound like a kid. But it's unbelievable and you want to make the most of every opportunity.'
But Cornwall insists Bohs can't lose sight of tonight's task against managerless Waterford - not least with ace poacher Padraig Amond leading their attack.
Cornwall added: 'Even at 37, 'Podge' is probably the best forward in the league so they will be very, very tough to beat with that sort of quality up front. If you watch him, the workrate for his age is incredible. You'd think when you pass a certain age that you'd start to slow down but I'd love to see his stats. He puts his head down and you never hear him moan or give out. The quality is in his movement, which leads to goals. He's a big test for a defender.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Kane helps Bayern restore a little European pride with win over Boca
Bayern Munich reignited the flickering flame of European honour at the Club World Cup, battling through a tense, fiery showdown to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors and storm into the last 16 on Friday. Backed by a roaring sea of blue-and-yellow clad fans who turned the Hard Rock Stadium into a noisy outpost of their "Bombonera", Boca Juniors fought fiercely, but Bayern's resilience shone through in the closing stages. After Harry Kane gave the German champions an early lead, Boca equalised through Miguel Merentiel, only for Michael Olise to score a late winner that lifted Bayern to the top of Group C on six points, two ahead of Benfica. Boca, on one point, remain in contention as they face amateurs Auckland City in the last round of matches while Bayern will take on Benfica. The win marked a welcome rebound for European sides, who have faced a tough run at the tournament with Porto, Paris St Germain and Chelsea all suffering recent defeats. In a thrilling second half, Boca made Bayern fight for every ball in a match brimming with tension and bite In a thunderous atmosphere, the German side made a bright start and thought they had taken the lead when Olise's in-swinging corner flew directly into the net, only for VAR to spot a foul on Boca's goalkeeper. The pressure eventually told in the 18th minute when Harry Kane latched onto a loose clearance and toe-poked a composed finish into the bottom corner after Konrad Laimer's cross from the right for his first goal in the tournament after drawing a blank in his team's 10-0 demolition of Auckland City. Serge Gnabry scrambled the ball across the face of goal minutes later, but Kingsley Coman somehow failed to connect with what would have been a simple tap-in. Manuel Neuer had little to do in the first half, though he was called into action to make two smart saves from Kevin Zenon as Boca refused to back down. The Argentine side pressed higher after the break, showing typical grit and tenacity in the duels and slightly unsettling Bayern with their relentless aggression. Spurred on by deafening chants from their travelling support, Boca clawed their way back into the contest, forcing several anxious moments in the German defence as tempers flared and challenges flew in. In the 66th minute, Olise was harassed off the ball by three Boca players and Merentiel was fed in down the right and kept his composure to skip past Josip Stanisic before firing a shot past Neuer, sending the crowd into rapture as the whole stadium trembled. Bayern's composure eventually told as Olise bent one into the bottom corner after being set up by Kane six minutes from time. Reuters
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Bradley admits leaders Rovers are keen on Masterson coup
Conor Masterson would be of interest to Shamrock Rovers if the former Liverpool centre-back was to become available. Masterson (26) was in Tallaght on Friday to watch the Hoops swell their lead at the top of the table to 11 points following a 4-1 mauling of Cork City. He's just completed his season at English League Two Gillingham but is out of contract next week and yet to agree to an extension. Previously, he featured in the Championship for Queen's Park Rangers and was once part of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool first-team squad. He famously joined the Reds from his local Lucan United club in 2014 on a record package of €525,000. The defender from Celbridge has options to move up a tier to League One but both Damien Duff and Stephen Kenny are interested in bringing him to Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic respectively ahead of their European campaigns. Masterson was a regular during Kenny's year in charge of Ireland's U21s. Hoops boss Stephen Bradley was asked about the presence of Masterson as a club guest and while he stressed no talks have occurred he'd be open to exploring the prospect. Bradley has an embarrassment of riches in terms of squad depth, able to rest Jack Byrne, Graham Burke, Matt Healy and Lee Grace ahead from Friday with the derby against Bohemians in mind. Retaining freshness is his priority, evidenced by his strike force bolstered by the capture of Irish League sensation John McGovern from Dungannon Swifts. He'll be available after the window opens on June 1, the same date Masterson can join alternative employers. 'Look, Conor is a good player and there's no getting away from that,' admitted Bradley. 'He has been that since he was 14 years of age. We all remember that and that hasn't changed. 'We want good players here. I don't know what his plans are, I don't know anything about them and that's being genuine. 'I'm hearing that teams have offered him deals, I don't know how true it is. All I know is we haven't spoken to him. But if it's something that he was coming home, we'd obviously be interested in good players.'
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians in ominous form before crucial showdown - what we learned from Friday's League of Ireland fixtures
Shamrock Rovers a cut above Cork City ... and probably over everyone else too Coming into the season, off the back of a title race that encompassed half the league, there was a romantic feeling of unpredictability about the Premier Division. Perhaps the table would be a fluid entity – in a constant state of flux, with positions temporary, ensuring unpredictability until the end. Unfortunately, despite a bunched-up middle pack, the gaps at the top and bottom are growing, emphasised by Shamrock Rovers ' blunt dismissal of Cork City on Friday night. Michael Noonan's athletic gifts have been evident from his earliest moments on League of Ireland pitches but, week on week, his tact and instincts are sharpening too. The game against Cork brought some of his finest moments to date. He twisted evasively in the box and finish neatly for his first goal before showing his pace and composure with a confident second. Despite Jack Byrne watching from the bench, Rovers added another set-piece goal to their growing catalogue through Pico Lopes. Rory Gaffney, who seems a helpful mentor for Noonan, slotted a deserved fourth. Cork City pulled a nice goal back through Alex Nolan and could have scored more with plenty of bright patterns in possession. At no point was the result in doubt though – the Leesiders' naivety in defence is a problem Ger Nash is yet to solve. READ MORE Thirty-two points now separate these two sides. Rovers have a heady gap of 11 to their nearest challengers, and a victory away at Bohemians on Monday would have many arguing the race is over. Galway United are going places directly If you were being harsh on Galway United , you could call their victory on Friday night a tale of two goalkeepers. Evan Watts, who may have fully displaced veteran Brendan Clarke, was outstanding between the home side's posts, producing showstopping, clawed saves to deny Mason Melia, Brandon Kavanagh and Seán Hoare at crucial moments. He even claimed a remarkable assist for Ed McCarthy's early opener, landing it on the Limerick man's toe from all of 80 yards. McCarthy, for his part, swivelled brilliantly and found the corner in one smooth motion. At the other end, the usually reliable Joseph Anang was at far from his best. Way out of his goal for Galway's second, he misjudged a corner kick for their decisive third, beaten too easily in the air by Rob Slevin. This alone does not explain Galway' scoring three goals for the first time in a game this season. Direct football is sacrosanct for John Caulfield, and when Galway attack with this considered intensity, they are a challenge for anyone. Though Anang was to blame, David Hurley's goal to double the lead was spectacular – showing opportunistic ruthlessness as the goalkeeper's loose pass bounced his way, Hurley lashed the ball from well inside his own half towards the vacant Pat's net. A strike measured to perfection, it exemplified the quality in a Galway side mainly known for their work rate. A Connacht derby win on Monday would have them right back in the mix for European places. Drogheda stay on track despite European expulsion It is an emotional time at Drogheda United , evidenced by Kevin Doherty's deflated post-match interview last Monday moments after a frustrating defeat at Shamrock Rovers, in a game scheduled to accommodate a phantom European fixture. There has been so much to like about Doherty's side this year. Second in the table on merit, they are a gritty, determined defensive unit with sharp transitional weapons in attack. Their winning goal over Sligo Rovers on Friday night came from one such transition. Warren Davis went foraging deep in midfield and broke away cleanly with the ball at his feet. His pass to strike partner Douglas James-Taylor was simple and the resulting finish was sublime, curled expertly into the top corner. James-Taylor may be leaving very soon, with his loan spell drawing to an end and no extension agreed. It would be another setback, but only the sort that comes with the territory for Drogheda. Doherty will hope that European expulsion galvanises his overachieving troops. Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty celebrates with Douglas James-Taylor after the win against Sligo Rovers. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho Bohemians miss Seán Grehan already Seán Grehan returned to his parent club Crystal Palace this week after a colossal half-season in the centre of Bohemians' defence, and his absence was felt in a damaging defeat at Waterford. Though the Gypsies have grown more cohesive and settled in recent months, there were some unwanted reminders of the frailties they showed earlier in the season. Leigh Kavanagh's clumsy challenge on half-time allowed Pádraig Amond to convert from the spot. Seconds later, Kavanagh's miscontrol on the edge of his own box allowed Conan Noonan to steal in and finish beautifully on his left. Dawson Devoy, who may be Bohemians' best player this season, got his side back into it in the second half but the deficit proved insurmountable. It was a big victory for Waterford – their first in five games – and Alan Reynolds will be hoping it is not a sign of things to come for Bohs. Michael Duffy can make the difference in tight games Often, the key moments that separate evenly matched sides are either the product of real quality or an untimely error. For Derry City, 54 minutes into their game against Shelbourne on Friday night , it was very much the former. At one end, Evan Caffrey couldn't quite loop his half-volley over a retreating Sam Todd, covering for the stranded Brian Maher who had failed to sweep up a long ball behind his defence. It proved to be a sliding-doors moment as Derry piled forward and laid the ball out wide. Michael Duffy, one of the league's finest players this season, picked it up with very little to aim for. Edging forward and shimmying suddenly inside, Duffy ripped a ferocious left-footed strike high into top corner, far out of Conor Kearns's reach. His seventh goal of a talismanic season, it was a fitting way to settle a cagey game.
