Ten games in 32 days, just bring it on.. We are ready for any test

MARK MCCADDEN

ANDY LYONS is ready to take on a gruelling end-ofseason schedule, which could see the Bohemians full-back play 10 games over the next 32 days.

It starts tonight away to arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers and ends on November 19 away to Sligo Rovers.

In total, there are seven league games remaining and an FAI Cup semi-final with Bohemians, plus two U21 internationals against Italy and Sweden.

And it won’t end there, if they are successful against Waterford in next Friday’s semi-final, with the FAI Cup decider pencilled in for November 28.

“It’s a busy schedule,” said Lyons. “It is going to be a hectic few weeks, but we’ve got to be ready for it and we’ve got the squad for it.

“Everyone is looking forward to it. It’s a big few months, but we are all ready to go.”

Lyons (above) can’t wait to face Rovers tonight, knowing a win would move them ahead of fourth placed Derry City on goal-difference.

It’s that, and not slowing the Hoops’ march to back-toback Premier Division titles, that is motivating the 21-year-old and his team.

“We are looking at our own selves, we’ve got to get a win, it’s our game-in-hand and it’s a big league game,” he said.

“We are not concentrating on them too much, it’s about us at the end of the day and where we are in the table we are looking for another win.

“We are looking forward to Monday but we are not treating it any differently to any other game.”

Lyons featured in Bohemians’ last-gasp draw last Friday against Dundalk – having sat out Ireland’s U21 games against Luxembourg and Montenegro with an ankle knock.

“It could be massive,” he said of the point earned on Friday. “When you look around the table today, there were some results there around us.

“It’s a big game on Monday, isn’t it? Well, every game is a big game with only eight or nine to go. We need to put another good performance in and hopefully get the result.”

Bohs boss Keith Long, meanwhile, will this morning assess his options, with several players doubtful for the trip to Tallaght.

“We had to make changes [against Dundalk],” he said. “Ciaran Kelly took a knock in training and we were just about able to patch him to put him on the bench.”

James Finnerty (groin) and Rory Feely (suspended) missed the visit of the Lilywhites, while Keith Buckley started that game on the bench.

“Ali Coote was sick for 10 days, not with Covid, so he’s only trained the last two,” added Long

(below).