It’s now or never as Bohs head North

AN Elvis Presley impersonator left Bohemians supporters All Shook Up with his act at Dalymount Park last Friday, but it was the team’s 4-2 win over champions Cork City which was just another indication that manager Keith Long is the real deal. There is a feel-good factor around the north Dublin club right now with eight wins from their last nine games providing a sense of purpose entering the business end of the campaign. Tonight they travel to Derry City for their re-arranged Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup quarter-final clash and, considering their form, thoughts are turning to Aviva Stadium and the showpiece event of the League of Ireland season. ‘I always dream and hope that one day I will get there,’ admitted captain Derek Pender (right). ‘It’s a game [the quarter-final] that everybody has been looking forward to for weeks. The mood and the atmosphere in the dressing room is the best I think I’ve seen. We try not talk about it but if we go there and get a result, imagine Cork here in the semi-final?’ The current holders await the winners and, following their recent drubbing in Dalymount, Bohs won’t fear John Caulfield’s side should they edge past the Candystripes – themselves coming off a confidenceboosting EA Sports Cup final triumph over Cobh Ramblers at the weekend. Tonight’s clash has added spice as a result of comments from Kenny Shiels at the beginning of this campaign. The Brandywell boss suggested counterpart Long played up to their tag as underdogs, insisting they had a professional set-up masquerading as a part-time arrangement. Bohs returned from their trip north last month with a 2-0 win to end a run of 10 consecutive defeats against Derry under Shiels. ‘They are the in-form team in the country at the minute,’ said Shiels. ‘They will travel full of confidence after winning here recently and Friday night’s excellent performance against Cork. They have a fantastic set-up and a great youth structure and are very much favourites to go through. That said, we’ll be well up for the game and hopefully a lot of those who were here on Sunday will be back to lift us for what is another huge game.’ Naturally, Long has a different perspective. ‘Our league win up there a few weeks ago will have no bearing on this game. ‘There is a lot at stake for both clubs, it’s a huge game. But we are looking forward to it. It’s two teams coming into the game feeling they can win it. Something will have to give,’ he said. ‘We’re going into the game focused and having prepared professionally. It’s unfortunate it’s on a Wednesday but we think we’ll have good support behind us going up there. The lads got a standing ovation at half-time on Friday, never mind full-time. That means a lot to them.’ It’s a Burning Love that success in the FAI Cup will only help to endure.