Dawson can take heat out of PAOK tie

‘We all want to play at the highest level we can play at’

IF Bohemians are to poke PAOK in the eye in the Europa Conference League in 30 degrees of heat tomorrow, they must treat the ball as their best friend.

Protecting a 2-1 first-leg lead, the Dubliners cannot afford to use up precious energy chasing after their opponents, who will be roared on by 26,000 fanatical supporters in the Toumba Stadium.

That’s where Dawson Devoy comes in. The 19-year-old is comfortable in possession and also has the ability to play the right pass at the right time.

His svelte midfield play saw him top the poll as the SSE Airtricity/ SWAI Player of Month for July, ahead of team-mate Georgie Kelly and Dundalk’s David McMillan.

Devoy faced PAOK in Thessaloniki in 2019 with Bohs in the UEFA Youth League, a game Bohs lost 1-0 to go out 2-1 on aggregate.

Out of curiosity, he looked up clips of the match on YouTube the other day. ‘I can’t really remember too much about the game but there were two or three thousand fans in there that day, and there will be a lot more this time.’

Devoy has been fast-tracked by manager Keith Long into the first team set-up at Bohemians following a brief spell with Watford three years ago.

‘I was at Watford when I was 16. I wasn’t there very long, a month or two. Obviously it didn’t work out.

‘It had nothing to do with the club, it was just that I wasn’t ready at that stage and wanted to come home.

‘After I returned, I went back to school and went straight back into the 17s at Bohs and progressed through the ranks. Keith (Long) puts faith in young players. When you play well, you get rewarded.

‘Now I’m playing week in, week out with Bohs and enjoying my football.’ Devoy is on the radar of clubs across the Irish Sea but his focus is on helping Bohs to extend their magical Euro journey, improve their league position and have a run at the Extra.ie FAI Cup. ‘I’m at Bohs until the end of the season, so I’m looking forward to the games ahead.

‘Everyone wants to play at the highest level they can play at.’

‘We’ve all really enjoyed the last few weeks, playing in big matches like these. We know if you don’t perform in the league you don’t get those big nights, so we need to focus on the league as well and get back into Europe again next season.’