Not Bad Bohemian

My first football blog of the year. Bohemian 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 0...

After completing the full 42 Scottish grounds at the back end of last year with a trip to Queen’s Park 2 Raith Rovers 1, I’ve been at a bit of a loss where to go next on my groundhopper wanderings. While I’ve done 12 of the Lowland League teams, mainly because they are former SPFL sides, I decided not to finish those as the Scottish pyramid is being restructured for next season, so I’ll have a better idea where I need to go come July. I’ve also still got 44 of the 92 south of the border to visit, comprising 11 revisits to new grounds and 33 others I’ve never been to ever, but that really isn’t a priority of mine. There are a couple of non-league teams, such as Keens Park Rangers in Surrey and Ossett United that I’m keen to do, but the opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet.  Hence, I’ve decided my next task is to complete the League of Ireland.

Comprising 20 teams split equally across 2 divisions, I’ve ticked off 16 of the current members, as well as former clubs Cabinteely, Home Farm and St. James’s Gate. This process is something of a slow labour of love, as Finn Harps (1985) and Derry City (1986) were my first visits when I was a student and I’d not been back to Ireland, other than a trip to the north for Crusaders 9 Carrick Rangers 0 in August 2024, since 2016. Add in the fact that the League of Ireland plays from February to October, finding times to visit can be problematic, when you factor in my Percy Main and Tynemouth CC commitments. Geographically, the fact you can only fly to Dublin from Newcastle means that my target clubs (Coh Ramblers, Cork City, Kerry and Treaty United) all play in the south west province of Munster, generally on Friday nights except for Bank Holidays, means some planning is required. The good news is that I’ve already booked flights over on Thursday 30^th April, returning on Tuesday 5^th May, at a cost of £45 return, to take in Cork v Cobh in the big Leeside derby on the Friday and probably Treaty United v Wexford, on Monday 4^th. I could also have gone over for Easter weekend to do Kerry v Cobh and Cobh v Treaty on the Friday and Monday respectively, but flight prices are sky high, so I’ve got to postpone those visits for a while.

If you asked me who I support in Ireland, for the hurling and football, the answer is an emphatic one; my ancestral county of Cork, though strangely I’ve not developed much of an affection for Cork City. In the League of Ireland, I’m a follower of Dublin’s originals. Big club. Da Boez. The Gypsies. Bohemian FC. Any side that has sponsorship from Kneecap, boasts the phrase Refugees Welcome across their jerseys and runs out to “The Boys are Back in Town” is worthy of my support. In the terrible times we live in, where negative, racist nationalism isn’t just a problem in the UK, but is getting toehold in the 26 Counties, Bohemian stand proudly against such bigotry. They’re a good bunch. I mean there’s a load of howyehs from Da Nortsoide in their ranks, but we can let that slide when looking at the bigger picture.

Last season, Bohs, whose home ground of Dalymount Park (Dalier) has been on the verge of redevelopment since the Celtic Tiger was a kitten, took the unprecedented step of hiring the Aviva Stadium (formerly Lansdowne Road) for the season opener against the awful Shamrock Rovers, winning 1-0 in front of over 33,000 spectators. An incredibly big crowd for a league game; probably as many as attend the weekly 10 fixtures across both divisions. Consequently, the idea was repeated for 2026, with another Dublin side, St. Patrick’s Athletic, the chosen visitors. Presumably, it’ll happen again next year so Shelbourne can get an invite. I doubt UCD would be considered if they, miraculously, achieve promotion.

The League of Ireland season kicked off on Friday 6^th February, while game was scheduled for Sunday 8^th February, the day after my mate John McQuaid, originally from Roscommon but a long time resident of Maynooth, County Kildare, and an even longer supporter of the Mags, was over for a day trip to take in Newcastle’s home game v Brentford. Checking the Ryan Air website, I found I could get Saturday and Monday return flights for £30, providing I was prepared to sack off my weekly 6-a-side game. I wrestled with my conscience and took the plunge. You see, this is the sort of adventure I can have now I’m retired. John sorted Aviva tickets, which cost as much as my flights, and I looked forward to him arriving Saturday morning, so we could take in Sporting Wallsend v Percy Main before he hit SJP. Except it didn’t work out like that.

Checking my phone about 10.00 on the Saturday, when I expected him to arrive, I found a message stating he had failed to set the alarm, slept in and missed his flight. Not to be deterred, he rebooked via Edinburgh, took the train down, arrived at 4 and missed the Percy Main game. We lost 3-2, but I imagine we put in a better performance than Newcastle did in losing by the same score. Once that latest fiasco was done with, I packed a bag and took the Metro out to the airport, where I met John 12 hours later than anticipated. I had also anticipated the flight would be empty, but it was full and I was about the only person who hadn’t been to SJP. A whole load of miserable Irish Mags were accompanied by about 40 kids and parents from Cherry Orchard FC junior section, who’d played a tournament and then been to the game. There was also a sole, smug Brentford fan, who typically enough John ended up sitting next to. The only idiots were a couple of Durham NFL fans, who had booked to go to Dublin to watch the Superbowl. Why? Surely you can watch it at home, considering it starts after the pubs shut!! Anyway, the flight went like a dream, and we touched down on time at 12.45 AM. After exiting the terminal and availing ourselves of the free shuttle bus, we then spent 20 minutes looking for John’s car, as in his flustered state that morning, he’d forgotten exactly where he parked it. It was like the sort of thing Graham Linehan used to write wittily about before he went crazy. Anyway, vehicle recovered, we headed off to Maynooth, and I hit the hay almost immediately we got in the door.

Sunday was a very good day. A lavish Irish breakfast courtesy of John put everything right with the world and we headed towards the Aviva by train. The great thing about John being over 70 is that he can not only travel free on the trains but is entitled to take a companion with him. That was me. We took the 11.44 to Connolly, that filled up quickly, overwhelmingly with Bohs fans as it reached the exurbs of north Dublin. Pats are based in Inchicore in west Dublin, so there were only a few of their fans as they are known as a team with very strong local support. That changed once we got on the packed, but well-organised match day special to Lansdowne Road. There was a great atmosphere. Loads of kids and a huge number of international fans, as Dublin is a massive, multi-ethnic, inclusive city. A couple in Boca Juniors jerseys were sat in front of us, in point of fact. The number and variety of Bohs jerseys was dazzling to behold: Thin Lizzy, Fontaines DC, Refugees Welcome and so on. It’s a far cry since Des Kelly Carpets (now Des Kelly Interiors) kept the club going. The only Pats fan I know is Ken from Maynooth. We ran into him and he said that the whole occasion seemed more like a cup final than a league game. He was right, but that just made it a better experience for a tourist like me.

The crowd was subsequently announced as 22,487. Not as many as last year, but a good showing in what is an excellent ground. The Aviva was built for both rugby and football and, while far smaller than Croke Park, is a great place to watch a game. The seats were comfortable (padded!!), the sightlines clear and the legroom generous. You could get pints and food if you wanted, but I didn’t see anyone selling programmes, though there were clearly some available. Sadly, I didn’t get a souvenir of the day. Building up to kick off, the atmosphere ramped up. “The Boys are Back in Town,” “The Old Triangle,” “Hold Me Now” (Johnny Logan is a lifelong Bohs fan) and flares being set off as the Bohs Ultras chanted “Free! Free! Palestine!” Incredible.

And then the game kicked off. It ended 0-0. Not quite so incredible, but possibly a fair result. Pats were on top for most of the first half, without really threatening and Bohs came back after the break, pinning them back and seeing Pats keeper, and Man of the Match, Joseph Anang make 3 excellent saves from Connor Parsons to earn his side a point. On the whole, the football was neat and tidy on an excellent surface, but the lack of any potent goal threat suggests neither side will trouble favourites for the title Shamrock Rovers (whose game on Friday at home to Dundalk had been rained off) and Derry City (who have recently re-signed James McClean).

We exited the ground via escalators, stopping to remove a rogue Shamrock rovers Ultra sticker to the approval of both sets of fans, took a circuitous route back to the DART station, changed at Connolly and caught the next train to Maynooth, which went from packed to nearly empty as we left Dublin for Kildare. Back in Maynooth, we went on the gargle. A fine turkey and ham dinner in McMahons accompanied by Beamish, glorious Guinness in front of a roaring fire in The Roost (it’s about the only place you can smell turf burning in Maynooth, as the dominant aroma is garlic and chilli from the 36 food emporia on the main street), a hike out to the GAA club for more Guinness and then in John’s local The Newtown for more Beamish. Back in the house just after midnight following a glorious day out, I again crashed out. Like the clowns from Durham, I didn’t see the Superbowl either.

Monday was a quiet one. A lie-in. Lunch in Friel’s of Straffan. Train and bus to the airport. Supposedly delayed flight, that left almost on time. Saw someone I used to work with (hello Sabrina). Straight on the Metro. In the door for 22.45. Lights out by midnight. A brilliant trip. So good to be back in Ireland. Let’s hope for some goals next time!