Scully The New Fan Fav At Bohemians
It has been all change at Dalymount Park this season as Bohemians go through one of the biggest, if not the biggest, restructuring processes they have ever experienced in their 122 year history. After a number of years of constant success, as is the case with any League of Ireland side who suddenly become successful, Bohs almost went out of existence, and indeed their long-term future is still in doubt. Massive debts at the north Dublin club still cripple them, not that the players who now wear the red and black care when they step over the white line on a Friday night.
The Gypsies current squad, led by manager Aaron Callaghan, is made up of mostly youth. In fact, one player, Luke Byrne, is currently sitting his Leaving Cert having just finished 6th Year in Secondary School. It is a squad of players which the Bohs fans have taken to their hearts already. Even with results not going the side’s way thus far in the current campaign, the fans still got behind them and have continued to do so. The fans appreciate the effort the players are putting in, and as a result of that, there is a healthy relationship between player and fan alike.
One player who has come in for a lot of praise of late is Dave Scully. The 27-year old, who has played for Malahide, Monaghan and Kildare County to name but a few, has, in recent weeks, began to get plenty of time on the field and his performances have led to chants of “Scully for Ireland” being sang amongst the Dalymount faithful. Though not the most naturally gifted player of the bunch, you always know what you are going to get with Scully. He’ll run his socks off up front, strike the occasional wayward shot, but you can guarantee that when the final whistle is blown, that Dave will leave the field of play having given his all.
There was much scepticism about Scully from the Bohs faithful originally; however, with a bit of backing from the terraces, you can see the confidence flowing through him. His hat-trick in the 5-0 drumming of Donegal minnows Drumkeen United was something which dismissed any doubt that fans had about the calibre of player that Scully is, for the time being at least.
He put in a man of the match display against league leaders Sligo Rovers a few weeks ago, a game which saw the man marking him, Jason McGuinness, considered one of the better defenders in the league, sent off for two bookable offences, with Scully involved in both. I’m not just trying to single out Scully, because a number of other players deserve a mention, but I’m sure anyone who has seen him play in recent weeks will agree that he has epitomised everything good about Bohs.
Despite what some may have said after five games of this season, Bohs will not be in danger of relegation this season. With players like Dave Scully, Bohs shouldn’t have to worry about being relegated this season. With 14 games played so far this season, The Gypsies have only managed to secure 15 points in the league, which to be fair is quite dismal, but I fully expect them their performances to improve and finish in or around 5th place this season.
With regards to betting advice, I wouldn’t touch the Airtricity League with a bargepole when it comes to betting, as there is absolutely no value to be had whatsoever. The bookies shorten their prices to the point where you won’t have a bet with them. The only price that comes close to being value is St. Patrick’s Athletic to win the league outright at 5/1. The sit in second place 4 points off the leaders Sligo, and could easily catch them if they were to go on a good run.
My advice would be to wait until the closing stages of the season, and keep your ear to the ground for any murmurings of match-fixing and dodgy draws or big upsets. This is a common occurrence in Dublin; ask any taxi man, they also seem to know something that the bookies don’t!
