OF ALL THE drama we’ve had in the League of Ireland Premier Division title race over the last few games things might just have taken another dramatic twist without a ball being kicked this week.
The Beat can reveal that Bohemians’ game with Shelbourne on Friday night was in doubt when an unexpected issue with some of the wiring in Dalymount Park required urgent repairs.
It’s understood cables were damaged on Monday morning and it was only the following morning that the specialist equipment that was needed was sourced.
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Once that was the case, the issue was resolved swiftly ahead of what was being billed as the last men’s game under the floodlights at Dalymount Park before the ground is redeveloped.
Bohs will delay their exit during renovations and remain in Phibsborough until the end of May 2027, a decision that was taken last month and is estimated to save them in the region of €400,000.
But this week there were considerable fears for 24 hours that the lights would not be able to be fixed.
With the women’s team also in action against Shamrock Rovers in a Dublin derby at 5pm on Saturday, the prospect of major disruption to the schedule was a live issue.
The impact on the men’s title run-in would have also been significant. As soon as Bohs became aware of the problem with the damaged wires they informed the FAI as well as Virgin Media.
As the title race reaches a gripping conclusion, this issue could so easily have added even more drama. While those in the FAI were pushing for the live game this week to be Shamrock Rovers’ home clash with Sligo Rovers (8pm kick off), Virgin made it clear that their preference was to show Bohs v Shels as it was deemed the game that had more of a storyline.
If Bohs drop points to Shels and Rovers beat the relegated Bit O’Red then Stephen Bradley’s side will win a sixth crown in seven seasons.
Also, as the Dublin derby in Phibsborough will kick off 15 minutes before the game in Tallaght, Virgin’s plan is to switch over for that clash where they will have a commentator and reporter in situ.
They were only able to plan for all of this by Tuesday once the necessary repairs to the electrics at Dalymount were carried out and the club and FAI were satisfied all was in order.
Virgin had planned to run promo slots for their coverage of Bohs-Shels during Monday’s live game between Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic, a 1-0 win for the home side in the Ryan McBride Brandywell that effectively ended Stephen Kenny’s side’s chances of adding another layer of intrigue to the final two fixtures.
Enough action has been happening behind the scenes, as The Beat can reveal, and there has also been a degree of consternation among those at Virgin Media and in the FAI that Rovers also rejected plans for a title lift in Tallaght on Friday.
Once it was established that the Bohs-Shels game in Dalymount was no longer under threat this Friday (it might have needed to be played early on Sunday afternoon) discussions and logistics were being worked out about what would happen if Rovers were confirmed as champions.
Speaking to The Beat on Thursday, Bradley was adamant that there would be no distractions for his players with any plans for celebrations.
“There won’t be. Our focus is on winning the two games. We’re planning that this goes till the end, there is no talk of trophy lifts or nothing.
“We’ve no preparations to celebrate tomorrow night. Zero.”
The Beat later clarified with sources elsewhere that this was in fact the case and that the message which came back from Rovers was that there was to be no stage or branding or presentation.
The league trophy will not be hidden away somewhere ready to be unveiled in front of the Rovers’ faithful.
The most that seems to have been allowed is that there will be champagne and some flags on hand.
Instead, Rovers have made it clear that they are only prepared to lift the trophy should they get the job done when they play Dundalk away at Oriel Park on Friday week. They don’t want anything coming back about tempting fate or taking things for granted.
“We want to keep it alive to the last day, that’s the thing,” Bohs boss Reynolds said on Thursday.
“I think it’s good for everyone. I think it’s good for the league, the excitement of it, bringing it to the last day. We are away to Pats, which is tough, and they (Rovers) obviously have to travel to Dundalk.”
“We’re now playing against a really good team (Shels) who are hitting a bit of form. Last game under lights in Dalymount, we want to get the job done to bring it to the last game and then see what happens.”
Bohs have managed to keep the lights on this week and the show on the road in this title race for long enough.
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Bohs avoid Dalymount floodlight disaster with vital repairs in time for Shels game
OF ALL THE drama we’ve had in the League of Ireland Premier Division title race over the last few games things might just have taken another dramatic twist without a ball being kicked this week.
The Beat can reveal that Bohemians’ game with Shelbourne on Friday night was in doubt when an unexpected issue with some of the wiring in Dalymount Park required urgent repairs.
It’s understood cables were damaged on Monday morning and it was only the following morning that the specialist equipment that was needed was sourced.
Once that was the case, the issue was resolved swiftly ahead of what was being billed as the last men’s game under the floodlights at Dalymount Park before the ground is redeveloped.
Bohs will delay their exit during renovations and remain in Phibsborough until the end of May 2027, a decision that was taken last month and is estimated to save them in the region of €400,000.
But this week there were considerable fears for 24 hours that the lights would not be able to be fixed.
With the women’s team also in action against Shamrock Rovers in a Dublin derby at 5pm on Saturday, the prospect of major disruption to the schedule was a live issue.
The impact on the men’s title run-in would have also been significant. As soon as Bohs became aware of the problem with the damaged wires they informed the FAI as well as Virgin Media.
As the title race reaches a gripping conclusion, this issue could so easily have added even more drama. While those in the FAI were pushing for the live game this week to be Shamrock Rovers’ home clash with Sligo Rovers (8pm kick off), Virgin made it clear that their preference was to show Bohs v Shels as it was deemed the game that had more of a storyline.
If Bohs drop points to Shels and Rovers beat the relegated Bit O’Red then Stephen Bradley’s side will win a sixth crown in seven seasons.
Also, as the Dublin derby in Phibsborough will kick off 15 minutes before the game in Tallaght, Virgin’s plan is to switch over for that clash where they will have a commentator and reporter in situ.
They were only able to plan for all of this by Tuesday once the necessary repairs to the electrics at Dalymount were carried out and the club and FAI were satisfied all was in order.
Virgin had planned to run promo slots for their coverage of Bohs-Shels during Monday’s live game between Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic, a 1-0 win for the home side in the Ryan McBride Brandywell that effectively ended Stephen Kenny’s side’s chances of adding another layer of intrigue to the final two fixtures.
Enough action has been happening behind the scenes, as The Beat can reveal, and there has also been a degree of consternation among those at Virgin Media and in the FAI that Rovers also rejected plans for a title lift in Tallaght on Friday.
Once it was established that the Bohs-Shels game in Dalymount was no longer under threat this Friday (it might have needed to be played early on Sunday afternoon) discussions and logistics were being worked out about what would happen if Rovers were confirmed as champions.
Speaking to The Beat on Thursday, Bradley was adamant that there would be no distractions for his players with any plans for celebrations.
“There won’t be. Our focus is on winning the two games. We’re planning that this goes till the end, there is no talk of trophy lifts or nothing.
“We’ve no preparations to celebrate tomorrow night. Zero.”
The Beat later clarified with sources elsewhere that this was in fact the case and that the message which came back from Rovers was that there was to be no stage or branding or presentation.
The league trophy will not be hidden away somewhere ready to be unveiled in front of the Rovers’ faithful.
The most that seems to have been allowed is that there will be champagne and some flags on hand.
Instead, Rovers have made it clear that they are only prepared to lift the trophy should they get the job done when they play Dundalk away at Oriel Park on Friday week. They don’t want anything coming back about tempting fate or taking things for granted.
“We want to keep it alive to the last day, that’s the thing,” Bohs boss Reynolds said on Thursday.
“I think it’s good for everyone. I think it’s good for the league, the excitement of it, bringing it to the last day. We are away to Pats, which is tough, and they (Rovers) obviously have to travel to Dundalk.”
“We’re now playing against a really good team (Shels) who are hitting a bit of form. Last game under lights in Dalymount, we want to get the job done to bring it to the last game and then see what happens.”
Bohs have managed to keep the lights on this week and the show on the road in this title race for long enough.
Will there be even more drama to come?
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