Doolin confident ahead of Bohemians visit

Neil · 23/10/2001, 10:22 PM

Having been spanked 6-0 by Bohemians at Dalymount Park earlier this season, UCD could be forgiven for fretting over Thursday’s visit of the league champions to Belfield, but manager Paul Doolin insists the match comes at the perfect time for his charges.

Fresh from victories over Dundalk and Longford, the students are on a high and are particularly keen to put one over Pete Mahon’s men.

"Not for any reasons of revenge but to show how much we’ve improved since the last time," said Doolin who went onto to cite UCD’s recent good form, "We’ve had two decent wins recently so we certainly won't be afraid of them."

"Having said that I’ve been attained to make sure the lads don’t get carried away because this a ruthless league - a couple of defeats and you can be right back in trouble."

Doolin feels the recent good form is partly the fruit of the more intense training and professional attitude he has brought to the club since taking over as manager last month. And he knows that continuity is all important for maintaining that form.

"Obviously, fielding a settled side is half the battle, so I’m delighted that, apart from Alan Mahon (foot), we should have no absences through injury this Thursday."

That means Doolin will once again have the pleasure to instruct dynamic brothers Robbie and John Martin to run at Boh's defence and possibly ram home Doolin’s message that, "retaining the league title is a difficult thing to do."

Then again, without a win in their last seven games Mahon’s men already know that.

>ireland.com