Derry City v Bohemians: Match Preview (July 2025)

Derry City FC v Bohemian FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 25, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 25^th July 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

Derry City returned to winning ways and progressed to the third round of the FAI Cup following a second-half demolition of Treaty United last Friday. It’s a return to league action for the Candystripes this week, as they face second placed Bohemians in a tie which could prove crucial in determining the top three come November. It’s one of the biggest games of the season for City and comes nine days before Tiernan Lynch’s side travel to leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Derry City:

With the recent four game winning streak put to an abrupt end via a 2-0 defeat in Sligo two weeks ago, there were a few nerves going into the FAI Cup tie away to Treaty United. Derry were coming up against a young and energetic side, fighting in the upper reaches of the First Division, who were desperate to cause an upset. Those who remember 2011’s 4-1 FAI Cup defeat to Wexford Youths, then bottom of the First Division, may have feared for a potential banana slip of similar proportions.

I have to say, when the Treaty game was 0-0 going into half time, I feared for a tricky second period. With the introduction of Liam Boyce on the 56^th minute, those nerves were extinguished. City did dominate the majority of the first half but failed to really trouble Corey Chambers, while the home side tested Brian Maher just before the break.

Less than three minutes after coming off the bench, City’s NI international striker Boyce rose highest in the box to divert a Michael Duffy corner over the keeper and into the net. It was a goal which eased the nerves and allowed the away side to open the floodgates.

Michael Duffy had completed a trio of assists by the 74^th minute, as two more corners saw Alex Bannon net on his first start and Liam Boyce net his second of the evening. The cream of Derry’s quality began to rise to the top as they dominated from set pieces. Patrick McEleney would have been a happy man watching that.

Lee Devitt bagged his fifteenth of the season to pull a goal back for the hosts, whose comeback hopes were quickly eliminated via a third Liam Boyce goal from the penalty spot on the 85^th minute. That’s a second hattrick in three games for the former Hearts striker, who had to wait for four years before breaking his trio duct three weeks ago. Three goals in twenty minutes to bring his goal tally for the year to eleven – not bad at all.

Boyce was involved in City’s fifth and final goal on the 87^th minute, when the visitors executed a swift passing move to wrap up the win. The 34 year old fed the ball through to Adam Frizzell, who laid it on a plate for Danny Mullen to calmly slot past Chambers. A first goal involvement for new signing Frizzell and a seventh in 2025 for Mullen to seal a perfect second half performance from Lynch’s men. It’s now Drogheda United at home in the third round for City, a repeat which sees a repeat of last year’s final.

The Treaty United game went exactly to plan for City, or at least the second half did. New signings Dipo Akinyemi and Alex Bannon were handed first starts – Akinyemi showing his physical presence up front and Bannon highlighting his calmness with the ball at his feet as well as popping up with a goal. They seem to be two astute signings, especially given the recent sales of Kevin Holt to Ayr United and Pat Hoban to Glentoran. Adam Frizzell will also be satisfied to get his first goal involvement for City with his assist for the fifth goal and added that extra bit of quality off the bench.

Michael Duffy and Liam Boyce did Michael Duffy and Liam Boyce things. Three assists for Duffy and three goals for Boyce, taking their goals and assists tally to eighteen and twelve respectively. They’re two quality players and are performing when it really matters. After a frustrating night in Sligo two weeks ago, Lynch and the City faithful alike will be happy to get another win and another five goals under the belt ahead of one the season’s biggest games.

The signing of Brandon Fleming from Hull City will prove key depth on the left side of the pitch – he’s naturally a left back and has experience playing in every league from the Championship to the National League. At 25 and on a contract until the end of next season, he looks to be a shrewd acquisition. Fellow defender Conor Barr, who impressed in Joe Gormley’s testimonial against Cliftonville two weeks ago, has subsequently joined the Reds on loan following an impressive spell at Ballymena United last season.

Ben Doherty and Cameron Dummigan are City’s only two players out injured ahead of Friday’s game. Dummigan hasn’t played in almost a year after a tough spell with injuries, while Ben Doherty has suffered foot and hamstring problems which have limited him to just nine appearances in 2025. Adam O’Reilly started alongside Sadou Diallo in the centre of the park, his first start since the 1-1 draw with Galway United on June 13^th, seeing Carl Winchester drop to the bench. Arlo Doherty wasn’t used, as a substitute keeper may expect in cup competition, while Sean Patton and Ciaron Harkin were also left on the bench. Patton spent last week on trial at Reading FC in England, after trialling at Portsmouth last year.

With one win and one loss in this year’s two previous meetings with Bohemians, Derry City will be desperate to pick up all three points given the stakes in this meeting. It’s both teams’ final game in hand on leaders Shamrock Rovers, who have an eight point gap to Bohs in second. A point behind the Phibsborough side, defeat for City would likely mark curtains for their title hopes. Victory, especially ahead of next week’s visit to Tallaght, could reignite a race for top spot. With the transfer window closing for non-free agents on Monday, we’re officially in ‘business end’ territory.

Bohemians:

Just six weeks out from their last meeting, Bohemians play Derry City in the Brandywell for the final time in 2025. Their season to date has been a roller coaster, summed up by the fact that they’ve drawn just two of their previous 25 games. They went from calling for manager Alan Reynolds’ head before hitting form and finding themselves fighting in a title race.

Bohemians have seen a striker with £15m in transfer fees come and go in the past six months, alongside making millions in kit collaborations with Fontaines DC and Oasis. To think the League of Ireland has come so far that the actual Oasis, not even the juice, are dropping kits with Bohemians... As marketing goes, Daniel Lambert has overseen a masterclass in Phibsborough.

Lys Mousset was a signing who would either have been the best striker the division’s seen or a complete flop. When you come into Bohemians as a former £15m Premier League striker, and you’re still not even 30, you don’t have much room for error. Bagging just once, Pyscho Killer Lys Mousset is no more. That doesn’t mean that the squad isn’t stacked with quality though.

The signing of Douglas James-Taylor from Walsall is a real coup for Alan Reynolds. He had a stellar campaign on loan at Drogheda United last year but has failed to get going this year due to recurring injuries. Despite that, he’s a strong and mobile centre forward who has proven himself at this level. Scoring the winner against Derry City in last year’s FAI Cup final, the City faithful know all too well his threat. DJT opened his Bohs account with a fine finish to open the scoring at home to Galway United two weeks ago.

With four goals and four assists, winger Dayle Rooney has been Bohemians’ man main in 2025. Recently tied down to a new contract, he’s one of the most effective wide men in the League of Ireland. Another player who has come into his own this year is James Clarke. A target of Ruaidhrí Higgins whilst at Derry City, Clarke scored and assisted in a recent 2-0 win over Shamrock Rovers and was the subject of interest from Grimsby Town. He netted twice to put Galway United to the sword in the aforementioned 3-0 win on the 11^th too.

Clarke’s midfield counterparts Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy have really come into their own. With a touch of quality that can change a game, both players demonstrate why they earned moves to Motherwell and MK Dons before returning to Dublin. With eleven goal contributions between them in the league, and capable of operating across the midfield, they’re two players who would start in most midfields in the league.

With Adam McDonnell or Niall Morahan partnering Devoy in the deeper midfield role, Bohs have a balanced spine to their team. Jordan Flores, naturally a holding mid, has deputised at left-back and was one of the best players on the pitch when Bohemians beat Derry 1-0 in Dalymount in June. With Liam Smith and John Mountney as options at right back, as well as the experienced Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley at centre back, Bohs’ experienced back line has seen them hold the best defensive record in the league this season. The returning Cian Byrne, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Galway United, will only add to that.

Bohemians began their FAI Cup journey in ruthless fashion, beating Leinster Senior League side Killester Donnycarney 7-0 to progress to the Third Round. Former Derry City striker Colm Whelan bagged four goals and got two assists with an immense performance, while 18 year old Markuss Strods scored twice in his first start for the club. 19 year old Rhys Brennan also scored and assisted, adding to his stoppage time winner away to Shamrock Rovers earlier in the season. Unbeaten in five, scoring thirteen and conceding just once in that time, Bohs are in fine form.

Round-up:

Both pushing for European spots, Bohemians and Derry will view this as one of the most important games of their respective seasons. With both sides closely fighting in the upper reaches of the Premier Division, Bohemians will be on the hunt for their first win on Foyleside since April 2023. Coming from the summer period into the business end of the campaign, this won’t be one to miss.

Derry City and Bohemians will be confident after high-scoring wins in their FAI Cup openers last week, scoring five and seven respectively. With both sides beating each other 1-0 in the two previous meetings this year, it’s hard to know which way this game will go. Derry have played their best football at home this season and are third in the table for home form. In contrast, Bohs are third in the table for away form – picking up sixteen points but losing six times on their travels.

One thing’s for sure on Friday night, the football will be attacking and the players on show will be some of the best in the division. A draw would keep Shamrock Rovers’ buffer at the top at a healthy seven points. A win for Bohs would close it to five points and all but eliminate City from the title race, while victory for Derry would close the gap to six points and see them leapfrog Bohs back into second. This is a massive game going into the run in.

Pól O’Hare – 22^nd July 2025