DUBLIN-BORN football journalist Tony Incenzo previews a big match taking place in his home city, as Bohemians host Ballkani and here is our extensive preview for Wednesday’s game.
Here are my personal memories of visiting the host club alongside a considered score prediction to assist your football betting…
- Score prediction: Beautiful Bohs to win 1-0 (11/2)
A capacity sell-out crowd of 4,500 is expected. With fixtures progressing through the summer, Bohs are presently sitting second in the League of Ireland after 25 games played.
They’ve won their last three league outings but trail leaders Shamrock Rovers by seven points. Looking forward to this European encounter at Dalymount Park, their eight away wins total is double an indifferent home tally of four.
Bohemians vs Ballkina Odds:
- Bohemians – 4/5
- Draw – 23/10
- Ballkina – 16/5
In the previous Europa Conference League round, Bohs edged Gibraltar side St. Joseph’s 2-0 on aggregate earlier this month. The home leg was first where Douglas James-Taylor (60minutes, penalty) and Connor Parsons (90 minutes) established the decisive 2-0 lead. A scoreless encounter followed in Gibraltar’s sweltering heat to secure Bohs’ passage.
Originally founded in 1949 and nicknamed Xhebrailat (‘The Gabriels’), they clinched the Football Superleague of Kosovo title three years running between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Last season, Ballkani finished third in the 36 game campaign some eight points below champions Drita. In the current Europa Conference League competition, Ballkani knocked out Welsh side Connah’s Quay Nomads by a 3-2 aggregate score.
It was 0-0 in the first leg in North Wales, followed by a 3-2 win for the homesters in Kosovo. Ballkani’s marksmen were Edvin Kuc (20 minutes), Giovanni (49 mins) and Valentin Serebe (57 mins).
The second Leg is scheduled next week for Thursday 30th July at the 14,000 capacity Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina. This is the Kosovo national football team’s home venue. Ballkani’s usual multi-purpose Theranda City Stadium in Suhareka does not meet competition requirements.
MEMORY MATCH
Probably the biggest European match in Bohs’ history was played 49 years ago. I was present that night as a wide-eyed schoolboy seated alongside my mum and my uncle Sean…
- Wednesday 14th September 1977 – UEFA Cup First Round First Leg
- Bohemians 0 Newcastle United 0
A reported crowd of 25,000 packed into Dalymount Park for this stalemate. In fact, my main memories are of the scenes off the pitch. It was an evening of total chaos!
With the sitcom Happy Days being popular on TV back then, Newcastle fans spent the whole game singing: “The Fonz is cool but Geordies are cooler…”
Meanwhile, repeated home cries of “Boh-ezz…Boh-ezz…” rang out from the covered end behind one goal. Furthermore I spotted a number of youngsters climbing high up on to the roof of that terrace and they started energetically jumping up and down to the rhythm of those “Boh-ezz” chants. This had the effect of showering everyone standing underneath in ancient rust. Suddenly, the chanting below changed to: “Get off the roof…(clap clap clap)…Get off the roof…(clap clap clap)…”
These were more innocent times although I really don’t know what modern day Health and Safety officials would have made of it all!
Things got worse too. A full scale riot broke out at the front of the wooden main stand between home and away fans including an array of missiles being hurled in the air. Indeed, the match was suspended for nearly 15 minutes whilst Garda Síochána police intervened. Several arrests were made.
Then after an empty beer bottle whistled narrowly past us, my uncle announced: “I’ve had enough of this. I’m going to the pub!” So he swiftly departed and left me sitting there with my petrified mother.
On the field, part-time Bohs went closest when future Irish international Gerry Ryan lashed inches beyond the post. However it finished 0-0.
We also went to the second leg up in Geordieland two weeks later. I recall how we travelled on a rickety old coach service from London which took about seven hours each way.
This time, Newcastle made no mistake running out 4-0 winners. Alan Gowling and Tommy Craig scored two each.
