Bohemian Football Club Crest

They are the type of games that supporters relish more than most, but local derbies have a tendency to be more than a bit unpredictable.

Due to how the Premier Division is set up this year, Bohemians have four teams that they can describe as rivals due to being based in Dublin as well. So every few games, the Gypsies are bound to be involved in a derby of some kind.

After meeting St Patrick’s Athletic in the Setanta Sports Cup final, Bohs would be forgiven if they had hoped to get a break from playing Pete Mahon’s side. But it wasn’t to be. In their very next game, the two teams met at Richmond Park. And just as expected, the Saints were all fired up after losing in that final to Bohs. They wanted revenge and were ready to fight for it. In the end, they got what they wanted after a bruising encounter in Inchicore saw them come out with a 3-1 victory and show that they have enough to stay in the hunt for the title.

For Bohs, it was an energy-sapping contest that they didn’t need. And to make matters worse, their next game sees them come up against another rival team as they host Shamrock Rovers on Saturday. It just never ends.

But these derby games add some extra spice to things and give the supporters something to look forward to as they can celebrate a win over their near neighbours as well as getting the bragging rights until they meet again.

Whether it is the north-west duel between Finn Harps and Derry City, the Connacht battle involving Sligo Rovers and Galway United or the midlands tussle with Athlone Town and Longford Town, these are games that mean an awful lot more than just an ordinary fixture.

Bohs will be reminded of the passion that a derby game can bring when they meet the Hoops on Saturday afternoon, but for everything that they have gone through in these type of games so far this season it is sure to be fresh in their memory.

From the fan’s perspective, it is definitely a case of….roll on the next derby!!!