Bohemians go into tonight’s game with a two-point cushion at the top of the Premier Division table and that is largely down to the team’s superb defensive record.
With eight games played in the new season, The Gypsies have only conceded two goals. A sturdiness in defence was one of the main reasons why they claimed the league title last year and it should be a factor that keeps them in the hunt again this term.
Even though Bohemians lost two excellent defenders in Thomas Heary and Liam Burns from last season’s squad, they were able to find sufficient back-up with Brian Shelley arriving from Drogheda United and Sean Byrne making the step up from the A Championship team, so their defence remains just as strong today.
For Bohs supporters, the faces and names of their reliable defence have become quite familiar. Some of them have picked up personal accolades with Brian Murphy being voted the Best Goalkeeper in the league for two years running and Owen Heary largely recognised as the most assured defender in the history of the League of Ireland. Yet there are members of the backline that don’t get the same kind of attention.
One of those is Jason McGuinness. The towering centre-back was a consistent performer for Pat Fenlon’s side last season and has brought that good form into this campaign.
He is someone that could be described as a 7 out of 10 player as he rarely makes any costly blunders and constantly seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Is there anyone better in the league right now at winning aerial battles than McGuinness? If the RTE Monday Night Soccer team came up with something akin to ‘Thunderstrike’ that focused on heading rather than shooting, then McGuinness would surely be the runaway leader.
The 26-year-old started off his career with the Phibsborough outfit after originally starring for Sheriff YC, but he left the club for city rivals Shamrock Rovers in 2004 and spent two seasons with The Hoops.
His presence in Bohemians’ defence was definitely missed during that period and it was of no surprise when he rejoined them in 2006.
When he arrived back at Dalymount Park for his second spell, something had changed. He carried himself with a lot more confidence and slipped straight back into the heart of the defence without causing any sort of fuss.
So when Pat Fenlon decided that he wanted to build a new team that started with a solid defence, he didn’t have to look too far for a defensive rock. McGuinness was outstanding throughout 2008 and fully merited his place in the PFAI Team of the Year (that featured four Bohs players in the five defensive slots).
McGuinness is a tough-tackling, no-nonsense type of centre-back who has the ability to deal with any opposition striker that tries to get past him with the ball.
He links up well with his fellow defenders, holds the line better than anyone in the league, and is also a threat at set-pieces.
Every manager wants to have a player like McGuinness in their team and if Bohs are to retain their title this season, then he will surely have a big part to play in that.