Bohemians set for UEFA Youth League test in Denmark

After a recent nine-match winning streak in the SSE Airtricity League and an Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup semi-final, Bohemians U19 side will be looking to continue the positivity at the Dalymount club in the UEFA Youth League. 

The SSE Airtricity League U19 Champions Bohemians are currently preparing to travel to Denmark in their UEFA Youth League Domestic Champions first-round tie against FC Midtjylland, with kick-off at 5.30pm on Wednesday, October 3.

Bohemians U19 have followed up last season's success with more success this campaign. Bohemians won the Enda McGuill Cup, finished second in the U19 Northern Elite Division and a number of the U19 players have featured in the first-team.

Recently, Bohemians brought a young side to St. Patrick's Athletic where Ali Reghba and Robbie McCourt scored in a 3-1 win and U19 Head Coach Craig Sexton has lauded the players for their achievements. 

"It was great. That was the pat on the back. For the team to go to Pat's and win, it was immense. They looked comfortable and that's testament to the club, and the way the under-age teams train with the first-team. 

"The lads are comfortable moving up to the first-team and to see so many of them perform in the Premier Division is why we're here. For us, as the 19's staff and for the kids, it's dreams come true."

Due to the eligibility rules around the UEFA Youth League, Bohemians will have a slightly weakened squad in Denmark but Sexton is still confident of a result. 

"We've got a strong XI, and a couple of lads up from the 17s. Our hands are tied a little bit around the eligibility of the players with the rules the way they are," said Sexton.

"We're going over there to win the game, make no mistake about it. At times, we'll have to be smart about how we play but we're going to look to play as we normally would and try and take the game to them.

"The players have delivered so we're going to trust them to play. They've played first-team games, they've won cups so this is just another stage of that success."

Bohemians are set to train at the Arena Herning this evening ahead of the first leg with the players ready for the European experience. Having travelled over to Scotland in pre-season, Sexton is confident his side will be ready for the challenge that awaits them. 

"We travelled in pre-season, we went over to Dundee and we felt that was important for a bit of learning against different types of opposition. We've had a couple of players around international teams as well so they'll be used to travelling and going to places to get results," Sexton said.

"It's going to be a fantastic experience for them. It's going to test them, physically and mentally, but it's something we're all looking forward to.

"I've had a few videos of them, they look very good but we've got a couple of game plans that we're looking at. We're not going to change anything for them, we're a good side and we can play, and that's what we want to do."

UEFA Youth League - Domestic Champions - First Round Fixture

03/10 - FC Midtjylland v Bohemians, Arena Herning, 5.30pm (6.30pm local time)