EVAN MCMILLAN SAYS goalkeeper Greg Murray will be difficult to dislodge as Bohemians number one, tipping the teenager to hold on to his first-team spot for the next few weeks.
Murray laid down a marker on Monday and kept the first clean sheet of his senior career as the Gypsies beat rivals Shamrock Rovers 1-0 — the club’s first win in Tallaght Stadium.
Bohs boss Aaron Callaghan chopped and changed between Craig Sexton and Andy McNulty for most of the season before finally giving the 19-year-old his shot in the defeat against St Patrick’s Athletic last week.
Murray was beaten three times that night but bounced back against Rovers to help Bohs snap a run of six games without a win in the league.
“He’s done very, very well,” McMillan told TheScore.ie ahead of Friday night’s FAI Cup quarter-final against Dundalk.
He’s trained with the first team all season and he’s probably the only one in the squad who hasn’t really got games. He’s had to wait a long time and Aaron’s probably looked to put him in on a few occasions, but he deserves his chance now.
Getting a clean sheet out in Tallaght, he was a big part of that so he can take a lot of confidence from that. He is a confident lad so he’s taking it in his stride and I can see him staying in the team for the next few weeks.
Not having a fixed number one behind them hasn’t been that much of a disturbance for the Bohs back four, McMillan adds.
“When I was younger, you were always happier with the same keeper playing behind you but the keepers this season have chopped and changed. It’s something you get used to. The three of them are quite good communicators as well so it hasn’t been too much of an issue at all.”
Callaghan’s men go into tonight’s game in Dalymount Park as strong favourites to beat Dundalk for a third time this season and book a place in the final four of the cup. McMillan scored both goals in a 2-1 win when the sides last met in the league in July, but he’s noted an improvement in the Lilywhites’ form under Darius Kierans of late.
“The first game we played up in Oriel Park [a 2-0 win in April], we were very good on the night. It was probably the best we passed the ball all season.
“I think they’ve improved since the new manager came in. They’ve had a few draws and they have Mark Griffin back who is always a bit of a threat. I think they’ve improved since early on in the season but we are our favourites which brings a bit of pressure, but we’re confident we can win.
This season Bohs weren’t expected to win or even challenge for the league so a cup run has definitely been our focus since the beginning of the season.
In some of the other cups, Aaron would’ve changed the team a lot but the FAI Cup has been the main focus so we’re definitely happy to be where we are.
