I grew up a Bohemians fan so it’s a dream finally playing for them after coming through at Shelbourne, says Lisa Murphy

LISA MURPHY was in Tolka Park last night cheering on Bohemians against Shelbourne — and she will lead the line for Bohs against Shels later today.

And she admitted that running out in the red and black is still a dream come true for her having grown up making regular visits to Dalymount Park.

Striker Murphy has been a regular at Bohs men’s games home and away since she was a youngster — and her support continued long after she made her debut for rivals Shelbourne.

She told SunSport: “I was always Bohs. When I played for Shels, Bohs didn’t have a women’s team but I always supported Bohs.

“But I played for Shels because they had a girls team and it was probably the best to play for at the time.”

Her love of Bohs goes back to when she was a rebellious eight-year-old who went against the family tradition.

She explained: “My dad is a Pat’s fan and he brought me to a Pat’s and Bohs match.

“It was in Inchicore and I must have been about eight at the time.

“I was being the stubborn daughter and was, ‘I’m not following the same team as you’ so I ended up following Bohs.

“Ever since, I stayed with Bohs. There is nothing like Bohs.”

Indeed, having given birth to her son Jackson — now seven — and gone back to playing local football, it was the lure of Bohemians that enticed her back to the top level.

The Dubliner revealed how a chance meeting with then-coach Seán Byrne — along with the encouragement of her boyfriend — resulted in her joining Bohs.

And Jackson remains a fixture around the club, having been mascot two years ago.

She said: “He’s still coming along every week, and to training a lot as well.

“He now goes around with the keys helping open and lock up Dalymount.

“So I think he’s been upgraded from mascot now. He loves it more than me at this stage!”

But Murphy acknowledged that her frustration this season has been with results.

After four games, the Dalymount Park side are sitting in eighth place with four points.

The 30-year-old said: “Against Sligo on the first day, we weren’t good enough, we weren’t clinical in front of goal though some of our play was good.

“That annoyed us that day. The same with Galway, I wouldn’t say it was a 3-1 game.

“We led and were doing well, it was only at the end our heads dropped.

“When we beat Wexford, we were good, we felt much better about it all and our whole mindset was good.

“But Athlone, it was disappointing, it was the same, we conceded late on and our heads dropped.

“It’s just experience. We’ve unbelievably promising players.

“Girls like Aoibhe Brennan, Hannah Healy, Leiagh Glennon, Savannah Kane . . . all of them are going to be class players and go far.

“But it’s just about managing games, gaining experience. If we’re winning 1-0 with six or seven minutes to go, how do you manage it. It’s a learning curve.”

 TODAY’S FIXTURES (5pm unless stated): DLR Waves v Athlone Town; Treaty United v Sligo Rovers; Cork City v Waterford; Galway United v Wexford Youths; Peamount v Shamrock Rovers; Bohemians v Shelbourne (7.35pm).