Dublin, Ireland – Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds is poised to give 16-year-old striker Hugh Martin his debut in a high-profile SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash against St Patrick’s Athletic this Sunday at the Aviva Stadium. The match marks the second consecutive year Bohs have opened their league campaign at the national stadium, hoping to replicate last year’s 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at the same venue.
Reynolds has brought in new players during the winter transfer window, but it’s the potential of young Martin, signed from UCD in December, that’s generating significant buzz. Reynolds described Martin as “an exceptionally talented young player” upon his signing, and his performances in pre-season have reinforced that assessment.
“In fairness to Pat Fenlon and Trevor Croly, they identified him and brought him in,” Reynolds told RTÉ Sport. “He’s come in and blown everyone away with how good he’s been. You’ll see a lot of really good young players in the country at the minute. Obviously, Mason Melia’s moved away, and we won’t put as much pressure on Hugh, but he’ll play a part this year.”
When directly asked about Martin’s potential involvement on Sunday, Reynolds responded, “I would think so. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him. The Bohs fans love young players getting opportunities, so we have to bring players through the academy. He’s one that’s come in now and is an exciting prospect.”
Reynolds expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the Aviva Stadium, particularly given the recent inclement weather that has hampered training opportunities. “Our players can’t wait to come here to play in this fantastic stadium,” he said. “People talk about the dimensions here, so we’re well prepared for all that. We haven’t got on grass too much in pre-season because of the weather, so we look forward to getting on it.”
Reynolds also noted the team’s physical condition, stating that most players have only accumulated approximately 390 minutes of playing time during pre-season, leaving them in a good position heading into the competitive matches. He also reported that the team has emerged from pre-season training without any significant injuries.
While Reynolds refrained from labeling Bohemians as title contenders, he emphasized their ambition to improve upon their fourth-place finish in the 2021 season, a result that secured them a spot in European competition. The team is also keenly aware of the significance of this being the final season at Dalymount Park before a major renovation project commences, with the stadium expected to be unavailable until 2029.
“I’m not going to sit here and set myself up, we want to improve,” Reynolds added. “We want to improve on last year, and the big one is, this is the last year in Dalymount, a special stadium. A lot of the fans who are going there have gone with their dads or people that have passed away, so a lot of the memories will be in when they’re going to those Friday night games. And we want to play a part in that and give them something to sing about. When Dalymount is rocking, it’s a fantastic place.”
Bohemians’ 2021 season saw them finish fifth in the Premier Division, reach the FAI Cup final (losing to St Patrick’s Athletic), and achieve a record-breaking run in the UEFA Europa Conference League, securing four consecutive victories. Georgie Kelly was the team’s top scorer that year, netting 21 league goals and 26 in all competitions. The highest home attendance during the 2021 season was 8,000, recorded during matches against PAOK and F91 Dudelange at the Aviva Stadium.
Recent transfer activity has seen Bohemian FC confirm the signing of talented teenage striker Hugh Martin from UCD on December 12, 2025. Further transfer updates from November 8, 2025, indicate activity involving Archie Meekison, though specific details were not provided.
The club’s kit for the 2021 season was manufactured by O’Neills, with Des Kelly Interiors as the main sponsor, featuring the traditional red and black home colors.
