In the six years since he arrived at Dalymount Park, Michael Dempsey has had plenty of time to get used to being the man who steps in when the manager needs a dig-out. For the bulk of his career at Bohemians the 24-year-old provided the back-up to Dave Henderson and since ousting the veteran keeper he's seen another couple come and go but his form of late has earned him the title of first choice. Another solid performance against St Mochta's would go a long way towards easing his club into the semi-finals of the Harp Lager FAI Cup.
At the start of last season, Dempsey could have been forgiven for thinking his days at the club were numbered. Still a student, he must have been alarmed to see new goalkeepers arrive at regular intervals. However, under Roddy Collins, Dempsey made 29 first team appearances and finally started to take on the air of the club's first choice goalkeeper.
During the summer Wayne Russell's arrival upset the young actuary's apple-cart again but when Russell came down with a bout of 'flu Dempsey was on hand to grab his chance. Neither he nor his manager have been tempted to look back since with eight clean sheets in 10 appearances helping to keep Bohemians in the hunt for two trophies and the player to a Soccer Writers' Player of the Month Award. "The main thing for a footballer is to play," he says "and once you're playing it's to play well, so the last couple of months have been very enjoyable." Dempsey insists that through the highs and lows he has never once seriously considered leaving the club. "My contract's up again in the summer but I'd be delighted to stay." Finally finishing college has helped somewhat in that respect. Last year the pressure of juggling the two was considerable and he recalls, in particular, having to make it back from Cobh in order to sit an exam at 8.30 the next morning. Now it's work that has to be slotted into a footballers schedule but it's not so hard to cope with when things are going as well as they are just now.
"There's a lot of competition for places, including the goalkeeper's and although it's a little harder for Wayne and myself because you can't just stick a keeper on with 10 minutes to go to keep him happy, that's the way it has to be if the club is going to get anywhere."
In the longer term he believes he can establish himself as one of the league's better goalkeepers. In the shorter term, though, it's more simple than that. "I just want us to get a trophy out of this season." Barring a very considerable upset, he'll be one very important step closer to fulfilling that particular ambition by around 9.30 this evening.
