Kevin Hunt explains to Emmet Malone why the future looks bright for Bohemians

Kevin Hunt's arrival at Dalymount Park may have been slightly overshadowed by another man Roddy Collins signed at the same time.

Dean Martin, after all, was a headline writer's dream and when he reacted to the cheers of the crowd with a raised arm and clenched fist while belting down the wing during a league game for Bohemians, it was clear the league had acquired for itself another one of its occasional characters from abroad.

Almost five years on, though, Martin is long gone while Hunt has established himself as perhaps the best midfielder in the Irish game, as well as the most influential figure in a Bohemians team that has won two league titles and goes into this evening's game against Rosenborg still retaining some hope of becoming the first Irish team to make the final qualifying round of the Champions League.

"We were underdogs last week," he says, "and we'll be even more so in this game, but strange things happen in football and I still like to think that nicking a goal isn't beyond us.

"In the first game you could see that they were a better team than we're used to coming up against, but I felt we created more from open play. If we do that again then we'll at least give ourselves a chance."

While manager Stephen Kenny has identified Glen Crowe's display as being crucial to deciding his team's fate, Hunt is almost invariably the one who pulls the strings in the side.

Having had spells at QPR and Gillingham as a teenager before heading off to Singapore and Hong Kong, Hunt arrived in Dublin in December 1998 viewing Bohemians as a route back into the English game.

These days, though, he is quite settled at Bohemians and admits to viewing a move back to England as an increasingly remote prospect.

Derby and Halifax, as well as Belgium's Royal Antwerp, have previously expressed interest in signing him, but, he says, "there was never anything solid by way of an offer as far as I'm aware.

"I know I probably could have gone to Carlisle," he adds, "but hanging around the wrong end of the English third division . . . why would I want to do that when I'm captain of a team now that regularly qualifies for Europe?"

Even before this year's European campaign has ended Hunt admits to some mild concern about the team's place in next summer's UEFA draws.

"If you look at the league table now it's not a very pretty sight. But, while we're third from bottom, winning the games in hand would put us second, four points behind Shelbourne, I think.

"That's not to take anything for granted, but I think it's fair to say that the Champions League games might have been playing on our minds just a little bit during the early stages of the campaign.

"Even if we were to bow out tonight I think we'd settle back into the league campaign now in pretty good shape."

That's not to concede anything, he insists. "If you look at the set-up here in Rosenborg; the stadium, training ground and the money their lads are on, clearly they're miles ahead of us, but on the pitch the difference is not so great.

"We've been making a bit of a habit of getting through one round and Shelbourne last year was just a blip, they were clearly the better side even though they lost. We're making progress," he adds, "and sooner or later we'll take it on a stage.

"We'll give it everything against Rosenborg and if it doesn't quite come off then the intention is to be back next year to take another crack."