1. League action returns to Richmond
THEY MAY BE top of the table but St Patrick’s Athletic will look to get back to winning ways at home to Cork City tonight.
The Saints have gone out of Europe and the EA Sports Cup recently and this will be their first Premier Division fixture at Richmond Park this month – having drawn 1-1 with Sligo Rovers on the road two weeks ago.
Back in May, Pat’s won 2-0 at Turner’s Cross but you just never know what to expect from a Cork side which has scored six and conceded eight in their last four league games.
2. Bohemian continue life without Callaghan
Having began the post-Aaron Callaghan era with a 3-1 away win over Bray Wanderers last weekend, Bohemians can potentially leapfrog the Seagulls by earning three points against Drogheda at Dalymount Park.
Caretaker boss Owen Heary praised the support from Bohs fans at the Carlisle Grounds and has told the players that they must continue to show pride in the black and red – week in, week out.
We will have to start the game again at high intensity and keep that up,” Heary said. “The players showed they could do that against Bray. We saw Karl Moore set the tone early on. He tackled back a few times as well as pressing the opposition high up the pitch.
“But from Dean [Delaney, in goal] right up through the team, all the players put in their shift,” said Heary.
3. Six-pointer at the Bowl
There is little or nothing between the group of teams at the bottom of the table and two meet at the Belfield Bowl this evening as UCD host Shelbourne. The arrival of Johnny McDonnell has seen a vast improvement at Shels over the past few weeks and they have earned seven points from their last three matches.
The Students, three points ahead of their latest opponents, were well worth their point away to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght and Martin Russell will be hoping for a similar performance out of his players this time around.
4. The ‘Rovers derby’
Sligo Rovers went out of their first ever Champions League campaign after being unable to overturn a first leg defeat to Molde in the return game in Norway on Tuesday night. It will no doubt have taken a lot out of Ian Baraclough’s players but they must put that behind them and prepare for the visit of Shamrock Rovers to the Showgrounds tomorrow night.
The Hoops, currently in fifth place after drawing their last league outing with UCD, will be somewhat buoyed by their midweek EA Sports Cup victory over St Pat’s, which came after extra-time.
5. Roddy set to leave?
Yesterday’s news that Bohemians had contacted Athlone Town with the hope of talking Roddy Collins into a return to the club has thrown some doubt into his future in the midlands. Athlone, second in the First Division behind Longford, are away to Waterford tonight and although Collins will be in charge, it is unclear whether he is interested in heading back to the Gypsies – where he won the double 12 years ago.
(7.45pm Friday unless stated)
Premier Division
- Bohemians v Drogheda United
- Dundalk v Bray Wanderers
- St Patrick’s Athletic v Cork City
- UCD v Shelbourne
- Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers (Saturday, 7.45pm)
- Limerick v Derry City (Sunday, 5pm)
First Division
- Salthill Devon v Cobh Ramblers
- Waterford United v Athlone Town
- Finn Harps v Wexford Youths (8pm)
- Longford Town v Mervue United (Saturday, 7.45pm)
