1. This
Ok, we can’t guarantee that you’ll see an absolute screamer at every game but as Chris Forrester proved on Monday, there’s no shortage of magic moments in the Airtricity League.
A couple of weeks ago, Dundalk strung together 36 passes in the build-up to this goal:
If those two examples can’t tempt you out to a game, nothing will.
2. Dundalk soldier on without their skipper
Shamrock Rovers struck late to equalise against Dundalk last week but the real blow for the Lilywhites was the loss of captain Stephen O’Donnell who damaged his cruciate ligaments and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Darren Meenan looks the most likely candidate to step up and he wasted no time in staking his claim with a goal against Rovers, and then by winning the decisive penalty against Athlone on Easter Monday.
O’Donnell is a loss though and it will take a few weeks to properly assess the impact on Dundalk’s title bid. They travel to Bray tonight.
3. Can Bohs stifle Cork?
Bohs haven’t played the prettiest football in the league this season but manager Owen Heary is right to feel slightly short-changed by just nine points from their opening nine games. The chances to turn their defeat against Limerick into a win, and to hold out for a point against Sligo on Monday, were there and went a-begging.
It’s not surprising that a side managed by Heary prides itself on being tough to break down, but if Cork get a hold in midfield — as Pat’s did — Bohs could be overrun tonight.
“I know we have the players to get a result,” Heary said. “They just have to believe it.”
4. Is Roddy right to leave out Patterson?
Along with goal-shy Limerick, Derry City’s six goals are the fewest by any team in the top flight this season. It makes the absence of last year’s top goalscorer Rory Patterson even more puzzling.
“We’re not creating enough chances and that’s what his job is – he’s a finisher,” manager Roddy Collins told Kevin McLaughlin of the Londonderry Sentinel this week.
“He doesn’t give much other contribution to the team: he doesn’t work hard, he doesn’t chase the ball down, he doesn’t get it back for you, he doesn’t hold it up particularly well, but he’s an exceptional finisher.”
Don’t expect to see Patterson against UCD tonight so.
5. Sligo finally start to click
After a brutal start, Sligo have taken eight points from their last four games and moved up the table from 11th to sixth.
They go down to Limerick tonight as firm favourites against Stuart Taylor’s side who are neither scoring too many (the league’s joint-worst attack) nor conceding too many (the league’s second best defence).
“We are not travelling there expecting to score five, six or seven goals,” Sligo boss Ian Baraclough said.
“We have to break Limerick down, we have to be at our best and find that way to win once again.”
Airtricity League fixtures (kick-off Friday 7.45pm unless stated)
Premier Division
- Bray Wanderers v Dundalk
- Cork City v Bohemians
- Derry City v UCD
- Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers
- Limerick v Sligo Rovers
- St Patrick’s Athletic v Athlone Town
First Division
- Waterford United v Finn Harps
- Wexford Youths v Shelbourne (Friday 8pm)
- Longford Town v Galway (Saturday 7.30pm)
- Shamrock Rovers B v Cobh Ramblers (Sunday 3pm)
