Airtricity League Premier Division
All games kick-off at 7.45pm unless stated otherwise.
Derry City v Sligo Rovers
Brandywell (7.05pm – Live on RTE2, we’ll go minute-by-minute). Referee: Damien Hancock.
THIS ONE LOOKS interesting, doesn’t it? League leaders Sligo make the relatively short trip to their regional rivals in tonight’s televised game. The Candystripes secured a 1-0 win in UCD last time out and need to maintain their winning form to stay in touch with the Bit O’ Red.
“We all know that we can’t expect the same result as we had in the game against Derry in the EA Sports Cup in the Showgrounds a few weeks ago,” said Sligo boss Ian Baraclough. “But if we can carry on in the same vein where we left off in that game, then hopefully we can end up with a favourable result.”
Derry bring in new signings Marc Brolly (Dungannon Swifts) and Conor Murphy (ex-Monaghan) but Stewart Greacen, Mark Farren, Kevin Deery and Rory Patterson are out through injury. Stephen McLaughlin and Simon Madden are suspended. Barry Molloy and Patrick McEleney are doubts. Sligo’s Danny North is banned. Richard Brush is out injured after suffering cracked ribs in training, while Ryan Connolly is set to make his debut and Jason McGuinness (hamstring) should be fit.
Derry City boss Declan Devine expects a real test at the Brandywell: “Sligo will be disappointed about not winning against Bray and they’ll want to get back to winning ways. If you stand off them and give them too much respect they’ll hurt you, so whatever squad we pick we just have to get amongst Sligo and we have to try and make sure that we keep possession of the ball when we have it and when we don’t have we have to work extremely hard to get it back.”
Bray Wanderers v Shelbourne
Carlisle Grounds. Referee: Neil Doyle.
BOTH sides ended a run of two defeats with impressive results last week. Shels beat Dundalk 4-0 at home while Bray drew 1-1 with leaders Sligo in an eye-catching display. The Seagulls will be without Dave Webster (knee), Sean Heuston (thigh) and suspended pair Adam Mitchell and Danny O’Connor, as Shels plan without the suspended Barry Clancy, while Ian Ryan and Glenn Cronin are out through injury.
Bray’s Director of Football Pat Devlin says: “It’s going to be a tough one for us with so many players missing. We have to get on with it and we will have a couple of new faces in and see what we can produce.”
Shelbourne manager Alan Mathews, meanwhile, is warning his side against complacency: “You never take anything for granted in this league, regardless of where teams are — top, middle or bottom — you have to go out and do your work and Dundalk were well in the game last week. We had to play really well. Although we won 4-0, we had to work very hard for it.”
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
Oriel Park. Referee: Tom Connolly.
DUNDALK will look to end a poor run of results, which has seen them lose three out of their last four league games when they host the champions at Oriel Park. Rovers were disappointed to be held at home to St Pat’s last week and will bid to bounce back by claiming three points on the road.
Dundalk are without Ger Hanley (wrist) and Luke Danville (knee), while Peter Thomas is suspended. Conor McDonald (ankle) is also unlikely to feature, while Michael Rafter is doubtful with an ankle knock.
Graham Gartland is suspended for Rovers after picking up four yellow cards, while Aaron Greene is (knee) is injured.
Prior to his departure from the club, Dundalk boss Sean McCaffrey said: “Defensively, we have got to get a lot better. We lack experience but that’s where you’re depending on your senior players – for the organisation. Maybe, we have to look at playing a different style of football; play a more defensive game and to do damage limitation and try to hit teams on the break.”Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Kenny added: “The team put in a very good performance against St Pat’s last week, and I’ll be looking for the same again in Dundalk. We need to make sure we apply ourselves as well as we did last week and show the same passion and aggression.”
Sunday, July 15
Airtricity League Premier Division
Bohemians v UCD, Dalymount Park (3.00pm). Referee: Padraig Sutton.
BOHEMIANS will face a tough test as they return from Europa League duty on Sunday when they host UCD at Dalymount Park. The Gypsies were held in Cork last weekend after an impressive derby win over Shamrock Rovers the week before. UCD lost at home to Derry City last week and are looking for their first win in four league games.
St Patrick’s Athletic v Drogheda United, Richmond Park (3.00pm). Referee: Graham Kelly.
ST PATRICK’S Athletic return from their Europa League travels with a testing home encounter against the Premier Division’s form side Drogheda. Mick Cooke’s charges have won their last three league games and will travel to Richmond Park full of confidence.
