Derry close to full strength

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION: THE FACT that tonight's League of Ireland games are going up against Manchester United's Champions League clash with Porto on the TV may have prompted the suspicion of some ancient fixtures diktat from Abbotstown but the FAI politely pointed out yesterday that the host clubs had the final say on when this week's games were played and all passed up the opportunity to stage them last night.

It seems like brave enough stuff and the hope is the likes of Derry City’s visit to Richmond Park this evening proves sufficiently attractive to drag large numbers of people away from their couches and television sets.

The league leaders, who have Mark Farren and Clive Delaney back from suspension, are close to full strength with only David Scullion out injured. St Patrick’s Athletic manager Jeff Kenna is less well off with Gary Dempsey and Mark Leech (both broken legs) Stephen Maher (knee), Bobby Ryan (groin), Gareth O’Connor (thigh) and Gints Freimans (knee) are all ruled out.

Like the Inchicore outfit, Bohemians are looking to bounce back from defeat at the weekend with Pat Fenlon insisting he is looking for a reaction to the Cork game. He’ll be without the suspended Gary Deegan for the visit to Galway, though, while Neale Fenn (calf) is still a week or so away from being fit to play.

Cork could well be unchanged for the game against Drogheda United, meanwhile, with Denis Behan and Pat Sullivan in contention to start despite making early exits from the win in Dalymount.

Thomas Heary, Michael McGinlay and Declan O’Brien look set to be missing from the Dundalk starting line up against Shamrock Rovers and so Tiarnan Mulvenna is expected to retain his place along side Darren Mansaram in the team’s attack while Shaun Kelly could come in at right back with Simon Kelly moving inside to replace Heary.

Sligo Rovers will have Danny Ventre and Stephen Parkhouse available again for the game with Bray Wanderers but Chris Butler is still a long term absentee. For Wanderers, meanwhile, Paddy Kavanagh (ankle), Derek Pender (knee) and Dave Mulcahy (groin) look set to be joined in the stands by Derek Foran (hamstring) and Chris Deans (calf) but Daryl Robson returns from suspension.

Tonight's games (7.45pm unless stated)

Cork City v Drogheda United, Turner’s Cross; Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Oriel Park; Galway United v Bohemians, Terryland Park; St Pat’s Ath v Derry City, Richmond Park; Sligo Rovers v Bray, 8pm, The Showgrounds.