LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREVIEW:HAPPY TO accept it's a must-win game for his own side, St Patrick's Athletic manager Pete Mahon believes Shamrock Rovers are the ones under pressure coming to Richmond Park tonight for the top-of-the-table derby.
Unbeaten in 16 league games, Rovers are seven points clear with eight to play as they strive for a first championship since 1994.
“It’s a must-win game for us,” said Mahon, who recalled a similar scenario of sorts last season when St Patrick’s also had to beat Rovers to avoid relegation, though subsequent events at Cork and in Derry nullified that anyway. “Here we are again almost 12 months later with another must-win game against Rovers.
“We can’t afford to go 10 points behind. If we do our league chances are gone. It could be a defining game of the season for us.
“(But) if Rovers want to progress this year, and you can put all the spin on it you like, they have to win the league. People say it’s theirs to throw away. But I’ve a long memory and I can remember Shelbourne were 13 points ahead of Bohs and Ollie Cahill scored a goal (for Cork City) at Tolka Park and Bohs won in Kilkenny to win the double that year.”
Mahon hopes to have midfielder Dave Mulcahy available following the hamstring strain that has sidelined him for the last three games. But striker Paul Byrne is gone for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury. In-form winger Derek Doyle is a loss due to suspension.
Central defender Aidan Price, yesterday named as the Airtricity/SWAI Player-of-the-Month for August, returns from injury for Shamrock Rovers. Full-back Pat Flynn completes a two-match suspension while midfielder Robert Bayly is rated as a serious doubt due to a knee injury. Pat Sullivan (knee) remains out.
The top two playing each other offers champions Bohemians, level on point with St Patrick’s in third place, the chance to make up ground when they host struggling UCD. Apart from long-term absentees Steven Gray and Anthony Murphy, manager Pat Fenlon has no injury concerns, though he may rest striker Paddy Madden as he was away in Turkey with the Ireland under-21s during the week.
Midfielder Robbie Creevy, sent off in the 1-1 draw with Drogheda last week, is suspended for UCD, who’ve won once in 11 games. Central defender Andy Boyle remains out with a knee injury, along with full-back Seán Harding and striker David McMillan.
Sligo Rovers wait for a fitness check on attacking midfielder Romuald Boco for their home clash with Sporting Fingal. Boco returned from international duty with Benin with a thigh injury. Winger Gary McCabe (hamstring) and midfielder John Dillon (back) are further doubts for Paul Cook’s side who hope to end a run of 13 league matches without a win against any of the top four sides.
Sporting, two points ahead of fifth-place Sligo, remain without right-back Ger O’Brien (ankle) while midfield anchor Shane McFaul must pass a fitness check on a foot injury if he’s to feature.
Galway United plan without the suspended Rhys Meynell and Paul Sinnott while fellow defender Jamie McKenzie (shin) and midfielder Ciaran Foley (ankle) are injury concerns as they hope to stretch their five-match unbeaten run at bottom side Bray Wanderers.
Bray, just three points behind second-bottom Drogheda with a game in hand, are without Shane O’Neill (shoulder), but have his strike partner John Mulroy back fit after he missed the recent wins over UCD and Dundalk.
Corie Treacy returns from suspension to the Drogheda defence ahead of the Louth derby with Dundalk at Hunky Dorys Park. Manager Brian Donnelly continues without long-term injured winger Brendan McGill however, while defender Jamie Harris is also out injured tonight and midfielder Paul Crowley is unavailable due to illness.
Having lost nine of their last 12 games since being top of the table in May, free-falling Dundalk welcome back defender Garry Breen from illness. Midfielder Alan Cawley remains out as he recuperates from back surgery.
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES(7.45 unless stated) Premier Division – Bohemians v UCD, Bray Wanderers v Galway United, Drogheda United v Dundalk, St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers (Live on RTÉ TWO, 7.35), Sligo Rovers v Sporting Fingal.
First Division – Cork City v Mervue United, Derry City v Athlone Town, Finn Harps v Limerick, Wexford Youths v Monaghan United (8.0).
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