Rovers play catch-up

LEAGUE OF IRELANDHAVING RECAPTURED the title-chase initiative in midweek when they won at home, while Shamrock Rovers went down to Cork City, Bohemians head to Terryland Park in Galway this evening looking to consolidate their place at the top of the table.

Ian Foster’s Galway United side have been pretty erratic of late with a fine home win over Derry followed by a hammering in Drogheda on Tuesday night and if they are to do Rovers a favour then they are going to have to produce quite an improvement on their showing at United Park.

Bohemians are likely to be without Ken Oman who has a hamstring problem. Mark Rossiter and Owen Heary remain doubts, while Jason McGuinness looks set to miss out again but Killian Brennan should be available.

Rovers boss Michael O’Neill admits to everyone at the club being “very disappointed”, over Tuesday’s defeat by a Cork team that nearly didn’t get on the bus for Dublin because of the club’s money problems. The northerner blames tiredness for the way his players surrendered their early lead against Paul Doolin’s side but knows they must plough on tonight in Dundalk where Seán Connor’s hand will be strengthened by the return from suspension of Chris Turner, Kevin McKinlay and Mickey Collins.

Rovers are not helped either by doubts about Craig Sives, Paddy Kavanagh, Stephen Rice (chest infection, calf and hamstring respectively) but they may take heart from the home side’s miserable record against Dublin sides this season, with the Oriel Park outfit having earned two points from 11 games against clubs from the capital and one from meetings with tonight’s opponents.

Cork City look to build on what Doolin described as a “fantastic” win in Tallaght when they take on Drogheda United at home. Billy Dennehy is suspended, while Davin O’Neill is added to the injury list. Connor Kenna returns from suspension for the visitors.

Like Cork, Derry City’s run-in has been overshadowed by the club’s finances but Stephen Kenny’s most immediate problems centre on an injury list that is long and packed with just about all of his strikers, but Clive Delaney is back from suspension to bolster the defence as they look to end a run of five defeats. St Patrick’s are without Damien Lynch (suspended), while Declan O’Brien and Mark Quigley are major doubts.