Twigg gains just reward for striking Rovers clear

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION:ANOTHER FOUR goals for Shamrock Rovers in September earned Gary Twigg a Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month award yesterday.

The striker, who has bagged 22 for the Dublin side over the course of the league campaign, is, however, a major doubt for this evening’s game against Cork City as Michael O’Neill’s side looks to take another step towards a rather bigger prize.

“It’s nice to win awards, but I think that is down to the rest of the team,” says the striker who, could well be sidelined again by the thigh strain that forced him to sit out Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Drogheda United.

“We’re hopeful that the two lads come into contention,” says O’Neill of Twigg and Paddy Kavanagh (hamstring), “but we’re in a situation where we probably don’t need to take unnecessary risks.”

Just two points ahead of arch rivals Bohemians at the top of the table, though, and with a significantly inferior goal difference, Rovers can ill afford to slip up again in Tallaght this evening against opponents with whom they have drawn three times so far this season.

The visitors have Danny Murphy back from suspension, but Joe Gamble, Timmy Kiely and Dan Connor are all out once again.

Bohemians, meanwhile, are also under considerable pressure to keep winning too but must do so against St Patrick’s Athletic this evening without Jason McGuinness or Mark Rossiter°, while Owen Heary is a major doubt.

The visitors have Stuart Byrne back from suspension and Mark Quigley from injury.

Derry’s chase with Cork for third place has come to resemble a slow bicycle race of late and the northerners will look to end a run of four defeats against Sligo at the Brandywell, where Stephen Kenny will again be without a string of first-team regulars. Rovers arrive without Owen Morrison and Richard Brush.

Bray will again be missing Gary McCabe and Derek Foran as they again try to overtake Drogheda at the very foot of the table. Eddie Gormley’s side desperately need to reproduce some of the heroics of their recent late fightback against Cork this evening and they will be helped to some degree by the fact Dundalk are again without key players for the game.

The remarkable knack of Sean Connor’s men for getting themselves sent off means the visitors have Thomas Heary, Chris Turner and Kevin McKinlay all suspended. Mickey Collins is also unavailable due to injury, but Paul McAreavey, Simon Kelly and Michael Coburn return.

In the night’s other top flight game, Galway United are likely to be without John Russell (ankle) as they head to United Park hoping to build on Friday’s fine 3-1 defeat of Derry.