LEAGUE OF IRELAND:A LATECOMER to a Bohemians' title charge that could be completed this evening at United Park, Gary Deegan's contribution in central midfield to the team's remarkable run of victories was recognised yesterday when the 21-year-old was named as the Eircom/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland player of the month for September.
Formerly of Shelbourne and Longford Town, Deegan started the season at Galway United only to be let go when the club hit financial problems during the summer. Something of a scramble for his services ensued before his former boss at Tolka Park, Pat Fenlon, added him to an already strong squad at Dalymount Park.
Deegan quickly established himself in the Bohemians team and has since gone from strength to strength, emerging as one of the key figures in what is now an 11-league match winning streak.
The Dubliners need only match the result achieved by St Patrick's Athletic at home against Cobh Ramblers this evening in order to be sure of securing the title and if they can make in 12 in a row by defeating Drogheda United then it will not matter how their cross-city rivals fare against the Munster side.
Deegan's relationship with Fenlon, combined with the fact that, even then, Bohemians looked to be in a commanding positions at the top of the table, prompted him to choose Dalymount and he readily acknowledges that half of the team must have been contenders for the award given the way they are playing at the moment.
"Yeah I'm happy to win the award," he says, "we're a strong team, there's good players everywhere and I think there's five, six or seven players that could win it with the run we've been on."
The achievement would be comfortably overshadowed if the title can be clinched tonight and Deegan, who is currently in talks about a deal for next season, is hopeful that the team's refusal to take anything for granted might stand to them again.
"You can't take your foot off the pedal," he says, "that's the way we've been thinking even when we've been well clear. We would like to win it in Drogheda and take it off the old champions."
Bohemians will be without Neale Fenn (ankle) and Mindaugas Kalonas (international duty) for the game while Dan Connor, Guy Bates and Shane Barrett are all ruled out for Drogheda United. Graham Gartland, Richie Baker, Brian Shelley and Shaun Maher are all carrying knocks too but manager Paul Doolin is hopeful that all will be available.
Over at Inchicore, St Patrick's will be without a numbers of first-team regulars as they look for a third win of the season over Cobh. Dessie Byrne (hamstring), Damien Lynch (ankle) and Stephen Paisley are amongst the players unavailable to John McDonnell while Ramblers' Conor Meade is suspended.
Cork City must cope without Dan Murray, Danny Murphy, Colin Healy, Denis Behan and Cillian Lordan due to a mixture of injuries and suspension for tonight's visit by Finn Harps to Turner's Cross while Paul Hegarty has Jonathan Minnock (groin) as well as doubts about the fitness of Stephen Parkhouse, Shaun Holmes and Davy Byrne.
Derry City will look to maintain their strong recent run of form at Bray, the only club to beat them on the road this season, where Derry boss Stephen Kenny will have Ciarán Martyn back from injury but Gareth McGlynn is suspended while Peter Hutton (groin) and Sean Hargan (hamstring) are out. The host have Daryl Robson and Paddy Kavanagh suspended.
Eric McGill (foot) is laid up for Shamrock Rovers ahead of UCD's trip to Tolka Park but the home side should be at full strength.
In the First Division, meanwhile, the race for top spot continues with Dundalk travelling to Wexford Youths and Waterford United away to Sporting Fingal.
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