Derry City's fine unbeaten league run faces stern Showgrounds test

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISIONIT'S A super Saturday of sorts for the Airtricity League with two games to be televised live and the standout fixture of the day is first up with leaders Derry City heading to the Sigo Rovers' Showgrounds in the hope of maintaining the form that has given them very important wins over the big Dublin clubs recently.

The visitors have Mark Farren in their squad for the game after the striker’s remarkable comeback from serious illness. Stephen Kenny will also have to cope this afternoon without Gareth McGlynn (knee) while Kevin Deery and Michael McCrudden (ankle and calf respectively) are reckoned to be doubtful.

Derry are unbeaten in the league since late May but their biggest loss of the campaign came here in Sligo last time around with Paul Cook’s side winning 3-0 a few weeks before that. A repeat of something like it would put a major dent in City’s title hopes but it would bring the hosts right back into the heart of the battle.

Cook, who has Alan Keane, John Russell and Brendan Clarke back in the reckoning for the game after they all missed the comfortable FAI Cup replay defeat of Monaghan in midweek, describes this as a “pivotal weekend” and the manager is optimistic about his side’s chances of coming out the other end of it in good shape.

Elsewhere, Shamrock Rovers have new signings Jim Paterson and Rohan Ricketts available for the visit to Dundalk who should be in high spirits after their success at the second attempt in the derby cup tie against Drogheda United.

Michael O’Neill and his men, of course, have more reason than most to be bursting with confidence and even with Dean Kelly, Ken Oman, Conor McCormack and possibly Ronan Finn laid up, the Northerner insists, “we are moving into the final quarter now and our aim is to win every game, starting with this one”.

Bohemians have Christy Fagan and Liam Burns suspended for the visit of Bray but Robert Bayly and Stephen Traynor have both gone some way towards proving their return to fitness this week and each could feature in some way. Wanderers have Adam Mitchell, Danny O’Connor and Stephen Last serving bans while key central midfielder Gary Dempsey is still laid up with a back problem.

Galway United have Seán Kelly back, in the squad at least, after his long lay-off but must try to end their long sequence of defeats without Johnny Keane or Laurence Gaughan who are injured and suspended respectively.

Their hosts, St Patrick’s Athletic, who are unbeaten in 18 at Richmond Park now, have Ian Daly (back) out but Danny North, David McMillan and Shane McFaul are all in contention after training last night while Evan McMillan’s exams are out of the way.

UCD will look to build on their spirited fightback in the cup against Rovers as they take on Drogheda United. Ciarán Nangle (shin) is out for the hosts while Dave Rogers is suspended for United who have Stephen Quigley, Robbie Clarke and Peter McMahon available again.