Kenny forced to make changes

LEAGUE leaders Derry have been scoring plenty of goals over the opening weeks of the campaign but Stephen Kenny’s problems this evening are at the other end as Peter Hutton (groin) and Stephen Gray (suspension) will both be missing for this evening’s televised visit of Sligo Rovers, reports Emmet Malone.

Having come on in the midweek demolition of St Patrick’s Athletic, Clive Delaney looks set to start alongside Mark McChrystal in central defence but Gray’s absence from the left back position means Kenny will have to make at least one other change to the side that ran in three first-half goals at Inchicore.

Sligo could be better fixed themselves. Paul Cook’s side beat Bray to move three points clear of Drogheda at the foot of the table but the Brandywell will be a tougher assignment without Stephen Parkhouse, Brian Cash, Mauro Almeida and Chris Butler, all injured.

Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill has doubts about Ian Bermingham (calf), Pat Flynn (hamstring) and Barry Murphy (wrist), while midfielder Stephen Bradley is suspended following his sending off in Dundalk. Cork City are close to full strength for the sold out game in Tallaght with just Stephen O’Donnell and Robert Mezeckis still laid up on the treatment table.

Galway United will look to recover some of their momentum this evening in Drogheda where Ian Foster will be hoping John Russell and Mark O’Toole will be fit enough to at least make the bench. Shane Fitzgerald (ankle) is still out, while Séamus Connelly is a doubt with a groin strain.

United, still looking for their first win of the campaign, are likely to be without Shane Barrett, while Alan McNally is a major doubt.

In the day’s early game (4.0), Bray boss Eddie Gormley will again have to cope without important players Dave Mulcahy (groin), Derek Pender (knee) and Paddy Kavanagh (ankle), while goalkeeper Chris O’Connor (knee) might end up joining them in the stands.

Dundalk boss Seán Connor will be missing Thomas Heary (hamstring) and Michael McGinlay (ankle) while the great Michael Collins international clearance saga also continues to rumble on.