SOCCER EIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREVIEWS: THE TIMING of a knee ligament injury to right winger Gareth McGlynn at the recent Dublin Super Cup, which will sideline him for up to six weeks, could scarcely have been worse for Derry City.
The club’s influential left winger James McClean said his goodbyes at Derry on Wednesday before training with new club Sunderland yesterday following his €400,000 move to the Stadium of Light.
Stephen Kenny’s reshaped team has its first major test when St Patrick’s Athletic visit the Brandywell tonight. “The loss of both James and Gareth has given us a few problems at what is a crucial stage of the season, but it’s all about how we respond to their absence,” said Kenny whose side are second in the table on goal difference in a three-way tie at the top with leaders Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers.
A win tonight will put Derry top prior to Sligo meeting Bohemians at the Showgrounds tomorrow night. While Derry have no other injury or suspension worries, St Patrick’s are without banned pair, goalkeeper Gary Rogers and midfielder Shane McFaul, who were both sent off in their 2-2 draw with UCD last Sunday but leading scorer Danny North returns from suspension.
His knee injury again keeps central defender Ken Oman out of the Shamrock Rovers side ahead of the visit of UCD to Tallaght Stadium. Stephen O’Donnell is also out with a hamstring problem while fellow midfielder Chris Turner completes his three match suspension.
Striker Karl Sheppard is back following seven weeks out with an ankle problem, though attacking midfielder Ronan Finn must overcome a slight groin strain if he’s to feature. UCD are without midfielder Darren Meenan, sent off at St Patrick’s last time out, but have striker Samir Belhout available.
Drogheda United look capable of belying the bookmakers odds as they take their best form of the season into tonight’s home clash with Dundalk in the Louth derby. Manager Mick Cooke has midfielder Brian Gannon returning from suspension, though Jack Flynn and Colm O’Brien remain out injured. Eoghan Osborne (broken leg), Stephen McDonnell (knee) and Colin Hawkins (hamstring) remain out for Dundalk.
Bray Wanderers host bottom side Galway United tonight with Dave Webster, Derek Prendergast, Chris Shields and Shane O’Neill back from suspension. Gary Shaw, Darren Quigley and Shane O’Connor also return following injury.
Galway, hoping to avoid a 20th straight league defeat, wait on midfielder Bobby Ryan who has a slight head injury.
