SOCCER: TOP OF the table for all but the opening month of the season, Sligo Rovers' Jason McGuinness knew it was a case of just when, not if, Sligo Rovers would win the league.
But the central defender, named yesterday as Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the month for September, said the manner of their clinching it in their dramatic 3-2 win over nearest rivals St Patrick’s Athletic last week was unbelievable.
“At the end of the game, I just dropped to my knees as I was in complete disbelief,” said the 30-year-old Dubliner. “I always had confidence that we could win the league, but how we did it was just amazing.
“We didn’t want to let people down. Before the game we were made aware just how much winning the league would mean to the local people and we could see that with all of the flags up everywhere.
“I suppose the hunger of the fans and our hunger came together and we were determined to win it. So it was great that we did it for them.”
Sent off in the dying embers of that game, Sligo captain Danny Ventre is suspended for tonight’s trip to Drogheda United. Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren and Danny North are still out injured.
Needing two points to secure Europa League qualification, third-place Drogheda have Ryan Brennan and Eric Foley returning from bans, though fellow midfielders Gavin Brennan and Paul Crowley are now both suspended while central defender Derek Prendergast is a doubt with a virus.
Second in the table St Patrick’s Athletic will also confirm their place in Europe next season with a result away to Derry City in an FAI Cup final rehearsal.
Winger Seán O’Connor, also sent off in Sligo, is suspended and striker Stephen O’Flynn is unavailable due to an Achilles injury. Midfielder Ryan Coombes, having scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Germany earlier in the week as Ireland qualified for the Elite Phase of the Uefa Under-19 championship, returns.
Rory Patterson is suspended for Derry while a thigh injury means fellow striker Mark Farren is unlikely to be risked.
Garry Buckley (knee) and Brian Lenihan (back) remain sidelined for Cork City as they host bottom side Dundalk at Turner’s Cross.
Dundalk are without the injured Derek Foran, Gary Shanahan, Paul Walsh and John Mountney while Eoghan Osborne is suspended. Liam Burns, Stephen McDonnell, Mark O’Brien, Mark Griffin, Williams Woods and Bob McKenna are also fitness worries for manager Darius Kierans.
The league’s top scorer on 18 goals, Gary Twigg, who is on his way to Irish League side Portadown, will say farewell to Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers complete their home programme with a visit from UCD.
While manager Brian Laws has one winger, Gary McCabe, returning from suspension, another, Killian Brennan, misses out due to a calf injury.
Defenders Colin Hawkins and Craig Sives along with midfielder Ronan Finn and striker Ciarán Kilduff are illness/injury concerns.
UCD are without suspended defender David O’Connor while their leading scorer, Graham Rusk, remains out with a shin injury.
Kevin Feely comes back into the centre of Bohemians’ defence following suspension for their visit to Bray Wanderers, though manager Aaron Callaghan is without injured midfielder Adam Martin and striker Dave Scully, both of whom have ankle injuries.
Despite slight ankle and knee injuries respectively, defenders Derek Pender and Evan McMillan expect to be passed fit.
Though missing suspended defenders Adam Mitchell and Dane Massey, Bray have full-back Shane O’Connor and striker John Mulroy returning from injury.
