O'Neill keen to kick-start season against Bohemians

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION:THERE HAS been talk about the lead Shamrock Rovers have let Bohemians establish over them in the title race and Rovers manager Michael O'Neill is not happy with the pressure being put on last year's runners-up so early in the season.

As things stand, if Bohemians won their game in hand they would be eight points clear of their rivals but that will be cut back significantly this evening at Tallaght if Rovers can continue last year’s strong run of results against Pat Fenlon’s men, when they took all six points from the pair’s games.

With so many injuries over the last few weeks, O’Neill is justified to state his team will get stronger as the campaign progresses but he is still without important players for tonight’s game, with doubts hanging over others. Despite the problems, though, the Rovers boss remains upbeat.

“It’ll be a huge boost for us if we can get the win,” he says. “But it’s certainly not a make-or-break game, as some people are saying.

“Getting the win would be more important for us in terms of what it would do for the team pushing on. Bohs have had a good start to the season, but we’re confident we can pick up three points tonight and kick-start our season.”

They’ll have to do it without Gary Twigg and Dessie Baker although the former is likely to return over the next couple of weeks. Pat Sullivan is also laid up while Paddy Kavanagh, Craig Sives and Seán O’Connor are among those whose fitness will be assessed in the run up to kick-off.

The visitors could have a full squad for the first time this season. Steven Gray and Anto Murphy might start after recovering from ankle and shoulder problems respectively.

Elsewhere, leaders St Patrick’s Athletic are at full strength for the visit of Drogheda United who have Joe Kendrick suspended and fitness doubts over Paul Crowley, Brendan McGill and Corie Treacy.

Dundalk boss Ian Foster is expected to field much the same side against a close to full-strength UCD as the one that came from behind against Sligo Rovers on Monday night to earn a draw.

Sligo, also unbeaten, are hoping Joseph Ndo’s international clearance comes through in time for tonight’s game in Bray where Iarfhlaith Davoren and Paul Whelan could return from injury. Wanderers will be without Chris Shiels (suspension) and David Tyrrell (ankle).

In the night’s other top-flight game, Bobby Ryan and Alan Murphy are set to miss out again for Galway while Derek O’Brien, Jason Molloy and Thomas Heary are among the doubts for the Terryland Park outfit as they prepare to face Sporting Fingal.

Liam Buckley will be without suspended Shan McFaul and Shaun Williams as well as injured left back John Frost although Lorcan Fitzgerald is available.