Sport

Rovers can extend lead at top if Sligo slip up against St Patrick's

SOCCER: WITH DANNY North back fit to lead his attack, St Patrick’s Athletic manager Pete Mahon is entrusting Evan McMillan to…

PAUL BUTTNER
Thu May 26 2011 - 01:00

SOCCER:WITH DANNY North back fit to lead his attack, St Patrick's Athletic manager Pete Mahon is entrusting Evan McMillan to put the shackles on Sligo Rovers' Eoin Doyle at the opposite end of the pitch at Richmond Park tonight.

St Patrick’s are unbeaten in seven games, with McMillan pivotal in keeping four clean sheets in five. Doyle, the league’s leading scorer, has scored seven goals in their last three games.

Mahon’s only injury absentee is captain Conor Kenna while Sligo travel at full-strength.

Should Sligo’s charge be blunted in Inchicore, Shamrock Rovers can extend their lead at the top to more than two points by defeating Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds. Rovers manager Michael O’Neill has a full strength team for the first time this season.

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Bray continue without their top-scorer Conor Murphy who’s in Poland with the Republic of Ireland Under-19s. Manager Pat Devlin is still without Darren Quigley (elbow), Gary Shaw (foot) and Stephen Brennan (calf) while there are doubts over the fitness of defender Dave Webster (ankle), and midfielders Danny O’Connor (thigh) and Graham Kelly (knee).

Defenders Daniel Lafferty and Shane McEleney return from suspension for third-placed Derry City’s trip to Dundalk. Though Kevin Deery’s calf injury is not as bad as first thought, the game at Oriel Park is too soon for him.

Dundalk are without suspended winger Ross Gaynor, who joins Eoghan Osborne (broken leg), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee) and Jason Byrne (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Boosted by the return to fitness of midfielder Glenn Cronin, striker Christy Fagan and goalkeeper Barry Murphy, Bohemians will hope to end a run of six games without a home win when UCD visit Dalymount Park. Pat Fenlon is without left-back Ollie Cahill and utility man Mark Rossiter though Ger O’Brien returns. UCD are without midfielder Robbie Creevy.

Galway United take on Drogheda United to Terryland Park with both having their last eight games. Galway midfielder Gary Curran (foot) is out as are defenders Seán Kelly (knee) and Shaun Kelly (suspended).

Defenders Alan McNally and Mark Nolan return from suspension for Drogheda, striker Darragh Hanaphy is a doubt while midfielder Jack Flynn is injured.