SOCCER:SHAMROCK ROVERS travel to face Derry City at the Brandywell tonight with a 100 per cent record after three games which has them top of the table .
Only one of Michael O’Neill first-team 21-man squad will be disappointed at not getting a jersey as the other two, defender Craig Sives (hamstring) and striker Dean Kelly (calf), are injured. “The (new) 18-man squad gives you a few more options in terms of the involvement of players. But it’s not something that is giving me sleepless nights at the minute,” O’Neill said on the competition for places with the league champions.
Derry welcome veteran defender Eddie McCallion back from suspension, though manager Stephen Kenny remains without midfielder Ruaidhri Higgins and defender Stewart Greacen due to injury.
Second-placed Bohemians’ hastily built small squad comes under strain for the first time as they host Galway United at Dalymount. Defender-cum-midfielder Ger O’Brien is suspended while manager Pat Fenlon gives late fitness tests to his impressive strike force of Anthony Flood and Christy Fagan who have calf and hamstring strains, respectively, picked up in a friendly at SPL side Hibernians in midweek.
Shaun Kelly returns from suspension for Galway, though fellow defender Seán Kelly is banned. The club also reports that defender Steve Feeney could be out for six weeks with ligament damage.
“Coming from two goals down in the manner we did against Derry (last week) has put a lot of confidence into the squad,” said Drogheda United manager Mick Cooke ahead of his side’s trip to Sligo Rovers. “We didn’t just revert to the long ball when we went behind, we played well and fought our way back in.”
Given they may expect to have plenty of defending to do at the Showgrounds, Alan McNally passing a late fitness test, having picked up a knock in training, will be crucial to Drogheda’s hopes of bringing anything tangible home with them. Mark Nolan is suspended.
Despite their attacking football, Sligo’s slow start to the season continues without midfielder Joseph Ndo (foot) while reserve Daryl Horgan is away with the Republic of Ireland under-19s.
Far from the joys of their bright beginning last year, injuries are mounting to further upset St Patrick’s Athletic’s fragmented start to the campaign as they prepare to host Dundalk.
Captain and influential defender Conor Kenna (knee) remains out, with full-back Brian Shortall (ankle) a major doubt also. Manager Pete Mahon has selection dilemma’s in attack as well as hip and hamstring strains that rule out Ian Daly and Daryl Kavanagh respectively while Danny North is also a doubt. A plus sees Paul Crowley set to come into the side’s midfield after suspension and illness ruled him out of the opening three games.
Michael Hector should start in central defence for Dundalk as Shane Guthrie, on loan from St Patrick’s, is ineligible. Manager Ian Foster is also without Dean Bennett (suspended) and Eoghan Osbourne (hamstring).
Cillian Morrison, their only scorer from their three games to date, is out injured for UCD while midfielder Robbie Benson is a doubt for Bray Wanderers’ visit to the UCD Bowl. Bray’s Conor Murphy is away with the Ireland Under-19s. Defender Colm Tresson, who turns 40 in June, is out with a calf strain while striker Gary Shaw has an ankle injury.
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