Soccer

Pat Fenlon looking to Shamrock Rovers to avenge cup defeat

Hoops manager knows team need to improve league record against other top-five sides

Shamrock Rovers manager Pat Fenlon: “Starting with Pat’s, we’ve got to go and beat them. We’ve Cork here in a few weeks as well and we’ve got to go and try and win that.” Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Paul Buttner
Fri Aug 7 2015 - 01:00

With just one win in seven games against the other four teams in the top five this season, Shamrock Rovers' manager Pat Fenlon knows the importance of greatly improving on that if his side is to mount a challenge for the title.

“I think the big one for us is that we’ve got to beat the teams around us,“ said Fenlon after last Monday’s EA Sports Cup semi-final defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic, tonight’s opponents in the league at Tallaght Stadium.

“Starting with Pat’s, we’ve got to go and beat them. We’ve Cork here in a few weeks as well and we’ve got to go and try and win that.”

Though midfielders Sean O'Connor, Keith Fahey, Stephen McPhail and Damien Duff remain out with injuries, Fenlon said yesterday that the latter two are close to full fitness.

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Recent signing Shane McEleney is suspended for St. Patrick's who remain without injured striker Christy Fagan while central defender Sean Hoare requires a fitness test.

Champions Dundalk, who face struggling Longford Town at Oriel Park, have recent recruit Ciaran Kilduff back available after he was cup-tied for their EA Sports Cup semi-final in Galway last Monday.

Fellow striker Sean Maguire's international clearance has come through while defensive midfielder Chris Shields returns from suspension.

Longford continue without injured defenders Pat Flynn and Mark Rossiter. Goalkeeper Conor Winn is suspended for Galway United who host Derry City at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Manager Tommy Dunne's long injury list shows little sign of abating while Enda Curran is a doubt. Defenders Aaron Barry and Dean Jarvis are doubts for Derry, though manager Peter Hutton adds new signings, Aaron McEneff and striker Ciaran O'Connor, to his squad.

Premier Division
Dundalk v Longford Town (Home: 2/11; Draw: 5/1; Away: 16/1)

Galway Utd v Derry City (Home: 8/5; Draw: 23/10; Away: 17/10)

Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic (Live on Setanta Ireland, 8.0) ( Home: 13/8; Draw: 21/10; Away: 9/5)

First Division

Athlone Town v Cabinteely (Home: 40/85; Draw: 10/3; Away: 6/1)

UCD v Waterford United (Home: 1/3; Draw: 4/1; Away: 8/1)

Wexford Youths v Finn Harps (8.0) (Home: 6/5; Draw: 5/2; Away: 11/5)

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