St Patrick's chase top spot and aim to thwart Bohs

IF THINGS go their way up north St Patricks Athletic could join Shamrock and Sligo Rovers at the top of the Premier Division …

IF THINGS go their way up north St Patricks Athletic could join Shamrock and Sligo Rovers at the top of the Premier Division table tonight although the very least a win at Dalymount Park would deliver is a likely knockout blow to their hosts’ hopes of qualifying for Europe through the league.

Pete Mahon brings a strong squad across the city with him for the derby game with several team members having come back from injury in recent weeks. Dave Mulcahy remains sidelined but Evan McMillan is expected to be available while his brother David and Ian Bermingham continue to edge their way back to full fitness.

The manager admits every remaining game must be won if the Inchicore club is really to be in top spot at the end of the campaign and “even that might not be enough,” he says. What’s clear, though, is that anything less than victory tonight will make it look more like a three horse race.

Pat Fenlon will be without Liam Burns (calf) and perhaps his captain Owen Heary who has been struggling with a hamstring problem.

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Derry can go top by themselves if they beat Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell but Stephen Kenny will have to make changes to the side that won the EA Sports Cup last weekend.

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times