Soccer

Barry McNamee and Rory Patterson doubts for Derry

Derry City's Rory Patterson is a doubt for Sunday's game against Bray Wanderers 
Derry City's Rory Patterson is a doubt for Sunday's game against Bray Wanderers  Derry City's Rory Patterson is a doubt for Sunday's game against Bray Wanderers 

DERRY CITY have major injury concerns over striker Rory Patterson and midfielder Barry McNamee ahead of Sunday’s league encounter against Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell (5pm kick-off). 

Striker Patterson continues to struggle with a hamstring problem, which saw him taken off early in Tuesday night’s FAI Cup replay win at Drogheda United, while McNamee, who missed that tie at United Park, is struggling with flu-like symptoms.

Gareth McGlynn and Harry Monaghan are still on the treatment table and, because the injury list is getting longer, Shiels is worrying: “I’m concerned because the injuries are piling up and what we’ll have for Sunday might not be as strong as we possibly could be,” he said.

“We had five teenagers playing in the Drogheda game on Tuesday night and, while it’s great experience for them, there comes a time when you need to get your more senior players back in. Ryan and Rory are hopefully going to be ready for Sunday, but I’m not sure about Barry.”

Shiels feels Wanderers are in a false position at the bottom end of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: “I watched Bray a lot and they have gradually improved as the season has progressed and they are much better when we played them earlier in the season, so we are expecting a really difficult game,” he added.

“The have a lot of good players all over the pitch, such as Conor Kenna and Alan McNally, who are two strong centre-backs, Ryan Brennan in the middle of the park and Karl Moore is a tricky little winger and Dylan Connolly on the other side. Andrew Lewis and Robbie Creevy are also attack-minded players and they are all good players.

“I have watched them and there’s no easy games in the league and this one won’t be easy, so we got to make sure that everybody is prepared and mentally prepared to go and work as hard as we can to get another result.”

Elsewhere on Sunday in the Premier Division, champions and leaders Dundalk host Wexford Youths, while the match of the day takes place at Dalymount Park, with Bohemians hosting Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic.

City’s north-west neighbours Finn Harps make the trip to Tallaght Stadium to face Shamrock Rovers. Galway United, who were knocked out of the FAI Cup last week by Bohs, host in-form Sligo Rovers and title-chasing Cork City should pick up another three points at bottom side Longford Town. 

In the First Division, runaway leaders Limerick, who have won 11 out of 11 this season, travel to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne. Second-placed Drogheda United take on bottom side Cabinteely at Stradbrook, while Athlone Town face UCD and Cobh Ramblers take on Waterford United.