Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division
Cork City v Derry City (Friday, 7.30pm, live on RTE 2)
DERRY City’s top scorer Barry McNamee looks set to miss tonight’s televised clash at Premier Division leaders Cork City,
The talented midfielder, who has netted four goals this season, has travelled with the squad despite picking up a hamstring injury during training yesterday.
“Barry McNamee will probably be out, I’m 99 per cent sure that he’s out with a hamstring problem. He left the training ground today (Thursday),” confirmed boss Kenny Shiels yesterday.
“Obviously we have lost Rory Patterson. Aaron Barry and Dean Jarvis are also struggling, so those are two definite outs and two possibilities.
“Apart from that we have a clean bill of health and we are raring to go.”
Shiels also insisted that he isn’t ‘moaning’ when talking about his injury list.
“Funny when I speak about injuries it’s classed as moan but it’s not moaning, it’s hopefully people understand it’s factual,” he added.
“We could be playing with a teenaged back-four – Conor McDermott, Scott Whiteside, Sam Todd and Ben Doherty – it’s quite possible that actually will be our back four,” he added.
“I’m cautioned that people will be saying that I’m moaning, but I’m not, I’m just telling you as it is prior to making the trip.
On the plus side, goalkeeper Gerard Doherty is expected to recover from his thigh problem.
“Gerard has a good chance to play. We didn’t do any active stuff on Thursday, we just did set-pieces, so he’s definitely potentially in but there’s always a doubt after we make the long journey down to Cork. We’ll know better this morning, to see if there’s any reaction.”
John Caulfield’s side are sitting proud at the top of the table, having won their opening seven league games, but Shiels is keeping his fingers crossed his team can play the percentage game well.
“Cork are very direct team, very physical and they are the best in the league at what they do and that’s winning second balls,” confirmed Shiels.
“If you could win even 45 per cent of second balls against Cork you are in with a chance, but it’s about 75 per cent second balls that they win, because of their sheer presence and physical make-up of the team.
“(Gearoid) Morrissey, (Garry) Buckley, (Alan) Bennett, (Ryan) Delaney and (Karl) Sheppard; they are all big bruisers and they play that way, it’s not a criticism, everyone is entitled to play the game within the rules whatever way they want and it’s getting them success.”
Finn Harps v Dundalk (Friday, 8pm)
FINN Harps have been hit with an early-season striker crisis, with the twin attacking partnership of Danny Morrissey and Ciaran O’Connor out with hamstring injuries.
With trusty defender Damien McNulty also sidelined, it’s a major blow for Harps manager Ollie Horgan in advance of tonight’s big league game against champions Dundalk.
The Louth side inflicted a record 7-0 home league defeat on Harps when the sides last met in Ballybofey.
Dundalk were superb on that day last May, with Daryl Horgan – who has since departed for Preston North End and gone on to be capped by the Republic of Ireland – the stand-out player.
The visitors would appear to be weaker than last season, but any Stephen Kenny managed side is not going to relinquish a title without a real fight.
Already six points adrift of Cork City after just seven games, Dundalk will target this game in the “must-win” category and will hope to follow on from last weekend’s 3-1 success against Drogheda United.
Horgan says that Dundalk are “still in a different league” than Harps.
“It will be a savage test for us,” he declared.
But he can take heart from the performances so far this season, and Harps battled well before losing 1-0 to title favourites Cork at the Donegal venue on the opening day of the season.
The loss of his two main strikers is a concern, but three young players are all hoping they will get a chance to step up to the mark against Dundalk.
BJ Banda (18), Simon McGlynn (19) and Eddie Dsane (20) all got first team action in Monday night’s EA Sports Cup win over Cockhill Celtic.
Banda – who wrote himself into the Harps history books with his promotion-winning play-off goal against Limerick in 2015 – dropped down the pecking order last year.
Dave Scully, Ryan Curran, Ruairi Keating and Kevin McHugh all saw more regular action, while he made only a few appearances, with most of his games being for the U19s.
Banda acquitted himself well against Cockhill as did McGlynn, while Dsane, who was with Longford Town last season, is hugely determined to try and make an impression with Harps.
Meanwhile, Harps are still waiting on a work permit to come through for Haiti international Pascal Millien.
Harps will play Sligo Rovers at home in the second round of the EA Sports Cup on Monday, April 17.
ALTHOUGH we are only seven matches in, two mangers have already lost their jobs in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Limerick, whose manager Martin Russell departed on Tuesday, will have academy director Willie John Boland as interim manager of the senior side, and he will make his debut in the dugout against St Patrick’s Athletic this evening.
Bottom side Galway United, who are still searching for their first win of the season, travel to Bray Wanderers, while Drogheda United entertain Shamrock Rovers.
Sligo Rovers, who fired boss Dave Robertson on Wednesday, host Bohemians tomorrow night, with Declan McIntyre taking temporary charge of first team duties.
In the First Division, the match of the night sees leaders Waterford come up against second-placed Cobh Ramblers at Regional Sports Centre.
Shelbourne make the trip to Cabinteely, Wexford face Longford Town, while tomorrow night Athlone Town travel to UCD.
