SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Derry City v Galway United (tonight, 7.45pm)
DERRY City’s Aaron Barry wants a positive result from tonight’s home clash with lowly Galway United, before heading into a well-earned break.
The Candystripes know if results go their way they could finish the night in third spot, which is something Barry says would be fantastic considering how much the club has gone through this season with the death of captain Ryan McBride.
“The break means we can recharge the batteries, because it feels like we have done a full season because of the tragedy and everything that has happened,” he said.
“The start of the season feels like a lifetime ago now. Mentally the toll has been as much as the physical toll since the start.
“So, after the Galway game it’s kind of recharging for a week, either at home or going away foreign, and then get back at it and ready for the European games.”
However, before the break the 24-year-old is ready for a tough 90 minutes at home to Shane Keegan’s side tonight.
“We have played Galway twice this year and both games were tough, so we are expecting no different tonight,” he said.
“But [Shamrock] Rovers beat Bray during the week, so everything is really tight beside us. If we can get three points it will possibly leave us third, but we’ll see how it goes.
“Teams sit deep against us because they know that we like to play and try to play through them, but if you get an early goal teams don’t have a choice but to come out and attack you and that’s when we come into our own.
“So we just need to get the first goal as it’s massive for us. Hopefully the big Maginn Park pitch, which is wide, will help
us.
“Our wide men [Ronan] Curtis, Josh [Daniels], [Lukas] Schubert do really well at home, so hopefully we can get them in and they can get the ball into the box and the boys can put them away.”
City will be without midfielder Nicky Low (bruised foot) and striker Mikhail Kennedy (broken toe), but they are hopeful centre-forward Rory Patterson will return after the break.
The match of the night in the Premier Division sees champions Dundalk host runaway leaders Cork City (7.45pm, live on RTE Two).
Stephen Kenny’s side know they need to pick up three points if they harbour any hopes of winning a fourth league title in-a-row, as they currently sit a massive 15 points behind John Caulfield’s Rebel Army.
There’s a Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium with Shamrock Rovers taking on bottom side St Patrick’s Athletic (8pm), Bohemians entertain Drogheda United (7.45pm) and an-out-of-sorts Bray Wanderers side make the trip to Markets Field to face Limerick (7.45pm).
In the First Division, leaders Waterford take on Athlone Town, Wexford visit Cobh Ramblers and managerless Longford Town come up against Shelbourne at Tolka Park. All three matches kick-off at 7.45pm.
