Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division
Shamrock Rovers v Derry City (Friday, 8pm)
DERRY City begin a hectic schedule of five games in 15 days at Shamrock Rovers this evening (8pm).
The Candystripes will entertain champions Dundalk at Maginn Park on Monday night and boss Kenny Shiels feels that his players should relish these games.
“I think Dundalk, Rovers, Cork and now Limerick are in the top three or four teams, so these are very, very challenging games for us and games that all the players want to be involved in,” he said.
“Shamrock Rovers are a very good team. They have had huge investments and challengers for the title and that will bring a little bit of pressure to them.
“When you bring two of Dundalk’s best players, a player from Sheffield Wednesday, you bring in Roberto Lopes, the captain of Galway, Ryan Connolly – they have cherry picked and you can see what they have done and see where they want to go.”
City will be without injured trio Conor McDermott, Rory Patterson and Ben Doherty, but Shiels is expecting whoever he selects will take their chance when given the opportunity.
“We have got the three injuries to key players – Conor McDermott, Ben Doherty and Rory Patterson – so that’s going to be a big challenge for us,” added Shiels.
“We’ll go down there without them and see how things develop, whether I make a mistake or not, we have to try and make the right decisions in selections and so forth.
“It’s up to us to make sure that we deliver and we have got good competition for places. We have got three out, let’s see how the boys step up.”
Finn Harps v Galway United (Friday, 8pm)
FINN Harps go into two games over the next four days knowing that they simply have to start getting points on the board as the harsh reality of the battle to stay in this year’s League of Ireland Premier Division is already taking hold.
Having lost to Cork City and Bray Wanderers, the Donegal club face Galway United at home on Friday, while on Monday they travel to Dublin to take on St Patrick’s Athletic.
The last thing that manager Ollie Horgan wants is to be playing catch-up from early on in a season in which the bottom three sides in the league will be relegated.
After conceding five goals against Bray, Horgan is looking for a much improved performance from his defence against Galway United.
Given that Galway have also lost twice – at home to Drogheda and away to Cork – there will be some added pressure on Harps, given home advantage.
But Horgan knows there is no such thing as an easy game at this level.
“Just because we are at home and Galway have lost their two opening games, won’t give us much of advantage in the light of the way we lost against Bray. Yes we need to take advantage of playing at Finn Park but it won’t be easy because Galway badly need a result as well,” he said.
Like Harps, Galway have strengthened this season. The Tribesmen have brought in experienced players like Gavin Holohan (Cork City) and David Cauley (St. Patrick’s Athletic), while Ronan Murray has returned from a spell with Notts County.
Galway are now managed by Shane Keegan, who was with Wexford last year.
Horgan has serious injury concerns over goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher, who sustained a head injury in the lead-up to Bray’s fourth goal. Young Buncrana goalkeeper Harry Doherty, who did particularly well when introduced as a substitute for Gallagher, could well make his full Premier Division debut.
Defender Damien McNulty is nursing a shoulder injury, while striker Danny Morrissey (knee) is unlikely to start.
That could open the door for 20-year-old English striker Eddie Dsane to get a run. Having been on the books of Port Vale, Preston North End, and Fleetwood, he showed real promise with Longford Town last season.
Horgan snapped him up just before the start of the new season and rates him highly.
Meanwhile, Dsane has revealed that the offer of joining Finn Harps was “an opportunity that was too good to turn down.”
“I think it’s a step up from where I was last year. The players are real quality and I think this group of players can go far this season and help me go far in terms of goals and assists,” he said.
Tonight’s game will be the 69th meeting of the two clubs, and the 32nd to be played in Finn Park. Haps have won 21, Galway have won 27 and there have been 20 draws.
Elsewhere tonight in the Premier Division, Dundalk take on the lively Limerick at Oriel Park, while Bohemians entertain Bray Wanderers.
Sligo Rovers, who have conceded nine goals in their opening two defeats, entertain St Patrick’s Athletic, who themselves are pointless.
Cork City have a tricky clash at United Park when they face Drogheda United.
In the First Division, the match of the night sees leaders UCD take on favourites Waterford, while second placed Athlone Town will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce when they face Longford Town.
Bottom side Cabinteely take on Wexford Youths, while tomorrow afternoon Shelbourne travel to Cobh Ramblers.
