Airtricity League Premier Division: Limerick City v Derry City (Saturday, 6.30pm)
DERRY City manager Kenny Shiels hopes Limerick’s Markets Field pitch will suit his side tonight.
The City gaffer was fuming after their scoreless draw at Galway United on Monday night because of the condition of the Eamonn Deacy Park surface.
“There’s things that you can do to help the product that is football,” he insisted
“Like making sure the grass is cut and make sure that the pitch is watered when it’s a period of sunshine like we have been having and those help to improve the product. Having a nice seat in the stand doesn’t improve what people have paid to come and watch.
“I think we need to prioritise making sure that surfaces are adequate to encourage players to play and me shooting off my head is an example of someone saying what all the other coaches are thinking but I always do that because that’s the way I am.
“If I’m asked about something I’ll answer it as honestly as I can and it’s not a moan, it’s a fact.”
Shiels wants his players to keep up their impressive record at the Munster men, having won in their last seven visits.
“My sides always look to try and win games, unfortunately we are getting a few draws in recent weeks, but we are going to Limerick to try and win the game,” he added.
“Outside of Cork, we have lost the least amount of games in the league, which I suppose you could call that a point as it shows a little bit of resilience.
“But it’s going to be a tough game, we know that, in fairness you say that all the time in the League of Ireland, because having a tough game is par for the course and I don’t see how this is going to be any different.
“They have got lots and lots of good quality players. I expect Limerick to be up their challenging for a European spot.
“They have got a great incentive because if they beat us they’ll be sitting equally fourth with us; we want to make sure that we stop them from doing that.”
City will be without Lukas Schubert and Rory Patterson (right) for this evening’s clash.
“Lukas has returned home to Austria for a family funeral and he won’t be back until Sunday, unfortunately, because he probably would have been in the starting line-up, as he’s starting to come back to what he was like here last season,” confirmed Shiels.
“Rory is obviously still out and he’s another big loss to us and we are hoping he returns after the mid-season break next month.”
Airtricity League Premier Division: Finn Harps 0 Bray Wanderers 3
HIGH-FLYING Bray Wanderers maintained their good form with a 3-0 success at Finn Park over a Finn Harps side that have slumped to four defeats on the trot and now occupy bottom spot.
The damage was done in the first half as Bray scored twice and were never really in bother in the second period.
Bray got off to a great start when the in-form Gary McCabe – with his 12th league goal of the season – fired them ahead with a cracking shot from 25 yards that flew past the despairing Ciaran Gallagher.
Harps responded positively with a series of corners and Mark Salmon did well to clear a Kilian Cantwell off the line.
McCabe then went close to doubling Bray’s tally with a decent strike on 11 minutes.
Harps continued to press with Peter Cherrie much the busier of the goalkeepers and he did well to get down and block a Gareth Harkin shot on 31 minutes.
McCabe, though, always looked menacing thrusting forward for Bray from midfield and the visitors made it 2-0 on 41 minutes.
Harps lost possession just inside their own half and Ryan Brennan strode advanced towards goal before unleashing a super shot that squeezed inside the post.
Tempers boiled over just before the break as Ciaran O’Connor got booked for a challenge on John Sullivan who hobbled off injured and who had to be replaced by Anto Flood.
Determined Harps never stopped battling and will feel that they did not get the rub of the green at times in a competitive affair littered with robust challenges and yellow cards.
Harps best chance in the second half was a Ciaran O’Connor strike that dipped just over the crossbar.
Aaron Greene wrapped it up with a super third goal on 80 minutes as he cut through the Harps defence before firing through the legs of Gallagher.
The Donegal club now face two important games against fellow relegation threatened sides as they travel to Galway and then host St Patrick’s Athletic.
Prior to the game there was a minute’s applause in memory of former Finn Harps and Derry City player Eunan Blake, who died during the week.
One of the best defenders of his era, he also played with Sligo Rovers and Derry City, where he spent 10 years from 1962, before joining Finn Harps. He also managed Athlone Town.
Friday night's results
Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 2; Dundalk 4 Sligo 0; Finn Harps 0 Bray 3; Galway Utd 1 Cork City 1; St Patricks 2 Drogheda Utd 0
