Bohemians v Galway United, 7.45pm
Bohemians welcome Galway United as their first visitors in the league campaign and manager Keith Long knows his team faces a “big test”.
But with a 3-0 away win last weekend in Limerick followed by a 3-0 home win over Athlone Town in the EA SPORTS Cup on Tuesday, Bohemians go into this game with confidence.
Long expects Galway to fight hard for their first league points, after forfeiting an early lead last week against Derry City. “I’m sure they’ll be disappointed not to have picked up some points against Derry," he said. "They’ll be coming to Dalymount expecting to get a result.
"Tommy [Dunne] did very well to bring Galway up in his first season in charge, and he knows what it takes to be competitive in the Premier Division. I am under no illusions they will present a big test for us.”
Dan Byrne (calf) and Dave Mulcahy (cruciate) are out through injury.
President Michael D Higgins is due to attend the match.
United's players will be buoyed by a League Cup victory against Finn Harps at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday evening.
Manager Dunne watched Bohs win over Limerick and was impressed by what he saw.
"We know how tough a task it will be to get a result at Dalymount Park," Dunne told www.galwayunitedfc.ie.
"In fairness to Bohemians, they've started really well. We're currently trying to get ourselves moving and get up to speed quickly. We're not fearing anyone, we know we have to be ready for it and that we're well capable of getting a result."
The Connacht side bounced back from an opening night defeat in the best possible way, defeating Finn Harps 3-2 at Eamonn Deacy Park in the first round of the EA SPORTS Cup. Dunne wants his players to build on that momentum.
He added: "It's vitally important for us to pick up points in every game we can. We possibly should have gotten something against Derry City and when you get opportunities to take points from somebody, you have to take them.
"We need to stop giving away cheap goals and we've got to learn that quickly.”
Midfielder David O'Leary is struggling with an ankle injury picked up in training, while Sam Oji will be assessed before the game.
Long-term absentees Kilian Cantwell (knee) and Ger Hanley (achilles) are both weeks away from full fitness.
Cork City v Limerick, 7.45pm
John Caulfield’s Cork side opened their league campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Sligo Rovers, Ross Gaynor’s late equaliser giving City a share of the spoils against his former club.
Last season, City claimed victories in all three league meetings between the sides, bringing to an end a run of five league games without a victory over Limerick.
Manager Caulfield is expecting a very different type of game to the one his side faced in Sligo last weekend: “It will be a totally different game to the Sligo game," he said.
"Limerick will play on the counter-attack and sit back and try to break quickly, so we will need to move the ball much quicker and get the ball wide.
“It’s an opportunity for us, but we know we will need to create a lot more chances than we did against Sligo.
“Will we make changes for this weekend? Yes; it is a different type of game, it is our first home game and we are really looking forward to it.
"There is a great buzz around the city and we are expecting a huge crowd.”
Rob Lehane (groin), Alan Smith (back) and Michael McSweeney (hamstring) all look set to miss out, but Caulfield will welcome Billy Dennehy back from suspension.
Limerick manager Martin Russell says his players will enter the Munster derby with confidence and that a result against last year’s runners-up is “achievable if we put our best foot forward”.
Last Saturday, they were on the end of a 3-0 defeat by Bohemians in their league opener at Jackman Park, before they exited the EA SPORTS Cup to Cobh Ramblers on a 3-2 scoreline after extra-time at Saint Colman’s Park on Tuesday night.
Russell took the positives from that knockout, pointing to “improvements in areas” from the Bohs loss, and he wants his side to build on that for their latest trip south.
"The learning curve is there to be learned and we now go and look forward to the game on Friday, to go out and play well and get a result," he said.
"It will be extremely difficult but we’ll give ourselves the best chance by playing in patches like we did and show the application that we did on Tuesday."
Russell will be boosted by the return of defensive duo Paudie O’Connor and Robbie Williams who are back in the squad having been rested on Tuesday but left-back Colm Murphy (hamstring) remains out.
Derry City v Dundalk, 7.45pm
After an opening day victory away to Galway, Derry will be hoping to extend their 100% start to the season with a win against champions Dundalk, who travel to The Brandywell..
Derry will welcome back Mark Timlin and captain Ryan McBride after they sat out last weeks opener through suspension.
Still on the treatment table are Anthony Elding (calf) , Shaun Kelly (knee), Stephen Dooley (disk) and Ger Doherty (hip) while Seanan Clucas may miss out as the club still awaits clearance for him to play.
Manager Peter Hutton welcomes Dundalk with high expectations. "After last weeks win in Galway we would be hopeful that we will also get a good home support to come out and get behind the lads," he said.
"We can't ask for a bigger test for our first home game of the season than the current champions coming to town and we are really looking for to it.
"Our performance could have been much better last weekend but we know it's not going to be easy to pick up points on the road this season, so we are happy with the start and it will also help build confidence in the squad."
The Lilywhites got their title defence off the ground with a 1-0 win over Longford Town at Oriel Park last Friday, Daryl Horgan’s 15th-minute goal proved the difference in a tight encounter.
The sides met on four occasions in league and cups last season with Dundalk winning three and one drawn. Richie Towell scored a last-minute equaliser in the sides’ only league game at the Brandywell, last June, for a 2-2 draw.
Darren Meenan is now back in contention after serving his suspension last week.
Stephen O’Donnell remains out with a knee injury and will be sidelined for a number of week, with no other injuries or suspensions for manager Stephen Kenny to be concerned about.
Last weekend’s goalscorer Horgan is expecting a tough challenge at The Brandywell.
“Derry City will be a really tough test,” said Horgan. “We will have to iron things out, we were a little bit out against Longford but that will definitely come over the next few weeks.
“The Brandywell will be a tough place to play in and Derry won last week too, so it will be difficult. We know that but we’re taking each game as it comes and hopefully we can get the right result.”
Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers, 7.45pm
Johnny McDonnell’s Drogheda had a winning start to the new campaign last Saturday, picking up all three points away to Bray Wanderers courtesy of Daryl Kavanagh’s debut goal.
United were in action again on Tuesday in the EA SPORTS Cup but paid the price for a number of missed chances as First Division side Shelbourne ran out 1-0 winners and former Shels boss McDonnell was frustrated to be eliminated from the cup this early in the season.
“We weren’t at our best on Tuesday but we certainly created enough chances and had we taken one I think we would have gone on to win,” said McDonnell.
“It’s disappointing to be out of the cup but we made a number of changes from the Bray game and the players are still finding their feet.”
Despite Sligo finishing four places above Drogheda last season, there was little to separate the sides when they met in the league.
The first encounter ended in a 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds while The Bit o’Red ran out winners at United Park in June, before Drogheda registered their final win of the campaign away to Sligo in October.
However, McDonnell believes Sligo are a stronger side now than they were last year.
“It’s early doors but I think Sligo may surprise a few people this season. They were unfortunate last week against a very good Cork side and they’re capable of beating anyone on their day.
“I’d imagine that they will be challenging up towards the top half of the table come the last few games of the season.”
The Boynesiders have no suspension concerns going into Friday night’s game but midfielder Mark Hughes looks set to miss out once again due to a tight hamstring.
The Bit o’Red drew the first match of the season with Cork City 1-1, with Cork agonisingly equalising in the final minute after Steven Beattie had put Rovers in front on his debut.
Since then Owen Heary’s team comfortably progressed in the EA SPORTS Cup by beating Mayo League 8-0 at the Showgrounds.
In both matches, Heary has been happier with how his team has performed in the second halves of the games: “We have been moving the ball quicker in the second half better and that’s something I want to see,” he said.
“We haven’t been poor in the first half. The first few games will be like that with a lot of new players.
“Overall I have been happy with the attitude shown by the players so far but we will look to hit the ground running in Drogheda. I want to see us take some stuff we have been working on in training into the games.”
In team news Richard Brush (shoulder) and Jeff Henderson (foot) will both remain absent for the game.
St Patrick's Athletic v Bray Wanderers, 7.45pm
After last week’s 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers, the Saints will be looking to register their first win of the league campaign in their opening home league fixture.
However, visitors Bray Wanderers will similarly be looking to get off the mark after their 1-0 defeat last Saturday to Drogheda United.
Speaking to stpatsfc.com, Pat’s manager Liam Buckley
reflected on last week’s result against and the importance of now getting the season up and running in front of the Saints’ supporters in Inchicore.
“Last week was disappointing to lose, but the conditions had a huge influence on the game and both sides couldn’t play their game,” said Buckley. “We’ve moved on though in training this week and are fully focused on getting a result on Friday against Bray.
“They’d a narrow loss last week against Drogheda so we’re expecting Bray to come to Richmond Park and be very competitive.
“Alan Mathews is a good manager and we never have it easy against Bray so the players will need to deliver and put in a good performance if we’re to get the three points.
“That said, we also welcome back some players from suspension so the lads are looking forward to the game and getting back to playing in front of our great home support.”
In team news, Buckley confirmed that both skipper Ger O’Brien and centre half Jason McGuinness will miss out with hamstring injuries.
However, the Saints’ boss welcomes both Sean Hoare and Killian Brennan back into the fold after their respective one-match bans, while new signing Morgan Langley from the Harrisburg City Islanders in America arrived in Ireland on Thursday, and is available for selection.
Saints' keeper Brendan Clarke, meanwhile, is in line for his 150th appearance for the club if selected.
Bray Wanderers team news to follow.
Longford Town v Shamrock Rovers, Saturday, 7.30pm
Team news to follow...
