Dundalk aim to continue 100% start against Saints

Dundalk v St Patrick's Athletic, 7.45pm

Champions Dundalk welcome FAI Cup holders St Patrick’s Athletic to Oriel Park in a repeat of the President’s Cup fixture, which the Lilywhites won 2-1 at the start of the season.

The home side continued their fine start to the season last week with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Derry City at the Brandywell, following on from the 1-0 win against Longford Town the previous week at Oriel Park.

After making it two wins from two, right-back Sean Gannon was pleased to make it maximum points thus far but is looking ahead to the match against Pat’s and believes it will be another difficult game.

He said: “It really was a great away win for us. To go to the Brandywell and win is always a huge task.

“We played St Patrick’s Athletic a couple of weeks ago in the President’s Cup and it was a really tough game. They were good on the day and it was a difficult match.

"Every game is tough, no matter who it’s against but we will prepare well and look forward to it.”

For the match, Dundalk will restore their first-team players after the Leinster Senior Cup win over Wexford Youths on Monday featured a number of youngsters.

Darren Meenan made his first league appearance of the season last week after serving a suspension in the opening week while Stephen O’Donnell remains out as he continues his recovery from knee surgery which will keep him sidelined for a number of weeks.

The Saints will be without the services of defenders Ger O'Brien and Jason McGuinness because of hamstring complaints.

However Liam Buckley could hand new signing Morgan Langley a debut after the midfielder completed his first week of full training.

Buckley said: "We had a good win last week against Bray and the lads showed in parts of the game what they can do so I was pleased with the result. However we've still a few things to work on so we'll be looking to improve all aspects of our performance heading into Friday against Dundalk.

"Games between ourselves and Dundalk are always very tight, as was the case a few weeks ago where only a few little things proved to be the difference.

"I'd expect it to be the same on Friday so from our end of things, the players know they have to be switched on and produce a performance on the night. If they do that, we've got a chance."

Galway United v Drogheda United, 7.45pm

Galway United are still searching for their first win since returning to the Irish top flight.

Manager Tommy Dunne admits his side have made "a slow start" to the season but he’s confident that his players can get on the board against Johnny McDonnell’s side on Friday evening.

"As regards results, we’ve made a slow start, make no bones about it," Dunne said.

"Against Drogheda we have to be clued in from the start, we know we’ll up against some very good players. Our supporters may think we’re expected to win just because we’re at home against Drogheda United but we know we need to do our work diligently."

Dunne will have to plan for the game without the services of full-back Marc Ludden who is ruled out with a knee injury.

Ger Hanley (achilles) and Kilian Cantwell (knee) remain long-term absentees.

Despite being behind twice in the game, Drogheda recorded a surprise 3-2 victory at home to Sligo Rovers last week and manager Johnny McDonnell has praised his side’s resolute display.

"We started off okay but then gave away two poor goals, which you can’t do at this level,” McDonnell acknowledged. "We were much more disciplined in the second half and once we got the lead, we had the wherewithal to see out the game, which really impressed me.

"Physically and mentally, we were excellent second half. The players showed great maturity to restrict Sligo to very few chances once we got in front and in the end I thought we created some good opportunities to make it 4-2 and I’ve asked the players to go and match those energy levels against Galway."

With two wins from two, confidence is high within the Drogheda ranks, but McDonnell is eager for his side to remain focused ahead of a difficult trip to last season’s play-off winners.

"Galway could use our position in their team talk in terms of wanting to knock us off our perch and we need to be wary of that. I think if we perform to our capabilities, then we have a good chance of getting a positive result," he added.

Sean Thornton is suffering with a back complaint but should be passed fit while Daryl Kavanagh, Stephen Maher and Dylan Connolly are all doubtful with flu. Mark Hughes may be available from the bench for the first time this season.

Shamrock Rovers v Cork City, 8pm

Shamrock Rovers will be looking to extend their winning start to the season up against another side gunning for the league crown this year.

Cork had a 100% record against Rovers last season and are the only team to inflict a league defeat on the Hoops since Pat Fenlon took charge.

Hoops manager Pat Fenlon is waiting on the fitness of Danny North (knee), Luke Byrne (hamstring) and Patrick Cregg (hamstring), who will all be given the chance to prove their fitness.

Gavin Brennan is available against following suspension.

City followed up their opening day draw away to Sligo Rovers with a resounding 5-0 win over Limerick at Turner’s Cross in their first home game of the season.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, manager John Caulfield said that it would be a tough test for his side: "They have done a lot of work in the close-season and there is a lot of talk about Rovers.

"They’ve won their first two games and there is huge expectation there. It will be a huge challenge, Rovers will be favourites, but at the same time, we played them three times in the league last season, once when Pat was in charge, and we won all three."

Cork have kept three consecutive clean sheets against Rovers in the league, while the Hoops haven’t kept a clean sheet against City in any of the last ten league meetings.

Rob Lehane (groin) and Michael McSweeney (hamstring) will both miss out once again, while Josh O’Shea is also ruled out with a knock. Dan Murray has recovered from a groin strain and will be fit for selection.

Sligo Rovers and Derry City meet in a North-West derby in the SSE Airtricity League with the home side looking for their first win of the campaign.

It hasn’t been an ideal start for new manager Owen Heary with just one point from the opening two games.

The Bit o’ Red will once again play without two members of the squad with injuries to Jeff Henderson and Richard Brush.

Henderson picked up a foot injury in pre-season while Brush injured his shoulder on the opening night against Cork.

Brush had another scan this week which confirmed that he will have about another three weeks on the sidelines.

Coach Ciaran Kelly will continue as cover after he was registered last week.

City were beaten by Dundalk in their last outing, as the reigning champions away with a 1-0 win from The Brandywell.

Cillian Morrison , Nathan Boyle and Anthony Elding return to their squad while Seanan Clucas has finally received international clearance and will also be available for selection.

Gerard Doherty (hip), Shaun Kelly (knee) and Barry McNamee as they are all carrying knocks ahead of this weekend’s game.

Both manager have pinpointed set-pieces are an important factor in the game.

Sligo boss Heary is also keen to see an improved defensive performance

He said: “The main disappointing stuff was the defending that night against Drogheda. We created plenty of chances and were happy with that. When you score two goals away from home you would expect to be able to see the game out so it’s more the defensive side we need to work on.

“We have looked back at the video from the game, analysed it and have been working on things. The players have seen what we want them to do and hopefully we will be able to rectify it on Saturday.

“One point from a possible six is not good enough so it will be important that we get the three points to put that right.

“Derry are a decent enough team. I know Peter Hutton well and he will have his team well drilled. They are a strong team who will do well from set-pieces. They have some very good young players like Patrick McEleney, Barry McNamee, Philip Lowry and some good experienced players as well. But the important thing will be that we concentrate on what we do.”

City manager Hutton expects the home side to take the game to his men:

“We have no doubt that Sligo will come at us from the start which should allow us to play a little. I have watched them already this season and Owen Heary has put together a very good squad of players who can hurt you in different areas of the pitch.

“We expect them to be very dangerous from set pieces with the likes of Gavin Peers and Stephen Folan imposing themselves. So we will have to be very mindful and give them the respect they're due but having said that we must learn from the Dundalk game last week and not give them too much respect and take the game to them."

SATURDAY

Bray Wanderers v Bohemians, 5.45pm

Bohemians go to Bray determined to keep the foot on the pedal and to maintain a 100 per cent record in the league.

Manager Keith Long returns to the club where he started his coaching career, meeting Bray for the second time in a month as Bohemian manager.

In the Leinster Senior Cup the sides went to 120 minutes without a goal scored but Bohemians advanced to the next round on penalties.

“That game showed what difficult opposition Bray are to play against. They are a dogged outfit and they can grind you down,” said Long.

“They’ll be competitive and we’ve got to make sure we look after ourselves, and get right into it.”

In three league and league-cup games, Bohemians have racked up eight goals without conceding any. Five of the goals have come from set-pieces, two more last Friday when defender Anto Murphy scored from a free-kick and from a corner.

For Long, last weekend’s win against Galway United was “very pleasing, because we didn’t play to our full potential”.

Bohemians created many more scoring opportunities than they converted and Long admits he doesn’t know precisely what was not clicking.

“We were a bit loose at times and didn’t keep the ball as well as we could, or should,” he said. “We know we can get better but the pleasing thing is to pick up the win having not played at our best. That’s a good habit to get into.”

Dave Mulcahy (calf) and Dan Byrne (cruciate) are still out but Long otherwise has a full squad to choose from. The trip to Bray is followed on Tuesday by a home game against the league champions Dundalk but the manager is not planning to save any players.

“We’ve got to give Bray every respect, which we will do. We can’t take our foot off the pedal. We have to try and win,” he said.

“After Saturday, we will think about Tuesday. But for Saturday, we’ll put our best foot forward and pick our strongest XI against Bray.”

Sligo Rovers v Derry City, 7.45pm