Another double-fixture Bank Holiday weekend arrives in the League of Ireland from Friday and with it a chance for Bohemians to solidify their lead at the top of the table.
The story of the season so far has been Declan Devine's side performing far above expectations, while arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers have a slightly smaller points total than expected.
This round of games will conclude the first third of the campaign. It’s been an unpredictable and dramatic year so far with plenty of entertainment.
On paper this double-header represents a major opportunity for Bohs as they travel to take on a weakened UCD side tonight before hosting the other struggling side in the division Cork City.
The other fixture tonight see Shamrock Rovers (third place) against Sligo Rovers (fifth) while second place Derry City welcome a St Patrick’s Athletic outfit in fourth.
Monday’s games sees two more top five battles when Derry and Shamrock Rovers meet as Sligo travel to Inchicore. It’s a time to make hay for Bohs and could have be a weekend they look back on in which they cemented their top three place or even begin to mount a title challenge.
The clash of the Rovers is sure to be pleasing on the eye. Sligo have scored in nine of their 11 games while failing to keep a clean sheet.
At times their football has been sensational. RB Leipzig winger Fabrice Hartmann starred last week in scoring twice against UCD while Max Mata remains the man to catch at the head of the scoring charts with eight goals.
Sligo won in Tallaght around this time two years ago. The Hoops have tasted defeat just once in the stadium in that time. Victory in Richmond Park last week showed they remain the team to fear in the league as they dealt with one of the most difficult venues in the country.
Johnny Kenny will face his former side with a renewed confidence thanks to his opening goal, helping to fill the voice from Rory Gaffney’s injury.
The meeting of Derry and St Pat’s will tell us a bit more on their credentials to win honours this season. A 1-1 draw in the opening game of the year showed the teams are well-matched and both have the potential to kick on. The defeat to Shamrock Rovers ended the Saints’ four-match winning run but all is far from lost given their better position in the table now.
Derry are beginning to welcome back some key players such as Michael Duffy and Colm Whelan. They found the net in Cork in a comfortable success to move to within five points of top spot.
Elsewhere Cork City face a big test in taking on Shelbourne having been beaten 2-0 just a few weeks ago by Damien Duff’s side. Six points from their last eight matches has begun to pressure on Colin Healy with a four point deficit to the safety of eighth place. They need to start picking up victories again soon.
Damien Duff has spoken of a European challenge given Shels’ positive start to 2023.
The final game of the night is the not so small matter of the 173rd competitive Louth derby between Dundalk and Drogheda United.
The teams are level on 13 points in the bottom half of the table. Stephen O’Donnell’s side had a somewhat fortunate win in the first fixture in Weavers Park. Injuries woes and a new look inexperienced squad has made it a difficult first third of the season for the Lilywhites.
United will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Bohs last week. There’s no televised game this Friday but Monday’s heavyweight clash of Derry City and Shamrock Rovers will be live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
UCD v Bohemians
College were victorious in their last home game against Cork City and caused Sligo Rovers problems a week so Declan Devine will be wary of the threat the bottom side in the league pose.
Devine said: "We had a very difficult game against them when we played them at home. I expect nothing different.
"We will take a big crowd there and I ask our fans to come out and really get behind the team and generate the kind of atmosphere we had in Drogheda, the Brandywell and Sligo.
"I ask every fan to help us because it can be a difficult venue – UCD always go on a run, every year, and we have got to make sure we go there with the right attitude and intensity.
"If we can get our fans to push us on, it will be a massive help for us."
Ali Coote (thigh) returned to training this week and will be assessed before the game.
James Akintune (hamstring) and Jay Benn (calf) are out, while Jordan Flores is suspended.
Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers, Tallaght Stadium, 8pm
Lukas Browning scored an injury-time equaliser to deny Shamrock Rovers a win in Sligo on the opening day of the season.
This return game will bring another big challenge according to Stephen Bradley.
He said: "I think have been very good, when you watch their games. They've caused every team trouble, home or away and I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to Tallaght and taking us on, because they’ve been good this year."
It's a tale of two strikers as one Sligoman lines up for the home side in Johnny Kenny, while the league's leading marksman New Zealand international Max Mata is in Bit O' Red.
Bradley has praised Kenny's role in their win over St Patrick's Athletic last week.
"His movement was brilliant for the goal and he hits it very early. To be fair to Johnny, the keeper makes a brilliant save with one of his chances when you see it back, but he was a real threat all night. His all-around game was good and he worked extremely hard. We know what we have with Johnny and I think you can see that his play really suits how we play."
"I think it's about trying to control the game as early as possible and keep them quiet as a team, not one player (Mata).
"We never focus on one player, no matter who we’re playing so it’s about getting to grips with the game as soon as possible and respecting all their threats, from set plays and both of their wingers. So it’s about respecting them all really."
Rory Gaffney could return in a big lift for the Tallaght outfit. Simon Power is in contention. Dylan Watts, Sean Gannon and Liam Burt remain out but are very near a comeback.
Sligo boss John Russell remains confident his side can have a major impact in the league this year.
''We had a good performance last weekend. It was important to pick up the three points in what is such a tight and competitive league.
‘’There will be a lot of twists and turns over the next few weeks but it’s important that we concentrate on ourselves and what we’re trying to do on the pitch.
‘’I have such belief in this group of players and staff. If we continue to work hard and set high standards we will get our rewards over the course of the year’’.
Garry Buckley, Karl O' Sullivan, Mark Byrne and Gary Boylan are all ruled out.
Bogdan Vastsuk and Eanna Clancy are back in training and could feature in the squads over the weekend as well as John Mahon who missed the game against UCD with an ankle knock picked up in training but is near a return.
Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
New Derry assistant Paddy McLaughlin has been talking up his new side now that he sees the total array of talent at his disposal ahead of the visit of St Patrick's Athletic
McLaughlin replaced Alan Reynolds earlier this month, leaving his role as Cliftonville boss.
He said: "I've spent a lot of time with our lads over the past ten days or so and the trip to Cork helped me to get to know the players and staff a bit better.
"I have to say that the quality in our squad has been a real eye-opener. There is so much talent in there and I honestly believe that this side is capable of beating anyone in the country on their day.
"What we do have to do better is make home advantage count and that's exactly what we'll be trying to do on Friday night."
Cameron Dummigan and Mark Connolly are another week closer to a return for City but won't make this game. Michael Duffy and Colm Whelan are in contention to start.
McLaughlin does not believe the defeat to Shamrock Rovers will lower confidence in the visitors.
"It shows you the strength of the league that teams are capable of putting runs together" he said.
"They're an in-form side and they're scoring goals, so no doubt it's a difficult game for us."
Tim Clancy is backing the Saints to produce a big performance and admits it is an important game, facing off against a fellow leading side
"We know the importance of bouncing back after a disappointing result last weekend and we'll be aiming for a positive result up in Derry.
"It's another huge game for us and our focus is on going up there to win. They had a big win themselves in Cork and they'll be looking to back that up but we'll be heading up ourselves looking to get back to winning ways."
Danny Rogers (thumb), Tom Grivosti (hamstring), Harry Brockbank (calf) continue to miss out through injury, Captain Joe Redmond (hamstring) will also miss the game after undergoing surgery last weekend, Tommy Lonergan is available again after suspension.
Shelbourne v Cork City, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
By quirk of the fixture list two of the three sides not in Leinster in the division face trips to Dublin during this double-weekend.
Cork are in Tolka Park tonight before their trip to Dalymount on Monday, while Sligo Rovers are in Tallaght and Richmond Park with 72 hours.
The Rebels face a Shels side down a number of key players.
Kian Leavy has joined the injury list while Shane Farrell begins a three-match ban for the red card against Dundalk.
Conor Kane, Sean Boyd, Gavin Molloy, and Mark Coyle sit out with injuries.
Tyreke Wilson returns from a ban.
Shels are in contention to drive up the table if they can build on a decent start to the Premier Division.
"I have and I haven't," Damien Duff said when speaking about how happy he has been with his team's performances.
"I believe with the way we work our team will continuously grow, they give so much for each other. Why I say haven’t what I mean is I don’t think the league has settled down yet at all, there’s still a real chaotic feel to the games, all across the division now even in the second series of matches we haven’t settled down into our rhythm, the way we want to play and impose ourselves on the match, wanting to keep the ball and dominate games. It hasn’t happened yet.
"We’re trying to get to that point but the chaos is still there. You could argue that Shamrock Rovers are the only side properly settled into their stride, even when people said they were struggling, they were playing really well and never far away from clicking. What I want us to do now is bring some calm in the chaos."
Duff has offered compliments to his counterpart and former international team-mate Colin Healy ahead of the game.
"Cork City are a very good team, they have a brilliant manager in Colin Healy, he commands so much respect in the game for what he has achieved.
"What he's done with Cork City is very impressive as well, getting them back to where a big club of their stature belongs.
"As with any game, I won’t be disrespecting them, that’s not our style, we’ve warned the players they can’t either, it’s a really tough game, it’s there for all to see, they are a good team, we saw what they did away to Rovers, 4-4 draw, they beat Dundalk, Cork City are a really organised side and it’s a tough task for sure."
Dundalk v Drogheda United, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Dundalk have picked up two points since their win in Drogheda so they'll be eager to pick up three points again in Oriel Park.
Seven players will sit out this game for the home side - a sign of just how much they have struggled on the injury front - but Robbie McCourt could return.
Andy Boyle, Greg Sloggett, Cameron Elliott, Daniel Kelly, Louie Annesley and John Mountney are the injured players while Wasiri Williams is suspended.
A 1-1 draw in Tolka Park against a Shels side with 10 men for the vast majority of the game did little to ease frustrations.
But Stephen O'Donnell feels his side can build on it.
"I was happy with a lot of what we did at Tolka Park last week. Missing the penalty gave the crowd energy and when Shelbourne scored, they had something to hang onto but when we went 1-0 down, we kept persevering, we kept playing the right way and we dominated the game. I think we had 80% possession, 44 crosses, and something like 20 attempts on goal so I was happy with how we played and the least we deserved was a point.
"A lot of our players wouldn't have played regular first-team football and had to back performances up and get results, week in, week out with limited numbers, and this period will be beneficial for the team, the group and me as a coach going forward.
"Drogheda have done very well this season. In the main, they’ve been able to pick the same team and their main players, the likes of Ryan Brennan, Darragh Markey, Gary Meegan and Dayle Rooney were ever-present last year as well. You get good continuity with that and they’ve made another good start.
"They’ve only lost one game on the road this season and they went up to the Brandywell recently and even though they had a man sent off, they won the game so they’re going to be tough enough to crack. They carry an attacking threat but we have good players too, we have trained well and we’re looking forward to it."
