AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREVIEW:KEEPING THE pressure on leaders Shamrock Rovers while avenging a home defeat to tonight's opponents Bohemians in April are the twin goals for Sligo Rovers' striker Eoin Doyle at Dalymount Park tonight.
With nine goals in five games, the 23-year-old was in scintillating form during May and yesterday received the Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month award.
“In fairness, if you look at the goals I’ve scored, they’ve all been down to smashing build-up play and nice passing movements,” said the Dubliner. “It’s a big game for us, it really is. Bohs have already beaten us this season, and well, when they turned us over on our own patch. It will be a real tough one.
“We aren’t a huge distance off Shamrock Rovers at all (two points, with a game more played), but if we can hit a consistent run of results in the coming weeks then we can possibly reel them in.”
A calf strain rules one-time Bohemians midfielder Joseph Ndo out of the Sligo side for tonight’s trip to Phibsboro.
Bohemians are struggling defensively, with Aidan Price suspended, Ollie Cahill out with a hamstring strain and Ger O’Brien doubtful with a similar complaint.
Utility man, and Sligo native Mark Rossiter (also hamstring) won’t make it either, while manager Pat Fenlon, who has been ill this week himself, must also wait on winger Killian Brennan who has a thigh muscle strain.
St Patrick’s Athletic are confident left winger Derek Doyle will be over a dead leg to face Derry City in perhaps the match of the night at Richmond Park, when fourth plays third.
St Patrick’s remain without captain Conor Kenna (knee) while regular right back Derek Pender is now out with a foot injury.
Derry, reeling from their shock cup exit at First Division Wexford Youths last week, have no injury worries but are without suspended midfielder James McClean.
UCD manager Martin Russell hopes to have defender David O’Connor, midfielder Robbie Creevy and striker Graham Rusk back in contention for tonight’s visit by Shamrock Rovers, though Tomás Boyle (hamstring) remains a doubt. The champions make an enforced change at left back in the absence of the suspended Enda Stevens.
Dundalk have central defender Colin Hawkins back from suspension for the Louth derby with Drogheda United at Oriel Park. Left back Nathan Murphy is rated 50-50 due to a hamstring injury. Eoghan Osborne, Stephen Maher, Stephen McDonnell and Jason Byrne all remain out injured while teenage defender Michael Hector serves a one-match suspension.
Drogheda are missing suspended midfielder Colin O’Brien.
Desperate to stem the flow of 10 straight league defeats, Galway United manager Seán Connor hopes to have clearance for new signings Ian Rossiter and Jonathan Keane to feature against Bray Wanderers at Terryland Park.
Connor is without the suspended Shaun Kelly and injured Seán Kelly (knee) and Joseph Yoffe (ankle).
Bray are without central defender Adam Mitchell, who is suspended, along with the injured Stephen Brennan, Gary Shaw, Dave Webster and Jake Kelly.
John Mulroy, who scored twice in the cup win at Youghal last week, Daire Doyle and Chris Shields all need to shake off knocks if they’re to play tonight.
Tonight's Games(7.45)
Bohemians v Sligo Rovers
Home: 2/1,
Draw: 11/5,
Away: 13/10.
Dundalk v Drogheda Utd
Home: 4/1,
Draw: 12/5,
Away: 7/10
St Patrick's Athletic v Derry City
Home: 6/4,
Draw: 11/5,
Away: 7/4.
UCD v Shamrock Rovers
Home: 6/1,
Draw: 11/4,
Away: 1/2.
