New signing Shane McEleney comes straight into contention for his St Patrick’s Athletic debut against Galway United at Richmond Park tonight as Liam Buckley’s in-form side look for a seventh consecutive league win.
His signing from Derry City completed yesterday, 24-year-old McEleney, nominally a central defender, though he can play in midfield, may well start as Jason McGuinness is a doubt having received a broken nose and 10 stitches in a facial cut in last week's convincing 3-0 win at Sligo Rovers.
Fellow defender Sean Hoare also needs to prove his fitness following his recovery from a hamstring tear. Striker Christy Fagan remains out with a knee injury.
Midfielder Greg Bolger, who stated on social media yesterday that he wasn't happy the club had rejected a bid for him from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell, serves a one-match suspension.
Ryan Connolly, Enda Curran and Andy O’Connell are out injured for Galway who give fitness checks to Marc Ludden and Conor Barry. Defender Kevin Garcia has left the club.
Though they beat them 8-1 at Oriel Park back in early May, Dundalk travel to Bray Wanderers conscious of the fact that they took just one point from two games at the venue last year on the way to winning the title.
“The last nine games, they’ve won six, drawn one and lost two, only conceding three goals, so it’s going to be a really tough game,” said Dundalk central defender Brian Gartland.
“Last year we drew one and lost one, so we know it’s a tough place to go. We want to go out and right that wrong and we’ll go out to get another three points.”
Manager Stephen Kenny adds new signing from St Patrick's, striker Ciaran Kilduff, to a fully fit squad. The club last night also signed ex-Waterford United striker Sean Maguire, who was released by West Ham United.
Bray have winger Peter McGlynn back from suspension. Goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness and winger Adam Hanlon remain out with ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Shamrock Rovers have their leading scoring Mikey Drennan back available following a three-match domestic suspension as they visit Drogheda United. An ankle injured rules midfielder Gavan Holohan out of the Cork City side to face Bohemians at Turner's Cross. John Kavanagh and Darren Dennehy are also still out injured.
Bohemians, who last night signed winger Jake Kelly from Dundalk, have concerns about Lorcan Fitzgerald (hamstring) and striker Ismahil Akinade (shoulder). Anto Murphy and Paddy Kavanagh are suspended while Derek Pender, Dan Byrne and Mark Griffin remain out long-term.
