While it is tighter than expected at the top of the Premier Division, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the early season table is the sight of Sligo Rovers right down there at the bottom.
Dave Robertson’s team head to Richmond Park this evening after having kept a clean sheet for the first time this season at home to Cork last weekend.
But they urgently need to improve on their last away performance which ended in a 4-0 hammering at Bray.
Robertson believes that the scoreless draw against Cork gives his side “a foundation from which to build on” and the visitors could certainly do with springing a surprise at Richmond Park where the home side’s opening night defeat by Galway United might provide the basis for some sort of encouragement.
First choice
As it happens, last week’s clean sheet was achieved without either of the team’s first choice centre-halves, and if Gavin Peers and Tim Clancy are declared fit to start this evening, the manager will have to decide whether to drop Michael Leahy and Gary Boylan, both of whom appear to have impressed Robertson last Saturday.
Philip Roberts is suspended for Rovers while the home side are close to full strength after having had some time to address their bumps and bruises as a result of their game in Ballybofey being called off.
Derry City, who could go top if they can beat Shamrock Rovers, will be without the suspended Conor McCormack for the visit of his former club while Hoops boss Pat Fenlon is missing Dean Clarke, Gary Shaw and Luke Byrne (all of whom are injured) as well as, most likely, Trevor Clarke who has been ill this week.
Derry, who have been of the league’s surprise package so far, announced this week that they will finish the season playing out of Maginn Park in Buncrana as work is scheduled to begin on renovating the Brandywell in mid- to late summer.
With European football for next season said to be the target for this one, the disruption towards of the campaign will make home games now seem all the more important.
Another of the sides to make a really strong start to the campaign, Galway United, will look to extend their unbeaten home run against Finn Harps who have a pretty miserable record against their hosts in recent years.
Poor record
Harps have gone 17 games without a win against Galway and their list of injuries ahead of this evening’s trip does not do much to suggest an imminent end to that poor record.
Barry Molloy, Sean Houston and Josh Mailey are all out of the game with Ciaran Coll and Ryan Curran both said to be significant doubts.
United still have Armin Aganovic sidelined while Stephen Folan (toe), Kevin Devaney (ankle) and Alex Byrne (groin) are also set to miss out on this occasion.
Wexford Youths, meanwhile, head to Cork off the back of their first win in the top flight and with Chris Kenny back in contention to start.
The victory over Bray, earned thanks to two goals by Paul Murphy, will have boosted confidence in a team that had tested some very good sides over the previous few weeks without getting much in the way of reward.
For Cork, Greg Bolger returns from suspension and Alan Bennett is available to start again but Michael McSweeney is a doubt and John Kavanagh is still a few weeks away from full fitness.
