SOCCER:BOTTOM OF the table, having lost your last 11 league games, is scarcely an opportune time to be visiting the champions and league leaders, especially so given your hosts' upset at having had an accusation of racism levelled against one of their players this week.
Somewhat ominously, Galway United manager Sean Connor believes Shamrock Rovers’ preparations won’t have been affected in the least by the controversy ahead of tonight’s meeting at Tallaght Stadium.
“I think Michael O’Neill is a top manager, very professional and he’s got a good squad,” said Connor. “They could lose three or four players and it wouldn’t affect their preparation. I wish it would, but I can’t see that happening. We’ve got a very, very difficult task.”
While Galway are without suspended defender Stephen Walsh and injured pair Seán Kelly and Jonathan Keane, and must also wait on striker Alan Murphy, who is a doubt with a groin strain, Rovers, three points clear at the top of the table, report a fully fit squad to pick from.
Derry City manager Stephen Kenny says the publicity surrounding the alleged racist remarks levelled at his striker Eamon Zayed at Tallaght Stadium on Monday have not mentally affected the league’s leading scorer, who is set to lead the attack against Bohemians at the Brandywell.
Fellow striker Patrick McEleney is Derry’s only doubt for the game as he has been unwell this week.
Bohemians are without suspended pair, defender Daniel Joyce and winger Killian Brennan.
Barry Murphy comes into goal for Chris O’Connor, who will be out for several weeks after suffering a nasty facial injury against Sligo last Friday. Defenders Ollie Cahill and Ger O’Brien (both hamstring) remain out injured.
Apart from long-term injured midfielder Jack Flynn, second-bottom Drogheda United, who’ve won three of their last four games, have a full squad as they try to halt second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic’s unbeaten league run of eleven games at Hunky Dorys Park.
Pete Mahon, the St Patrick’s manager, is again without defenders Conor Kenna and Derek Pender who have knee and foot injuries respectively. Key central defender Evan McMillan and right winger Anthony Murphy expect to be passed fit, though defender Brian Shortall may not make it due to a virus.
Defender Adam Mitchell returns for Bray Wanderers at home to Dundalk, though Darren Quigley, Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan, Dave Webster and Jake Kelly all remain sidelined with injuries.
Shane Guthrie, ineligible for the game with St Patrick’s last Monday due to his loan, returns to the centre of the Dundalk defence.
Manager Ian Foster, whose side have lost their last three league games, waits on fellow defender Colin Hawkins and midfielder Dean Bennett, both of whom are nursing ankle injuries.
Eoghan Osborne, Stephen Maher, Stephen McDonnell, Michael Hector and Jason Byrne continue their recoveries from injury.
