Derry City have confirmed they will press ahead with a friendly against Barcelona on August 12th even though the club are due to play their opening UEFA Cup match just 48 hours later, writes Emmet Malone, Soccer Correspondent.
The northerners had been hoping to arrange the friendly game for Sunday, August 10th, but club chairman Jim Roddy received word yesterday that the Spanish giants can only play the fixture on the Tuesday and City have opted to accept the offer.
"Obviously we want to make progress in Europe, but a club of our size can only attract opponents like Barcelona once in a lifetime, so taking the game doesn't cost us a second thought," said Roddy.
"Ideally we will play them and then have a UEFA Cup game at home two days later, but if that doesn't work out then we may have to travel immediately after the Barcelona match.
"Whatever happens I'm sure Kevin (Mahon) will take account of the need to get the club's strongest side out in the best possible shape for the UEFA Cup."
Unlike Real Madrid, who sent a reserve team to Derry for a similar game a couple of years ago, it is expected Barcelona will send their first team panel for the game.
The Catalan outfit are finalising plans for a number of other friendlies, and the fact that there is a possibility of a game against Liverpool three days earlier suggests, believe City officials, that it will be a strong team that takes the field in Derry.
Mahon, meanwhile, will be without Sean Hargan for this evening's game at Dalymount Park, where Derry will be looking to build on their first win of the season.
Hargan, who was ruled out after travelling to Dublin for a scan on a groin strain, joins Tommy McCallion and Liam Coyle on the City injured list.
Bohemians manager Stephen Kenny is still missing Paul McNally for the game, but believes they have put their early season jitters behind them.
"We had a decent win on Friday and one during the week, so I think we're getting there. Derry will be tough opponents, they've sorted out the Ciarán Martyn situation and they're the cup holders, but my first concern is how we're doing and I definitely think we're getting there."
Kenny singled out young central defender Ken Oman for praise after the league cup defeat of Dundalk earlier this week, describing the defender as a player "of the Alan Hansen variety".
"Derek Coughlan did well last week and we won the game, so it's hard to make changes but there's definitely more competition there and Oman looks a terrific prospect."
League leaders Shelbourne will be without Jim Gannon (back and groin) for the game at UCD, where Tony McCarthy is expected to start against his old club, but Ollie Cahill should be fit to start despite picking up a knock against St Patrick's last week.
Paul Doolan will be without Dessie Baker for the match with the on loan striker not allowed, under the terms of his temporary switch, to play against his own club while Alan Cawley is still suffering from a foot injury.
Niall Donnelly, who made his debut for the club last week, looks set to retain his place after performing well against Derry.
Similarly, Cork new boy Robbie Hederman may well start for City in place of Gareth Cronin, while young Denis Behan did well enough in the league cup to stay in the panel for this evening's game.
Waterford will bring back Mark Clifford, Willie Byrne and Thomas Hughes, but Wayne Fitzgerald will be missing due to a groin strain.
Drogheda United will have Aidan Lynch and Brian Kelly in contention to play against St Patrick's Athletic, but Declan O'Brien, Shaun Gallagher, Pat Scully, Mark Dempsey and Stephen Gray are all still out.
Shamrock Rovers, meanwhile, are expected to confirm at a press conference today that they have reached an agreement on the renting out of commercial space, including the club bar, at Tallaght that will allow them to borrow sufficient funds to complete phase one of the ground development.
