A timely hiatus from their cup exploits gives Longford Town the chance to lift themselves from an underachieving second-last in the Premier Division table when they host Derry City in the league at Flancare Park tonight.
Fresh from lifting the League Cup last Monday, Longford defend their FAI Cup in a quarter-final clash with First Division Athlone Town next Saturday, their fourth cup match in three weeks. But those diversions have dimmed the focus on the league for a side that finished fourth last season.
"We've underperformed in the league for long stretches of the season and been very inconsistent," said winger Alan Kirby. "Teams have won the FAI Cup and been relegated. We're obviously still in the FAI Cup this season, but we simply have to put that to one side and really start focusing on the league and show a bit of consistency."
With Graham Gartland suspended, Stephen Paisley, over an ankle injured sustained against FC Vaduz in a UEFA Cup tie in July, is likely to partner captain Barry Ferguson in central defence.
Derry, whose boss Stephen Kenny revisits his managerial Alma Mater, wait on Gareth McGlynn, who requires a fitness test on a slight hamstring tear. Peter Hutton and Gary Beckett stand by.
New signings David Forde, Killian Brennan, and Ruaidhri Huggins come into the squad.
TODAY'S FIXTURES
Premier Division: Longford Town v Derry City (8.0). First Division: Finn Harps v Cobh Ramblers (7.45); Kildare County v Limerick (8.0).
