SOCCER:WITH THE broadcasters dictating the kick-off times of the Airtricity League's biggest matches this afternoon, Bohemians have the opportunity to go top for at least an hour or two as long as they can pick up where they left off when they beat arch rivals Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday night.
Pat Fenlon will again be without Jason McGuinness and Owen Heary, while Jason Byrne faces a late fitness test on a calf problem after getting a knock early in the midweek win. Despite the problems the Bohemians manager is hoping that the momentum built up over the course of a nine-match unbeaten run is maintained this afternoon.
“The mood has been good in the squad for some time and now the confidence is high too,” he says. “You could see that on Tuesday, how well everybody played and how they moved the ball around.”
The title contenders have come up consistently short against today’s opposition so far this season, though, with just two points to show for three league meetings with Pete Mahon’s side.
The hosts have Stuart Byrne suspended on this occasion, while Paul Byrne and Shane Guthrie are available again after returning to training following long spells on the sidelines through injury.
Shamrock Rovers have doubts about Dessie Baker and Tommy Stewart ahead of their game in Tallaght, while Dan Murray, Seán O’Connor and Pat Sullivan are all out, but Robert Bayly and Danny Murphy return from suspensions picked up for being sent off in the defeat by UCD.
Sporting manager Liam Buckley must wait to see if Shaun Maher is fit enough to feature, but Colm James (knee) is out while Eamon Zayed is away on international duty with Libya.
Kenny Browne and Shane McFaul return, however, from injury and suspension respectively.
Towards the other end of the table, Galway United need to beat UCD if they are to have a realistic chance of overhauling the students and avoiding the relegation play-offs. While Martin Russell arrives with almost a full squad, though, Seán Connor is missing Barry Ryan (suspended), Ciarán Foley and Alan Murphy (both injured).
John Russell misses Sligo’s visit to Oriel Park this afternoon though suspension, while Pat Devlin is again without a handful of players as Bray take on Drogheda United tomorrow. Jake Kelly, John Mulroy, Stephen Brennan and Seán Houston are all sidelined, but Shane O’Connor, Nicky Byrne and Colm Tresson come into the reckoning.
Derry City host Shelbourne this evening in the First Division’s biggest game of the weekend, with Stephen Kenny’s side badly needing to recover a bit of momentum after taking just nine points from their last eight games.
Remaining Fixtures
Today – St Patricks Ath v Bohemians, Richmond Park, 1pm; Dundalk v Sligo Rovers, Oriel Park, 2pm; Shamrock Rovers v Sporting Fingal, Tallaght Stadium, 3pm; Galway Utd v Sporting Fingal, Terryland Park, 6.30pm.
Tomorrow – Bray Wanderers v Drogheda United, Carlisle Grounds, 3.30pm.
Fri, Oct 15th – Sporting Fingal v Galway Utd; UCD v Dundalk.
Fri, Oct 22nd – Dundalk v Sporting Fingal; Galway Utd v Bohemians; St Patrick’s Ath v Bray; UCD v Sligo; Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda Utd.
Fri, Oct 29th – Bohemians v Dundalk; Bray v Shamrock Rvrs; Drogheda Utd v Galway Utd; Sligo v St Patrick’s Ath; Sporting Fingal v UCD.
Remaining Fixtures
Today – Cork City v Monaghan Utd, Turner’s Cross, 3pm; Derry City v Shelbourne, Brandywell, 6pm; Waterford Utd v Finn Harps, RSC, 7pm; Athlone Town v Longford Town, Athlone Town Stadium, 7.30pm.
Monday – Salthill Devon v Monaghan Utd.
Fri, Oct 15th – Shelbourne v Mervue; Longford v Waterford; Monaghan v Limerick; Finn Harps v Cork City; Wexford Yths v Athlone.
Sat, Oct 16th – Salthill Devon v Derry.
Fri, Oct 22nd – Waterford v Athlone; Limerick v Shelbourne; Cork City v Salthill Devon; Derry v Finn Harps; Longford v Wexford Yths.
Sat, Oct 23rd – Mervue v Monaghan.
Sat, Oct 30th – Monaghan v Derry; Salthill Devon v Longford; Athlone v Limerick; Shelbourne v Waterford; Finn Harps v Mervue; Wexford Yths v Cork City.
Promotion/Relegation
Team that finishes bottom of Premier Division is relegated, while team that finishes top of First Division is promoted. Teams that finish 8th and 9th in Premier Division play-off, with loser facing the winner of play-off between teams who finish 2nd and 3rd in the First Division. The winner of this final play-off gains place in the 2011 Premier Division.
