FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Airtricity League Previews
Friday, March 18, 2011
(All Kick-offs 7.45pm unless stated)
Airtricity League Premier Division
Bray Wanderers v Sligo Rovers, Carlisle Grounds. Referee: Neil Doyle.
Bray Wanderers will look to build on their comeback victory over St Pat’s last week by claiming the points against Sligo Rovers – who won on their two visits to the Carlisle Grounds in 2010.
Team news:
Bray’s Chris Shields (ankle) is a doubt. Danny O' Connor has a slight hamstring strain. Stephen Brennan (calf), and Gary Shaw (ankle) remain absent.
Sligo Rovers will be without Joseph Ndo (foot injury). Manager Paul Cook has no suspension worries.
Quotes:
Bray Wanderers’ Director of football Pat Devlin: "Paul Cook has assembled a very strong squad and they will be expected to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
“It will be a tough game for us but we will go into it with confidence following our fight-back against St Pat’s last Friday. We will give it our best shot.”
Drogheda United v Derry City, Hunky Dorys Park. Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
Drogheda United will look to pick up their first points of the season after coming close to holding Bohemians at Dalymount Park last week. Derry will bid to build on an impressive win over UCD.
Team News:
Drogheda goalkeeper David Quirke is struggling with a groin injury. Recent signing from Shelbourne Mark Trimble is on stand-by.
Experienced Derry City defender Eddie McCallion is suspended. James Mc Clean (hip -flexor), Ruaidhri Higgins (calf) and Stewart Greacen (broken hand) are out. Kevin Deery is set to return.
Quotes:
Drogheda United boss Mick Cooke: “I was very happy with our performance last week against Bohemian’s though obviously not pleased with the result. It was especially encouraging for me that we remained in the game for the last twenty minutes, still creating chances.”
“Derry did tremendously well to get back into the Premier on their first attempt. They are a good footballing side and both they and our enthusiastic squad should make for an entertaining night’s football.”
Derry City manager Stephen Kenny: “Drogheda have only conceded two goals in two games. They are set up to defend while they have some experienced attacking players who did well for Shelbourne last year.”
Dundalk v Bohemians, Oriel Park. Referee: Damien Hancock.
Dundalk will aim to secure their second home win of the campaign with strikers Mark Quigley and Jason Byrne facing their former Bohemians colleagues for the first time since moving to Oriel Park.
Team News:
Dundalk have doubts over midfielder Dean Bennett and defender Eoghan Osborne (both hamstring) and they face fitness tests before Friday’s game. Ross Gaynor, Greg Bolger and Michael Hector are out through suspension.
Bohemians are without the suspended Robert Bayly and Ger O’Brien.
Quotes:
Dundalk boss Ian Foster: “Bohemians will certainly be a difficult test. For all the off-the-field problems Bohs had during the close season, they seem to have got it right on the pitch.
“They have made some very good signings over the last six weeks, and they have started the season very brightly. They come here top of the league and it will be a decent test for us.”
Galway United v UCD, Terryland Park. Referee: Rob Rogers.
Galway United host UCD looking for their first win of the new campaign. The Students will bid to bounce back from a home loss to Derry City.
Team News:
Galway United have no injury concerns while Shaun Kelly has recovered from illness. Alan Murphy could be in line for his first start in over 16 months.
Quotes:
Galway United captain Paul Sinnott: "I'm really looking forward to the match and along with the rest of the team, we will be hoping to perform very well on the night."
Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic, Tallaght Stadium (8.00pm). Referee: Tom Connolly.
DUBLIN rivals Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic meet in a fixture that is expected to draw a massive crowd to Tallaght Stadium. There has never been a draw between sides managed by Pete Mahon and Michael O’Neill.
Team News:
Shamrock Rovers have a full strength squad going into Friday night’s Airtricity League game against St Patrick’s Athletic at Tallaght Stadium.
Craig Sives comes back into contention after missing the first two league games with a hamstring injury, while Stephen O’Donnell also returns after serving a two match suspension.
St Pat’s continue to operate without Paul Crowley (virus). He missed their opening fixtures through suspension. Brian Shortall is out with an ankle injury.
Quotes:
Hoops manager Michael O’Neill said: “We’re very happy with the start we’ve had to the season so far. We have good early momentum in our season, and our aim is to continue that.
“Not only have we picked up six points out of six so far, but we also did it against two good sides. We face another good side in St Pat’s, but we will be aiming to take another three points from the game.
“We had a huge crowd at our first home game of the season, and are expecting another big support on Friday night.”
St Pat’s assistant manager John Gill: "The atmosphere will be absolutely electric in Tallaght and these are the type of games that players dream of being involved in.
"They've had a great start to the season, beating two of the fancied teams and winning in the Setanta Cup but this is a derby game and other things come into play that make these games a bit different and a bit special.”
Airtricity League First Division
Cork City v Limerick FC, Turner's Cross. Referee: Sean Grant.
Cork City sit joint top of the First Division after their opening two games but will face a test in this Munster derby against a Limerick side that has added former Shamrock Rovers winger Sean O’Connor to its ranks.
Finn Harps v Monaghan United, Finn Park (8.00pm). Referee: Phil Caschera.
Finn Harps will look to pick up their first win of the season in an Ulster derby clash with Monaghan United, who marked Roddy Collins’s first game as manager with a victory over Waterford United.
Shelbourne v Wexford Youths, Tolka Park (8.00pm). Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Shelbourne can maintain their winning start to the campaign when they host Wexford Youths, who have yet to pick up a point from their opening two fixtures.
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