PRESS RELEASE
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Airtricity League Previews
(All fixtures 7.45pm unless stated)
Friday, May 20
Airtricity League Premier Division
Bohemians v St Patrick’s Athletic, Dalymount Park. Referee: Derek Tomney.
Bohemians host a St Pat’s side that has lost just one league game since being held to a 0-0 draw by the Gypsies on April 1.
Pete Mahon’s Saints are three points behind Bohemians with a game in hand. St Pat’s last won in Dalymount Park on March 14th, 2008.
TEAM NEWS:
Bohemians keeper Barry Murphy remains injured while Mark Rossiter (hamstring) has also suffered a recurrence of a previous injury. Ger O’Brien is suspended but Glenn Cronin (cruciate) returns from long-term injury.
The Saints are still without captain Conor Kenna, though it is hoped that he will resume training on Saturday. James O’Brien remains sidelined with an ankle injury, and Dave Mulcahy will be given another week to recover from a hamstring injury.
QUOTES:
Bohemians boss Pat Fenlon: “Against Galway we had eight or nine amateurs in our squad of 18. We might have to get lads on amateur forms. We can give a great opportunity to lads who want to play for a big club like Bohemians. We have spoken to one or two lads we would like to play.”
St Pat’s boss Pete Mahon: “We rested Danny North and Daryl Kavanagh in the Leinster Senior Cup win over Athlone Town and they are likely to start. Like ourselves, Bohs have a young squad, but I am expecting a tough match as you would expect from any Bohemians team.”
Derry City v Bray Wanderers, Brandywell. Referee: Tom Connolly.
DERRY CITY host Bray Wanderers are the Brandywell knowing that an away with would see the Seagulls draw level with Stephen Kenny’s side.
After two defeats in a row, Bray got back to winning ways last time out against UCD. Both Derry City’s league defeats this term have been against Sligo Rovers but the Candystripes had no fixture last weekend due to the Setanta Cup Final.
TEAM NEWS:
The Candystripes were without the suspended Shane McEleney and Daniel Lafferty while Kevin Deery (calf), Thomas McBride (ankle) and Ruaidhri Higgins (knee) are injury concerns. Barry Molloy returns after a six week absence.
Bray Wanderers will be without Darren Quigley (arm), Stephen Brennan (thigh) and Gary Shaw (foot).
QUOTES:
Derry City boss Stephen Kenny: “I have been very impressed with Bray. They have a lot of pace in the wide areas and they usually play with three in midfield, which makes them very competitive. They've shown they are a good team this year and they have been strong so they will be tough opposition.”
Bray Wanderers Director of Football Pat Devlin: “I'm delighted to be going to Derry on the back of last week’s win and we will try and avenge the defeat they inflicted on us at the Carlisle Grounds earlier in the season. We know it will be tough."
UCD v Dundalk, UCD Bowl. Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
DUNDALK will bid to get over their Setanta Sports Cup Final loss to Shamrock Rovers by clinching a third league victory on the spin when they travel to UCD.
The Students have won three of their last five fixtures but were disappointed to lose 2-1 at Bray Wanderers last weekend.
TEAM NEWS:
UCD captain Michael Leahy (shoulder) while David O’Connor, Robbie Benson (hip flexor) and Mark Langtry (calf) also return. Robbie Creevy (ankle) is still out and Cillian Morrison (ankle) is just lacking in match fitness.
Dundalk’s Jason Byrne (hamstring) will not feature, while midfielder Stephen McDonnell (knee) would have missed out regardless of his one-match suspension. Stephen Maher (groin) and Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia) remain out of action.
QUOTES:
UCD boss Martin Russell: “Dundalk will be disappointed that with their defeat in the Setanta Cup Final and will be looking to bounce back against us in the league. They have a good balance to their side, with a good mixture of youth and experience; they will be a decent challenge.
“We will be looking to bounce back ourselves from the Bray game, where we put in a solid first half display but let yourselves down in the second period.”
Dundalk midfielder Greg Bolger: “All we want to do is get back on the pitch and rectify it and get back to winning ways. I’m looking forward to the UCD game, obviously with them being my former club, and getting more minutes on the pitch. I’ve missed a lot so I’m just eager to get onto the pitch and put the disappointment of losing the cup final behind me.”
Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United, Tallaght Stadium (8.00pm). Referee: Padraig Sutton.
MICHAEL O’NEILL’S Shamrock Rovers continue to lead the way after adding the Setanta Sports Cup trophy to their collection last weekend.
The champions and leaders will be expected to be too strong for struggling Drogheda United, who have just two wins in their opening 13 league games this term.
TEAM NEWS:
The Hoops have no injury concerns but Ken Oman and Pat Sullivan are suspended. Drogheda are without suspended duo Alan McNally and Mark Nolan. Jack Flynn is out for at least two months with ligament damage. Cillian Thompson is also out of the game through injury.
QUOTES:
Rovers boss Michael O’Neill: “We know we will be favourites for the game, but we never expect an easy time in any match in this league. Drogheda will come here with nothing to lose, and teams can be dangerous in that situation. We will be giving Drogheda the respect they deserve.”
Drogheda boss Mick Cooke: “In our position every game and every point is massive, the frustrating thing is that we have been playing well for long parts of games but just not being able to capitalise. However the lads are a credit to the club, the fact is there is not enough experience and the level is just too high for them at the moment. Most of the lads have come in from playing reserve football last year and I only have three players older than 22. I will be looking to try and bolster the squad with some experience in the July transfer window.”
Airtricity League First Division
Limerick v Finn Harps, Jackman Park. Referee: John Grimes.
New Finn Harps management duo Peter Hutton and Felix Healy will be aware that their side face a tough visit to Limerick. Harps have yet to win this season while Limerick have won three of their last four games. Limerick boss Pat Scully: “Although Finn Harps are bottom of the league we will treat them with the same respect we treat every team in the league. Finn Harps are a descent team and we know it'll be a tough game.”
Mervue United v Salthill Devon, Fahy’s Field. Referee: Darren Coombes.
Shelbourne v Longford Town, Tolka Park (8.00pm). Referee: Sean Grant.
Leaders Shelbourne host fourth placed Longford Town and former Town defender Stephen Paisley is the only absentee from the Reds squad with a hamstring injury. Shels were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow promotion-chasers Cork City last week while Longford – who are unbeaten in four games – had no fixture.
Wexford Youths v Cork City, Ferrycarrig Park (8.00pm). Referee: Phil Caschera.
Cork City will look to get back on winning ways after being held by leaders Shelbourne last week. Tommy Dunne’s side are still unbeaten but have drawn five of their ten league games. Derek O’Brien is doubtful with a thigh strain. Wexford suffered a surprise home defeat to Salthill Devon last weekend and will be bidding to secure their third win of the campaign.
SATURDAY, MAY 21
Airtricity League Premier Division
Sligo Rovers v Galway United, The Showgrounds. Referee: Rob Rogers.
SLIGO ROVERS will be hoping Connacht derby success at home to Galway United on Saturday will help maintain their pursuit of leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Paul Cook’s side recorded back-to-back wins over Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United last week with Eoin Doyle grabbing five goals in the two matches to move into pole position in the top scorers list in the Premier Division with eight goals.
Galway have not won a league game since the fourth week of the campaign and have lost seven games in succession.
TEAM NEWS:
Sligo Rovers have a fully fit squad once again. Galway remain without Gary Curran (broken metatarsal) and Joseph Yoffe (ankle) while Shaun Maher is out with an injured nose. Alan Murphy and Steve Feeney will undergo fitness tests ahead of the game. Stephen Walsh is suspended.
QUOTES:
Sligo assistant boss Gerry Carr: "We can not afford to take results for granted because we have had two wins. We did not go over the top when we lost a couple of games and we won't do it now when we are doing better.
"It is of great credit to everyone at the club that we are up near the top of the table and we will try to continue that with a result against Galway. They've had a tough run but they always give us a hard game and we will be anticipating that on Saturday."
Galway United boss Sean Connor: "I'm really looking forward to it. It's a Derby game, with a big crowd and a great atmosphere. The Showgrounds pitch is in great condition."
"This game represents another big challenge for a lot of my young players, but these are the games you want to be involved in. As a manager, it's always nice to return to Sligo."
Airtricity League First Division
Athlone Town v Waterford United, Athlone Town Stadium (7.30pm). Referee: Keith Callinan.
After two successive victories the Blues suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss in Limerick last week while Mike Kerley’s young Athlone side will bid to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat by Monaghan United.
lads i would see loads of goals this weekend Rovers, Derry, and Sligo could easily score 12+ goals between them.
What is the record number of goals scored in prem league in one weekend?
Well that's cursed that then. Record numer of nil alls anyone?Originally Posted by Trainee
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Tallaght Stadium Regular
Top notch preview of the Mervue-Salthill game there
DUNDALK: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, Hector, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, N Murphy, Bolger, Griffin.
SUBS: P Murphy, Guthrie, Ward, Breen, Kerr, Duffy.
UCD: Barron, Harding, Nangle, O'Connor, Leahy, Corry, Meenan, O'Conor, Belhout, Marshall, Russell.
SUBS: Boyle, Ledwith, Kavanagh, Benson, McGinley, Fallon, Doyle.
Town missing 4 defenders for tonight.
Team vs Shels: Hunt, Brady, Cronin, Collins, Hope, Gillespie, Morley, Salmon, Hyland, Skelly, Cowan
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
McEleney for City on '29.
Mervue and Salthill remain scoreless after Jason Molloy missed a penalty
bloody hell, what a horrible night of soccerball.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
We need someone from Sky to tell us how tense and dramatic it all is. Nerves LITERALLY shredded at every ground.
Wexford score the second goal of the night...not their second of the night, the second goal of the night.
Finally.
Put any money on??!!!!
Rivers one up.
Derry 1-1 Bray
Now we're talking....goals finally flowing!!
Wexford 1-1 Cork
Bohs 0-1 Pats
UCD 0-1 Dundalk
Shams 3-0 Drogs
3-0 Rovers.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Young Mark Griffin for Dundalk,well done lad .
Shels 1-0 Longford Town
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