Airtricity League Previews August 3-4
Added: 03-08-2012
Airtricity League Previews
(7.45pm unless stated)
Friday, August 3
Airtricity League Premier Division
Bohemians v Bray Wanderers, Dalymount Park. Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
BOHEMIANS will look to build on their excellent recent league form which has seen Aaron Callaghan’s side secure three wins from four when they host Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park.
The Gypsies will not take Pat Devlin’s side for granted as Wanderers have proven their durability this season but Bray will be looking to end a five game winless streak.
TEAM NEWS:
David Scully is suspended for Bohs while new signing Ken Carr is set to join the squad for the first time following his arrival from Lissadel United. Marty Waters and John Mulroy are both out for Bray through suspension.
QUOTES:
Bohemians manager Aaron Callaghan: “I saw them last week against Bradford and they put on a good performance for the first half. Bray are always a difficult side to play against, always well organised.”
Bray's Director of Football Pat Devlin: "It was good to get the point in Tallaght and the performance was good, and I'm hoping we can continue that against Bohemians who have had a great season so far ".
Dundalk v Cork City, Oriel Park. Referee: Damien Hancock.
DUNDALK will look for their first league win in eight games when they host Cork City – who haven’t been beaten in 11 league games - at Oriel Park.
City have drawn seven of their last nine games so manager Tommy Dunne will be looking for them to come away with the three points to maintain their push for a top half placing.
TEAM NEWS:
Dundalk add new signings Lorcan Shannon, Mark O’Brien and Paul Whelan but Liam Burns (dead leg), Peter Thomas (shoulder ligament), Eoghan Osborne (shin) and Ben McLaughlin (thigh) are out and Paul Walsh (groin) and John Mountney (dead leg) are doubts.
Cork City’s Colin Healy is rated as very doubtful with a thigh strain while Graham McCarthy (ankle) and Cathal Lordan (knee) are doubts. Keigan Parker is suspended.
QUOTES:
Dundalk caretaker Darius Kierans: “Cork will offer a different test than Bohs, but if we can show more of the same spirit and have a bit more guile in the final third of the pitch, there is no reason why we can’t get a result.”
Cork City boss Tommy Dunne: “I was pleased that we kept a clean sheet against Shelbourne, as that is something we have not done often enough this season. Dundalk will be a different type of threat to Shelbourne and I have no doubt it will be a tough game.”
UCD v Shamrock Rovers, UCD Bowl. Referee: Neil Doyle.
UCD will look to claim their first league win in seven when they host the champions at UCD Bowl while the Hoops will look to build on last week’s 1-0 win in Derry.
Rovers will move into third position should they secure the three points while the Students are looking to stay on the tails of tenth placed Dundalk.
TEAM NEWS:
UCD are without John Kelly, Graham Rusk, Chris Mulhall and Cillian Morrison through injury while David O’Connor and Samir Belhour are both suspended. Goalkeeper Ger Barron is set to return from a toe injury.
Rovers are without Aaron Greene (knee), Graham Gartland (back) and Stephen O’Donnell (hamstring), while Ken Oman will do a fitness test before the game.
QUOTES:
UCD boss Martin Russell: “We weren’t able to gain the points our play deserved at Hunky Dorys Park, but if we maintain the attributes that we displayed there and also on our last home tie with St Pats, we will prove ourselves worthy opponents to our visitors this evening. It’s a game against the champions which we are looking forward to and gives our young players a chance and a platform to perform which they will be relishing.”
Hoops boss Stephen Kenny: “The team have kept three clean sheets in four games and that’s the kind of stability we need from the back four. We can take confidence from the win and clean sheet in Derry last week into Friday night’s game in Belfield. But one win in isolation is nothing; we need to back that up with another win against UCD.”
Airtricity League First Division
Athlone Town v Wexford Youths, Lisseywoollen. Referee: Andrew Mullally.
Athlone Town host Wexford Youths looking to stay within touching distance of the play-off spot. Town continue without long term injury victim Paul Danaher while Noel McGee (calf) is also out and Eric Molloy and Damien Rushe are both doubtful with their respective injuries.
Finn Harps v SD Galway, Finn Park. Referee: Robert Harvey.
Finn Harps will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to five games when they host bottom of the table SD Galway at Finn Park. The Donegalmen held third-placed Waterford away last time out. SD Galway are looking for their first win in six games. Thomas McBride and Aaron O’Hagan are out for Harps through suspension while Tommy Bonner, Michael Funston and Mark Scoltock are injury doubtrs.
Limerick v Longford Town, Jackman Park. Referee: Keith Callanan.
LEADERS Limerick host second-placed Longford Town in a massive fixture at Jackman Park. Longford travel trailing by three points so could give their title aspirations a major boost with a victory. Limerick boss Pat Scully: “We were made to work very hard against Athlone last week. We will have to take it to another level against Longford Town next Friday to get the result we need. It’s a big game for both Teams and we have to be at our very best.”
Saturday, August 4
Airtricity League Premier Division
Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United, The Showgrounds. Referee: Alan Kelly.
SLIGO ROVERS will face one of their toughest tests of the season when they host second-placed Drogheda at the Showgrounds. Mick Cooke’s United travel to Sligo knowing a victory would put them top and complete an astonishing run of form. Drogheda have won their last six league games but know that Sligo have lost just one Premier DIvision game all season and have conceded just 12 goals in 17 league fixtures.
Airtricity League First Division
Mervue United v Waterford United, Fahy's Field (7.30pm). Referee: Rhona Daly.
Mervue United will look to secure a third win in succession when they host third-placed Waterford United at Fahy’s Field on Saturday. The Blues had their seven game winning streak halted by a draw against Finn Harps last week but they will be aware of Mervue’s recent good form. The hosts are without Martin Conneely (ankle), Ronan Forde (fractured finger), Shane Keogh (foot) and Kenny Farrell (ankle). Waterford’s Craig Burns is banned while Ben Ryan returns from suspension. Daragh Walshe and Gary Dunphy remain out but Sean Maguire is expected to be fit.
