Soccer

St Patrick’s aiming to consolidate their position at the top

Leaders in good spirits as they head to Limerick

St Patrick’s Athletic manager Liam Buckley: Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
St Patrick’s Athletic manager Liam Buckley: Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Paul Buttner
Sat Sept 07 2013 - 01:00


With big games coming thick and fast, St. Patrick's Athletic manager Liam Buckley was delighted to have regained top spot in the table following Tuesday's 1-0 win at Derry City.

St Patrick’s travel to Limerick this evening hoping to build further on their impressive away form and open up a five-point lead on second-placed Dundalk ahead of the latter’s derby with Drogheda United at Oriel Park tomorrow afternoon.

“It’s great that the team are back at the top,” said Buckley.

“We’ve got this game, (Shamrock) Rovers in the cup after that and play Dundalk in the league the week after. So there’ll be no easy games left this season.”

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The one blot on the win at the Brandywell was Stephen Maher breaking his leg while Buckley will give fellow midfielder John Russell every chance to prove his fitness following an ankle injury.

Limerick remain without Stephen McGann (foot) and Shane Tracy (knee). Manager Stuart Taylor is hopeful that central defender Brian O'Callaghan will be fit to return, though Shane Costelloe (ankle) remains a doubt. Shaun Kelly serves the second game of a three-match ban, but striker Rory Gaffney returns from suspension.

Cork City take on Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium s without injured defenders Kevin Murray and Darren Dennehy. Left-back Danny Murphy returns from suspension.

Rovers are without Eamon Zayed (on duty with Libya) while fellow striker Mark Quigley and central defender Jason McGuinness are suspended. Danny Ledwith (hamstring) is also injured.

Former Bohemians midfielder Joseph Ndo is in line for his 100th league appearance for Sligo at Dalymount Park. The influential Dave Mulcahy returns to Bohemians' midfield as they host Rovers at Dalymount Park. Striker Dave Scully remains out with an ankle injury.

Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor and Iarfhlaith Davoren remain injured out for Ian Baraclough's champions while Pascal Millien is on international duty with Haiti.

This afternoon’s game between Derry City and Shelbourne at the Brandywell was postponed yesterday due to Barry McNamee being called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad.

That meant Derry had a total of three players on international duty as winger Michael Duffy was already included in the Northern Ireland under-21 panel for their match in Belgium while fringe player Josh Tracey is in the Northern Ireland under-19 squad to face Austria.