Though they travel buoyed by four straight wins, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny posed a somewhat ominous message for his former club ahead of tonight's top-of-the-table clash with Derry City at Oriel Park.
An opening night defeat at newly promoted neighbours Finn Harps didn’t augur well for Kenny Shiels’ Derry.
An admirable response has brought an eye-opening victory over Cork City, a 3-0 win at Bray Wanderers and two further three-point hauls, albeit courtesy of injury-time winners against Galway United and Wexford Youths.
“We have respect for Derry City. They’re in a good run of form and playing well,” said Kenny, before citing his champions’ improvement.
Their riposte to a home defeat to Cork was last week’s resounding 4-0 win at St Patrick’s Athletic.
“From our point of view, we’re all very pleased with our win and performance [last week]. I feel that we have lifted our performances over the past few weeks and we’ll be ready for Derry.”
Injury absentee
Former Derry midfielder Patrick McEleney is Dundalk’s only concern as he remains a doubt with a groin injury while Derry, whose sole injury absentee is reserve goalkeeper Shaun Patton, hope to be unchanged.
“Dundalk are three years ahead of us in terms of our building process and we have to respect that,” said manager Shiels.
“They’ve also had three more days to prepare for this game than we’ve had. We didn’t get home from Wexford until Sunday morning – it was a long trip – so it’s a huge advantage to have those extra few days preparation.”
In the night's other main game, Killian Brennan has recovered fully from a knee injury as Shamrock Rovers chomp at the bit to get back to winning ways not having played since losing to St Patrick's a fortnight ago.
“I wasn’t playing in it. I was disappointed,” said Brennan at missing that defeat to his former club.
“It’s well out of our system now. It’s all systems go for [tonight],” he added of third-placed Galway United’s visit to Tallaght Stadium.
“They’ve got 10 points out of five games. They’ll be coming here with their tails up and full of confidence, but we’re full of confidence as well. I think it will be a good game.”
Though midfielder Brennan is back, Rovers are short of options up front as strikers Gary Shaw (thigh) and Danny North (knee) are injured, joining midfielder Stephen McPhail and left back Luke Byrne on the sidelines.
League debut
With Conor Winn having suffered a hand injury, 18-year-old goalkeeper Kevin Horgan is set for his full league debut for Galway. Stephen Folan (toe), Alex Byrne (groin) and Armin Aganovic (knee) remain out.
At the foot of the table, Wexford Youths host Bray Wanderers still searching for their first win in the top flight.
“We’ve shown in every game so far that we’re more than a match for the opposition,” said Wexford manager Shane Keegan whose side sit bottom with just one point.
“The performances could, and probably should, have us sitting on seven points. But we’re learning some really hard lessons and we’ve to grow up as a team fast.”
Picked up
Youths’ midfielder Jonny Bonner is out for a further two weeks having picked up an eye injury in training. Aidan Keenan and Peter Higgins remain injured while Shane Dunne is doubtful.
An ankle injury sees Mark Salmon join Bray’s injury list of Mick Daly, Conor Earley, Robbie Creevy and Daniel Blackbyrne.
Michael Funston is set to make his 300th appearance for Finn Harps as they host St Patrick’s Athletic. Ollie Horgan’s side continue without Barry Molloy, Josh Mailey and Sean Houston.
Over the illness that forced his half-time withdrawal against Dundalk last time out, striker Christy Fagan is fully fit for St Patrick’s while central defender Sean Hoare returns from Ireland under-21 duty.
Bohemians are boosted by the return of midfielder Eoin Wearen and striker Ismahil Akinade for the visit of Longford Town to Dalymount Park, though manager Keith Long waits for fitness checks on Mark Quigley and Jason Caffrey.
Defender Pat Flynn and midfielder Kevin O’Connor return from suspension for Longford, though Conor Powell, Mark Rossiter, Rhys Gorman and Lee Duffy remain out injured.
