Bray Wanderers –v- Derry City 5:00 (Friday)
Seventh versus eight here as Bray Wanderers play host to Derry City at the Carlisle Grounds.
Goals from David Scully and Shane O’Neill gave Bray Wanderers an impressive 2-0 away win over Drogheda United last week. Bray will be pleased with their progress so far this season, avoiding many of the problems that plagued them last year. They will look to take advantage of their opponents slow start and overtake them in the league standings.
Goals from Enda Curran, Rory Patterson and Michael Duffy gave Derry City their second win of the season in a 3-2 victory over Athlone Town last time out. That win sees them sit seventh and manager Roddy Collins and his players will look for a win that could see them rise to fifth place and back into contention for the league.
Prediction: Draw
Cork City –v- Drogheda United 7:45
Title chasing Cork City take on title rivals Drogheda United at Turner’s Cross.
Having missed out on a chance to go top last week thanks to their 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers, Cork City will be looking for a win here. Two points behind in second and with a game in hand, manager John Caulfield will be extremely pleased with his sides start. They face tough opposition here against a Drogheda side also looking to get back on track.
Like their opponents, Drogheda United will be bitterly disappointed with their showing in the 2-0 home defeat against Bray Wanderers last week. Despite that Drogheda have been in excellent form and have proved to be troubling opposition for every side they have met. They face an uphill task here against another side in impressive form and will have to be at their best to get a result.
Prediction: Home win
Dundalk –v- Shamrock Rovers 7:45
Two title challengers clash here as league leaders Dundalk take on Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park.
Goals from Stephen O’Donnell, a Mark Langtry o.g. and a brace from Patrick Hoban saw Dundalk register an impressive 4-1 away win against UCD last week. That win saw them go top of the league, a position that manager Stephen Kenny and his side have no intention of leaving. They face a tough challenge from their title rivals but Dundalk will be confident their home form will give them the edge.
Shamrock Rovers will be disappointed with their 1-0 away defeat to champions St Patrick’s Athletic. Trevor Croly and his side know they need to bounce back quickly and regain the momentum they lost slightly last week. They face a difficult task going against the leagues in form side, who knocked them out of the Setanta Cup earlier this week. These games are where leagues are won and lost.
Prediction: Home win
Limerick –v- Athlone Town 7:45
Limerick take on bottom side Athlone Town at Thomond Park.
A solitary Rory Gaffney goal was enough to give Limerick all three points in a 1-0 win over Bohemians last week. They will be looking for another three points here as they play a poor Athone side. Stuart Taylor will be determined that his side move away from the relegation zone as fast as possible so as to avoid a relegation battle they could do without.
Even this early into the season it would seem the writing is on the wall for Athlone Town. Seven games, seven defeats, they are scoring goals but conceding far too many. Mick Cooke and his players are in desperate need of at least a point, but it just doesn’t look to be coming. Lose here and Mick Cooke may be out of a job so a win will be desperately needed by all.
Prediction: Home win
St Patrick’s Athletic –v- Bohemian FC 7:45
Champions St Patrick’s Athletic look to get their title ambitions back on track, as they take on Bohemians at Richmond Park.
A Killian Brennan penalty gave St Patrick’s Athletic a crucial three points against title rivals Shamrock Rovers last week. That win sees them sit fifth, four points behind the league leaders and well in contention. Liam Buckley will be looking for another three points in a Dublin Derby as he tries steady the ship that has been far to inconsistent so far this season. The Supersaints must forget Monday’s woeful Setanta Cup semi final drubbing at the hands of Sligo Rovers (5-1) and give their fans something to cheer about.
Unlike their opponents Bohemians will be disappointed with their showing last week. The 1-0 home defeat against Limerick was not what would have been expected. They face a tough ask here but it is a derby and form usually goes out the window so a win would not be out of the realm of possibility.
Prediction: Home win
Sligo Rovers –v- UCD 7:45
Sligo Rovers will look to lift themselves out of the relegation zone as they take on UCD at the Showgrounds.
The 1-1 draw with Cork City last week was an excellent result for struggling Sligo as was Monday’s Setanta Cup demolition of St Patrick’s Athletic in Inchicore (5-1). They will be looking for all three points here to move themselves out of the relegation zone into ninth place. Sligo have been very poor in the league this season and Ian Baraclough will hope a win here will change his sides fortunes.
Another heavy defeat last week for UCD, as they lost 4-1 at home against Dundalk. The students will hope to counter that result with a win here that will hopefully put some breathing room between themselves and the relegation battle. Aaron Callaghan will be hoping his sides leaky defence shut up shop here allowing his attacking players to score the goals that will give him all three points.
Prediction: Draw
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