THE BIGGEST GAME of Week 6 is also live on RTÉ 2 this evening as Derry City host Dundalk at the Brandywell (ko 7.35).
Ian Foster’s team are only behind Shamrock Rovers on the goals scored chart and this is a game that promises much.
Dundalk have been hit and miss, but Derry’s return to the top-flight has gone quite well so far, their only defeat coming on the opening night at home to Sligo. Certainly, there won’t be many defeats at the Brandywell this year, so you’d think that if there is a winner from this game, then it’ll be the home team. Just about.
It has been a week of relative calm at Dalymount Park this past week, so you’d expect Bohemians to get back on track with a win against UCD on the bumpy rugby pitch at Belfield. It is of added importance that they do get a result ahead of next week’s meeting with Shamrock Rovers, the first battle between the two major rivals in the country this season.
Meanwhile, the bottom two meet for the first time as Drogheda United entertain Galway United in a game that is an early-season crunch clash at the bottom. IT’s especially important for the home team who have yet to win a game and will need to get points off the teams around them to stand any chance of staying up.
On a side note, there’s likely to be another very small attendance at the Louth venue. Last week around 1,000 trudged through the ‘stiles for the visit of Shamrock Rovers, though an estimated two-thirds of the crowd were Hoops supporters.
Home Hoops
There’ll be a far bigger crowd for the champions this week however, with Rovers welcoming Bray Wanderers to Tallaght. The Seagulls have been much better on the road than at home to date, but with Michael O’Neill’s charges in such impressive form, despite a slight blip in the scoreless draw away to Derry a fortnight ago, it looks like the home side will grab the points again to remain unbeaten at the top.
Sligo Rovers don’t play until tomorrow night, so the gap could be six points if the Dublin side win this evening. The Bit O’Red face St Patrick’s Athletic at home and they’ve really started strutting their stuff in the past fortnight, winning their last four games (including the two-legged Setanta Cup demolition of Portadown). Pat’s were unlucky not to defeat Bohs last weekend, but have been a mixed bag in their opening five games.
Munster mash
There’s a hotly-anticipated Munster Derby in the First Division tonight as Cork City make the short trip east towards Waterford, where Stephen Henderson’s men will look to overtake the Leesiders after they’ve started winning games. Having had a sluggish start, the Blues have put two wins on the bounce together and with Cork unable to win in their opening two away games, it looks like another draw could be on the cards for City again.
Keith Gillespie could make his first start for Longford away to the unbeaten Monaghan, while Limerick should beat Wexford Youths at home – the south-east team are still without their first points of the season. Finn Harps face Salthill Devon in Ballybofey and should pick up their first win of the year, though they have two games on hand over most of the division.
The final game of the weekend sees Athlone entertain current leaders Shels, with the away team heavy favourites to take the points. Mervue United have a bye.
