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UCD's Tyrone McNelis and Christopher Forrester of St. Pat's. INPHO/Ryan Byrne
LOIlive

Preview: Pat's and Drogheda look to close the gap on Sligo

The Saints are at home to UCD while Shelbourne visit Hunky Dorys Park tonight.

St Patrick’s Athletic v UCD, Richmond Park, 7.45pm

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC begin October by hosting UCD at Richmond Park tonight.

Saints boss Liam Buckley must plan without former UCD midfielder Greg Bolger along with James Chambers and Pat Flynn who are all suspended having reached 4 yellow cards.

The Saints are also without long term injury victim Mark Rossiter while captain Conor Kenna, Christy Fagan and John Russell all face late fitness tests on ankle injuries.  On the plus side Liam Buckley has Dean Kelly and Stephen O’Flynn available again.

Speaking to stpatsfc.com, Buckley said that at such an important stage of the season it is disappointing to have three players suspended:

“While I know it will impact on most clubs to some degree or another it is a bit ridiculous that at the business end of the season we end up with so many players suspended for important games.

Personally I think we should take a look at the old system when a player went a number of games without a yellow card that one of his previous cards is rescinded.

“Our focus now is simply on getting as many points on the board between now and the end of the season and see where that leaves us.

“We’ll take each game as it comes and worry about our own results because they’re the only games we can influence.”

Drogheda United v Shelbourne, Hunky Dorys Park, 7.45pm

Shels’ Stephen Paisley and Declan O’Brien of Drogheda earlier this season. Credit: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Shelbourne travel up the M1 on Monday night to play Drogheda United in the other Premier Division fixture of the night.

Both sides played out 0-0 draws on Friday night – Drogheda United at home to St. Pat’s and Shelbourne at home to Bray Wanderers.

In the two games played between the sides this season, United have come out on top in each – winning 3-1 in April and 2-1 at Tolka Park at the end of July.

Anto Murphy will miss out on Monday’s game, due to the serving the second of two additional games’ suspension for being sent off against St.Patricks Athletic. Stephen Paisley returns after suspension for accumulation of yellow cards.

Philly Gorman returned from injury for the last seven minutes on Friday night and having had no reaction to the hip injury is likely to feature on Monday. Philly Hughes had not recovered 100% from a groin injury and was not risked, but it is hoping to be fit enough to feature this evening.

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