1. Can the chasing pack cash in?
With St Patrick’s Athletic away on Europa League duty, the rest of the title contenders have a chance to close the gap when they play their games in hand. Only four points separate Pat’s, Derry and Sligo and with all three facing fixture congestion, wins this weekend will turn up the heat.
A win would see Derry move level on points at the top but they can expect a tough test when Stephen Kenny and Dundalk visit the Brandywell in the pick of tonight’s games. Derry won 3-1 when the sides last met in April but since then Dundalk have won seven of their 10 league games including big victories over both Sligo and Pat’s.
The Lilywhites slipped up against Limerick on Monday night though and now they badly need a win to keep their own title hopes alive.
2. Return of Zayed
There has been no shortage of strikers trading places this transfer window: David McMillan has moved from UCD to Sligo while Ciaran Kilduff and Philly Hughes have gone out on loan to Cork and Pat’s respectively.
But without doubt the biggest coup so far belongs to Shamrock Rovers who sealed a deal to bring Libyan international Eamon Zayed back to the League of Ireland. Zayed was the league’s top goalscorer and PFAI Player of the Year with Derry in 2011, and Rovers will be hoping for a similar return as they look to haul themselves back into the title race.
The striker could make his Hoops debut in the Carlisle Grounds this evening against old club Bray Wanderers. If he does, it will be interesting to see how Trevor Croly adapts his tactics to get the most out of Zayed’s physical presence.
3. Defensive woes for Dunne
Since Alan Mathews’ departure from Shelbourne, no manager in the Premier Division has been under as much pressure as Tommy Dunne at Cork City. Last week’s defeat against UCD means the Rebels have now won just one of their last eight in the league, and there was more salt rubbed into the wound when Drogheda beat them 3-0 in the EA Sports Cup on Monday. Goals are a major concern — they have found the net just three times in the last five games — and so the arrival of Ciaran Kilduff on loan from Shamrock Rovers is hardly a surprise.
Champions Sligo are in town tonight and after suffering a drought of their own, they have found the golden touch again with 11 in their last three games. Those numbers will worry Cork who have to plan without a host of defenders as Dan Murray, Kevin Murray and Darren Dennehy are all ruled out through injury.
4. Euro hangover for Drogheda?
Drogheda came away from Tallaght with their heads held high after an excellent 0-0 draw against Malmo last night, but before they fly out to Sweden for their Europa League second leg, Mick Cooke’s men have domestic matters to attend to against Shelbourne on Sunday afternoon.
With their European prospects still very much alive, the temptation will surely be there to rest a few players in order to stave off injury or fatigue. That prospect will be music to the ears of Shels and Johnny McDonnell who desperately need all the points they can get to claw themselves off the bottom of the table.
5. Top four clash in First Division
Opportunities abound in the First Division this weekend where first plays third and second plays fourth. Leaders Longford welcome Waterford United to City Calling Park knowing that if results go their way, they could be seven points clear at the top come tomorrow evening. Alternatively, wins for the Blues and for Wexford against Athlone would tighten the promotion race significantly and leave just five points separating the top four teams.
Airtricity League fixtures (all 7.45pm, Friday unless stated)
Premier Division
- Bohemians v Limerick
- Bray Wanderers v Shamrock Rovers
- Cork City v Sligo Rovers
- Derry City v Dundalk
- Drogheda United v Shelbourne (Sunday, 3pm)
First Division
- Finn Harps v Cobh Ramblers (Friday, 8pm)
- Wexford Youths v Athlone Town (Friday, 8pm)
- Mervue United v Salthill Devon (Saturday, 5pm)
- Longford Town v Waterford United (Saturday, 7.30pm)
