THE BIG GAME of this weekend doesn’t come until tomorrow night, when the big two meet at the Showgrounds.
After both Sligo and Shamrock Rovers picked up wins on the opening day, it’s time for them to do battle and at least one side will say goodbye to their 100 per cent record. An early six-pointer, perhaps, but both teams will certainly be content with a draw.
Regardless, of the outcome, it should be a great game, with some excellent attacking football guaranteed. Sligo don’t know any other way, after all, while the Hoops aren’t exactly going to sit back defensively either.
Avoiding defeat will be the primary goal for the champions. At the back of his mind, however, Shams boss Michael O’Neill will know that six points from six against two of the big-hitters will be a massive boost with some of the ‘easier’ games to come. This all means that there will be more of an onus on the home team to go all out. A fascinating encounter awaits.
Elsewhere in the top tier this weekend, Derry City face a trip to the Belfield Bowl tonight hoping to avenge last week’s defeat at the death to Sligo, particularly after Eamon Zayed was left to rue a missed penalty in the first-half. The Candystripes look like the only top level team in with a chance of getting points away from home this evening, against a UCD side that left it late to beat a very weak Drogheda United on the opening night.
Bohemians will have too much for the ill-prepared Drogheda United, Dundalk will likewise have too much for Galway as Oriel Park opens the turnstiles for the first time this season, while St Pat’s are deserved favourites to beat Bray at home after last week’s second half demolition of Galway.
He’s back
Unusually, the major story of the weekend is more than likely going to come at Gortakeegan, where the character of all LoI characters (trust me, there are a lot) makes his return to management. Aside from his brief association with Cork City, Roddy Collins hasn’t put his unmissable stamp on a LoI team since 2005.
Loved by few, disliked by many; Collins is always going to cause a stir and although the majority at Mons welcomed his appointment, it’s sure to be a tumultuous reign. Honest as always, Collins said: “They were nice people, very down to earth, very straightforward, no crap, which was nice.
“I knew what I was coming up against. Once I met them I knew they were genuine.”
It’s going to be interesting to see how long those feelings last.
Collins will face Stephen Henderson’s Waterford United tonight, and with a limited knowledge of his squads full capabilities due to the hurried nature of preparing for their season-opener (after they had a bye last week), the away side would have to get the nod after they surprisingly dropped points at home to Athlone last weekend.
It will be an historic moment for Mervue United as the Galway team hosts their first LoI game at Fahy’s Field after moving home from Terryland Park, when Cork City travel west. And having gotten the better out of local rivals Salthill Devon they’ll be hopeful of a result to make the night even more memorable. Still, Cork have been impressive in pre-season and after getting their campaign got off to solid start against Wexford Youths last weekend, should take the points here.
Youths face Longford Town in their first home game of the year, and that looks likely to be a draw after Shelbourne narrowly defeated the midlands outfit last Saturday. Limerick should be comfortable winners at home to Salthill, as Athlone Town finish off the weekend on Saturday night against a Finn Harps team that impressed in holding Lims to a draw last weekend.
