LOI preview: St Pat's attempt to defend top spot in tough Derry City clash

RTÉ News​

05-05-2025

The big games keep coming in the Premier Division as a Bank Holiday schedule of five matches sees St Patrick's Athletic attempt to defend top spot as they travel to Derry, while there is a meeting of the two Rovers in Tallaght Stadium.
The Saints were efficient in seeing off Galway United last Friday as they withheld pressure from the visitors to Richmond Park to secure a 2-0 win.
Aidan Keena made a surprise and welcome return to their line-up and is sure to provide a major boost to Stephen Kenny in the coming matches.
Derry City left behind their disappoint in Waterford to dominate against Shelbourne in something of a statement win.
The Candystripes could go top tonight if results go there way, a remarkable situation given their early season struggles.
Shamrock Rovers continue to struggle to finish off games after leaving points behind in Cork.
Having lost leads to Bohemians and Shelbourne beforehand, conceding to a weakened Cork City was a real surprise last Friday.
Stephen Bradley bemoaned the situation, without putting all of the blame on his players and leaving some to misfortune.
He said ahead of tonight's clash with Sligo "We're not doing a lot wrong to be honest. Small margins are going against us at the moment. But that's football, sometimes that happens. Sometimes over the course of a season things like this happen.
"I said last week, and the week before, and again it was the same after the Cork game, we need to take our chances and then it's a different game. As I said, a lot of what we're doing is really good and just those small margins are going against us at the moment."
The Bit O' Red rallied from two goals down to claim a point against Drogheda United to maintain their excellent return in front of goals.
Defence has been the weak point for Sligo, so Bradley is keen to make sure the Hoops are aware of their strengths.
"We've seen the last few weeks they've been scoring goals. They have good attacking players and like in any game in this league, if you're not right, or at it 100%, then you'll get punished. So we need to make sure we're again focussed and give Sligo the respect they deserve."
Josh Honohan is a doubt after going off injured in Turner's Cross. Aaron McEneff, Danny Mandroiu, Dan Cleary, Dylan Watts and Gary O'Neill look set to miss out.
Sligo have had just two wins all year, but one of those did come against the Dublin Rovers.
It would be a major shock if they repeated it on the road, however.
Sligo boss John Russell is remaining optimistic: "Every ground you visit in this league is a tough place to go to.
"There simply just aren't any games that aren't tough and Monday will be the same. Our record up there isn't great but we're using that as motivation to go and give a good account of ourselves.
"We've been the architects of our own downfall at times this season and have given other teams headstarts. We've been so impressive going forward, creating chances and scoring goals and I'm really happy with that. But what's been killing us is the concession of silly goals.
"If you make it easy for the opposition somewhere like Tallaght, then chances are you're not coming back from it so we need to be on our game from the start."
Oscar Van Hattum and Ollie Denham sit out with injury.
A familiar face to the Bit O' Red will be in Dublin but on the opposite side of the city as John Coleman watches his new team Waterford FC take on Shelbourne.
Coleman was appointed manager of the weekend and comes in with the job slightly easier after his new club beat Bohemians the previous day.
James Olayinka and Tommy Lonergan were on target. While Waterford had to ride their luck at times, they did enough to come away with maximum points and move clear of the bottom two.
Rowan McDonald, Trae Coyle, Andy Boyle and Matty Smith remain on the injury list.
Interim boss Matt Lawlor completes his task tonight before handing over to Coleman after full-time.
Lawlor said: "We look forward to seeing all our supporters at Tolka Park in Tolka Park tomorrow, in what is an exciting game against the champions. It will prove another tough game for us, but we are ready and wanting to carry on our good form."
Shels face a test of character having fallen out of the bottom half with their defeat in Derry, albeit still being just three points off the summit.
Bohemians will hope their setback against Waterford does not linger ahead of the trip to take on Galway United.
Both sides were beaten on Friday as they look to respond.
Gypsies boss Alan Reynolds said: "Galway have only lost three games this season and have proven that they are one of the hardest teams to beat in the league so we are going there knowing we really have to up our game.
"They lost 2-0 to a really good St Pat's team on Friday but the scoreline didn't reflect Galway's performance. They're big and powerful and they've shown already how they can hurt us if you give them an inch, so every man taking the pitch knows they have a job to do."
Bohs are without Leigh Kavanagh (hamstring), Connor Parsons (hamstring) and Alex Lacey (hamstring)
The final game of the night sees Drogheda United face Cork City at Sullivan and Lambe Park.
Kevin Doherty was left hugely frustrated by dropping two points in Sligo.
City secured another encouraging point against Shamrock Rovers and go in search of a first away success of the year.