LEAGUE-LEADING DUNDALK have the weekend off so their nearest rivals, St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City, will seek to take advantage. The Saints are in fine form of late but drew 2-2 away to Sligo last weekend, halting a run of consecutive 4-0 victories. Cork fell to Dundalk, in hefty fashion, last Friday but boss John Caulfield has urged his team to show the same fighting spirit that led to six wins and three draws in their opening nine games.
St Pat's and Bohs players tussle in a wall as a free-kick is taken. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
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Keith Fahey still has international class
He may not have been selected in Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad for the summer friendlies but Keith Fahey remains a quality player. Following an injury speed-bump early in the season, the former Birmingham midfielder, was come back to play a key role in the champions’ revival. Able now to focus solely on his LOI responsibilities, Fahey should form a dangerous, attacking quarter with Chris Forrester, Killian Brennan and Christy Fagan.
Draw specialists Derry yearning for win over Hoops
With two Roddy Collins’, Rory Patterson and new-signing Danny Ventre in-situ, fans of the Candystripes must have felt confident of challenging for the league. That, of course, is still possible but Derry need to start turning draws [six from 10 games] into wins. They can start against a Shamrock Rovers side that took their third Get Out of Jail Free card to snatch a late draw with Limerick last time out.
What craziness will Limerick serve up next?
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Limerick looked to have bounced back in fine form, last Friday, following their 4-0 humbling against Sligo at Thomond Park. They led Shamrock Rovers going into injury time but lost goalkeeper Barry Ryan and conceded a penalty, only for midfielder Shane Tracy to save the spot-kick. Jason McGuinness reacted first, however, to head home and cost Limerick all three points. They travel to face a Bray team that were lucky not to gift Athlone their first win of the season last Friday.
Bohs and Students can climb as high as sixth
A combined five wins from their opening 20 games mean Bohemians and UCD are occupying the lower rungs of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division. However, as the league is tightly packed, a win for either side could shoot them up to as high as sixth. The Students will be keen to go on a run after beating Drogheda 2-1 will Bohs need their younger players to back up Jason Byrne’s goal-scoring start to the season.
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Top spot up for grabs at Richmond Park
LEAGUE-LEADING DUNDALK have the weekend off so their nearest rivals, St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City, will seek to take advantage. The Saints are in fine form of late but drew 2-2 away to Sligo last weekend, halting a run of consecutive 4-0 victories. Cork fell to Dundalk, in hefty fashion, last Friday but boss John Caulfield has urged his team to show the same fighting spirit that led to six wins and three draws in their opening nine games.
Keith Fahey still has international class
He may not have been selected in Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad for the summer friendlies but Keith Fahey remains a quality player. Following an injury speed-bump early in the season, the former Birmingham midfielder, was come back to play a key role in the champions’ revival. Able now to focus solely on his LOI responsibilities, Fahey should form a dangerous, attacking quarter with Chris Forrester, Killian Brennan and Christy Fagan.
Draw specialists Derry yearning for win over Hoops
With two Roddy Collins’, Rory Patterson and new-signing Danny Ventre in-situ, fans of the Candystripes must have felt confident of challenging for the league. That, of course, is still possible but Derry need to start turning draws [six from 10 games] into wins. They can start against a Shamrock Rovers side that took their third Get Out of Jail Free card to snatch a late draw with Limerick last time out.
What craziness will Limerick serve up next?
Limerick looked to have bounced back in fine form, last Friday, following their 4-0 humbling against Sligo at Thomond Park. They led Shamrock Rovers going into injury time but lost goalkeeper Barry Ryan and conceded a penalty, only for midfielder Shane Tracy to save the spot-kick. Jason McGuinness reacted first, however, to head home and cost Limerick all three points. They travel to face a Bray team that were lucky not to gift Athlone their first win of the season last Friday.
Bohs and Students can climb as high as sixth
A combined five wins from their opening 20 games mean Bohemians and UCD are occupying the lower rungs of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division. However, as the league is tightly packed, a win for either side could shoot them up to as high as sixth. The Students will be keen to go on a run after beating Drogheda 2-1 will Bohs need their younger players to back up Jason Byrne’s goal-scoring start to the season.
This weekend’s fixtures
No new faces in sight as O’Neill names Ireland squad for summer friendlies
Giggs, Scholes and the Nevilles to boot up as ‘Class of 92′ take to the field again
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SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Keith Fahey Richmond Park Super Saints Supporting LOI Cork City