Cork aim to bounce back in Tallaght test

Cork City will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Limerick on Friday night as they travel to Dublin to take on Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium (live on RTE2).

But it will be a tough task to take something from their trip to take on Pat Fenlon’s Rovers as former Ireland international Damien Duff could make his debut for the Hoops.

City captain John Dunleavy suffering a fractured cheekbone in Friday’s defeat, which is set to rule him out for several weeks.

And City boss John Caulfield confirmed the blow, saying “Johnny has damaged his cheekbone and it is going to be a long-term injury, which isn’t good for Johnny or for us.”

Danny Morrissey is also set for a number of weeks on the sidelines, having suffered a hamstring injury in training during the week. Gavan Holohan remains sidelined due to an ankle injury, but John Kavanagh and Darren Dennehy are both available having missed a number of games through injury.

Mark O’Sullivan, who was substituted with a knee injury at half time on Friday night, is doubtful, but will be assessed closer to kick-off.

Caulfield said that his side need to react positively to the disappointment of Friday’s defeat.

“After Friday, we are looking forward to seeing if we can get back to winning ways,” he said. “We were disappointed the other night because we didn’t play well and we need to bounce back. It will be a very difficult game against Rovers, they’re doing really well this season and they obviously feel that they can win the league as well.

“It is a huge game for both teams, and it is important for us to bounce back. Despite the fact that we have a few injuries, we are still looking forward to the match.

“Last year we were brilliant at bouncing back and this year, after losing to Dundalk, we went twelve or thirteen games unbeaten, so we are looking for a big reaction on Monday. It’s live on TV, it’s a huge game and we are hoping to bounce back with a really positive performance.”

Kieran Marty Waters is suspended for the Hoops after receiving an additional two-game ban for a red card against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Bray Wanderers v Bohemians team news not available

Dundalk v St Patrick's Athletic

Dundalk can take a major step towards winning this year’s title if they manage to beat St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park tonight.

This will be the fourth meeting of the sides this season and Dundalk have been victors in all four games. In the league, Dundalk won 3-0 at Oriel in March and 2-0 at Richmond Park in May, while they also took the President’s Cup from the Saints in February with a 2-1 win in the season curtain-raiser.

Dundalk have no injury or suspension worries with Sean Maguire in line to return to the squad following illness which kept him out of Friday’s victory on Foyleside.

Centre-half Andy Boyle said: “St Pat’s are a brilliant side and we have had two really difficult games this season against them. We have won them both and I feel they have been entertaining games but they have been tough tests. They have pushed us to our limits and they are the games that you want to be involved in.

“We are in good form, our home record is outstanding and it’s important that we just look at our own team, performance and results. We are looking forward to the visit of Pat’s, they will come to win the game but we want to win the game and we are looking forward to it.”

Saints boss Liam Buckley will be without the services of both Killian Brennan and Morgan Langley who are suspended, however, Ian Bermingham returns to the matchday squad having served a suspension.

Christy Fagan remains out with a knee injury, while Buckley will give late fitness tests to skipper Ger O’Brien and Ian Morris after both players sat out Friday’s 1-0 win over Bray Wanderers with knocks.

“Monday night promises to be a really good game,” said Buckley.  “Dundalk have had a great season and Stephen Kenny has done a good job with them this season.  They’re playing well at the moment so we know it will be a difficult game as it always is going to Oriel Park.

“However, we’re playing well ourselves.  We had a really tough game on Monday against Bray who pushed us all the way and could have scored at the end to get a draw.  We know we will have to up our performance levels for Monday night as it’s a top of the table clash, but the players are up for the game and will give it their all to get a result.”

Galway United v Drogheda United

Eamonn Deacy Park hosts a proverbial six-pointer on Monday evening, as two sides biding to avoid the dreaded play-off place lock horns.

Galway United and Drogheda United share the same points haul in the league table and both sides have struggled of late, scoring only one goal each in their last five competitive fixtures.

Enda Curran's tremendous solo effort in the third minute separated the sides when they clashed at Eamonn Deacy Park in March.

"We're literally down to the bare bones at the moment," said Galway manager Tommy Dunne.

"At present, we're missing nine first-team players through injury or suspension, it's just too much and we've struggled in recent games because of that. Our squad is too small and missing two or three players would hurt us, never mind nine.

"Important games are coming thick and fast and they don't come much bigger than Drogheda United at home, who are also level on points with us in the league table. Ideally, you'd like to be in a position to play your strongest team against Drogheda and have a right go but the likelihood is, we'll be fielding some Under-19 players.”

Tiarnan Mulvenna returns from suspension for Drogheda but Robert Bayly is banned after his red card in the defeat to Sligo Rovers on Friday.

Limerick v Longford Town

Limerick manager Martin Russell says his team will “need another top-level performance” if they are to make it four wins on the spin against Longford Town at the Markets Field on Monday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Shannonsiders have put together an impressive run of form, seeing off Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and Cork City over the past fortnight, to lift themselves to within seven points of eighth place.

Limerick defensive duo, right-back Shaun Kelly and centre-half Patrick Kanyuka, are both likely to return after they missed the trip to Cork through suspension.

Russell said: “Longford have been comfortably in mid-table for the majority of the season. They did well in their game against Shamrock Rovers and were a bit unlucky not to get more from it. They’ve also drawn with Dundalk.

“We haven’t beaten them yet this season so they deserve our respect. As every game is in this league, it will be a tough test and we know that we will need another top-level performance to continue the run that we’re on.”

While Limerick are on a three-game winning streak, Longford are without a victory since beating Bohs 2-1 in City Calling Stadium on 4 July. Since then, they have drawn two and lost four.

The teams have met twice this season. At Jackman Park in March, Limerick led twice through Seán Russell but they were pegged back on each occasion by David O’Sullivan as the game ended 2-2. In the return fixture in May, Mark Salmon’s first-half strike proved the difference.

Pat Sullivan is suspended for Longford as they look to pull away from the relegation battle. 

Sligo Rovers v Derry City

Sligo Rovers entertain Derry City at the Showgrounds looking to make it six points in four days after the win against Drogheda United on Friday night.

The 4-0 victory at United Park gave new manager Micky Adams his first points since taking over at The Showgrounds.

Adams must plan without defender Gavin Peers who will be suspended for this game as he has collected five yellow cards, while Kevin Devaney and Jeff Henderson remain out.

Danny Ledwith is fit again and should return, David Cawley is back having missed Friday’s game due to the birth of his child.

Adams said: “I wouldn’t think tiredness should be an issue. The players have recovered well over the weekend so I am not expecting tiredness to be a factor in the game. There is three days in between both games so that should be enough time.

“We are not the finished article by any means. Friday night was very much a welcome three points for us – it has given a huge lift to everyone. But we know that if we don’t reach the same levels against Derry we will be beat.

“I watched Derry in their game against Galway and they were very, very good. So I will be expecting nothing else than that from them tomorrow night.”

Ryan McBride and Stephen Dooley were both substitued due to injury during Friday night’s defeat to Dundalk and rated as very doubtful.  McBride didn’t train last week and was withdrawn during Friday’s game.  Dooley who endured an injury hit start to the season was another victim and was called ashore with a hamstring injury.

Hutton will also have to plan without Conor McCormack after his red card against Dundalk. Patrick McEleney is also a doubt