We’re just three games into the new Airtricity League season but already the table is starting to take a familiar shape, with Sligo and Shamrock Rovers at the summit. At the far end Shelbourne will be hoping their visit to the foot of the table is only temporary, however Alan Mathews’ side needs to improve drastically if they are to avoid a horrendous run of defeats to open their league campaign.
Shamrock Rovers visit Tolka Park on Sunday, but before that there is the matter of the Dublin derby with St. Pat’s, tonight in Inchicore. With two defeats from two games already under their belt and an even tougher set of fixtures ahead, Alan Mathews will know he needs to stop the rot early on or his season, and the club’s, could unravel rapidly.
Budget constraints have meant the Shelbourne squad this season is a young group, with a large group of players brought through from the club’s youth system to play in the first team. A bedding in time is to be expected, although the longer it goes on the more severe it will become. Points on the board are essential early on and Mathews brings his squad to the home of their cross city rivals tonight knowing a major improvement is needed.
Likewise, Pat’s are bouncing back from a defeat of their own, losing out to Shamrock Rovers last Friday night. While they started the season with a win Liam Buckley’s side will nonetheless feel a similar pressure to Shelbourne, albeit to a different degree. Dropped points here could mean falling 6 points behind the league leaders, with less than ten days of the season elapsed. Not a terminal suitation by any means, but nowhere near desirable.
The game is looking like the most interesting fixture of the evening, with the visit of Sligo Rovers to early season surprise package Dundalk another that is sure to draw the eye of the neutral. Ian Barraclougyh’s side are looking like the loss of key players such as Mark Quigley and Jason McGuinness hasn’t caused them to miss a beat.
While Ian Barraclough wasn’t overjoyed with how his side played in Friday night’s win over Bray they have begun the season with 4 wins from 4 in all competitions, and the signings of Anthony Elding and Kieran Djali look like they could prove to be adequate replacements for last season’s star players.
Dundalk have looked a solid outfit under new manager Stephen Kenny and six points from two games have fans at Oriel Park expecting this year will be a pleasant turnaround for the turmoil and misery of last term. A result tonight against the reigning champions might have some people dreaming of even more.
Premier Division Fixtures
Bray Wanderers v Cork City, Carlisle Grounds, 7.45pm
Derry City v Drogheda United, Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
Dundalk v Sligo Rovers, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Limerick v UCD, Thomond Park, 7.45pm
St. Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Image: Shamrock Rovers' Gary McCabe and Ian Bermingham of St. Patrick's Athletic
©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
