Farrelly anxious to deliver goods with Bohs

BOHEMIANS manager Gareth Farrelly is in confident mood ahead of his first full season in the eircom League, which begins with the visit of Shamrock Rovers to Dalymount Park tonight, (7.30, RTÉ Two).

Farrelly, recruited midway through last season after a distinguished playing career in England (with Everton and Aston Villa, among others), was kept out of competitive football by serious injuries. Now he is anxious to deliver.

"I have been able to get the work in, in pre-season training and I'm looking forward to playing a bit more."

Farrelly, capped several times by Mick McCarthy on the left of Ireland's midfield, found it difficult last season to overcome a persistent hamstring injury. Bohs will have need of his playing talent and his experience as they face into the new competition without nine of last season's squad, including the high-powered trio of Glen Crowe, Colin Hawkins and Bobby Ryan.

"Because we have lost nine of last season's squad there is not as much pressure on us as there is on the bigger teams like Shelbourne, Cork and Drogheda. What we are facing is a period of consolidation while everybody settles in and we develop the team," said Farrelly.

The Bohs boss will not be able to call on Ken Oman and David Bracken and he is likely to field his three close-season signings, Des Byrne, Jimmy Aggrey and Mark O'Brien.

Shamrock Rovers, meanwhile, are at full strength for the clash, although manager Roddy Collins warned Hoops' supporters that they may have to wait before they see the best of the newly-assembled side.

"We've got a lot of new players and now it's just a case of waiting for them to gel together. You can't put a time limit on it it could happen against Bohs or it could happen next month."

Bray Wanderers' manager Pat Devlin is one of those suggesting that clubs like his are at a huge disadvantage nowadays because they are still operating with a semi-professional staff.

Budget constraints will dictate the progress of several clubs, in his opinion.

They play St. Patrick's Athletic at the Carlisle Grounds and Devlin said: "Our aim is to finish top of the bottom four. We know it's going to be very, very hard. I think we're as good as we were the last time we were in the Premier Division but the others have gotten better. If we work very hard, I think we can survive but we're under no illusions how hard it will be. A good start would be perfect because it would give us a lot of confidence for the season."

St Pat's are much changed from last season. New signings Barry Ryan, Michael Foley, Stuart Holt are all expected to start.

There are big expectations for Drogheda United after a major injection of cash and a raft of new signings. Manager Paul Doolin has set his side a minimum target of a top three finish as they prepare for the visit of Derry City at United Park.

Drogheda were fourth last season and Doolin believes they will be stronger after going full-time and acquiring the likes of Simon Webb, Damien Lynch, Sami Ristela, Stephen Bradley, Pat Sullivan and Shane Robinson.

Derry will be without the injured Kevin Deery (knee) and the suspended Barry Molloy, Eddie McCallion and Damien Brennan.

Tonight's fixtures:

Eircom League, Premier Division: Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers (7:30); Bray Wanderers v St Patrick's Athletic (7:45); Drogheda United v Derry City (7:45).

First Division: Athlone Town v Dundalk (7:45).