Drogheda docked 10 league points
The Independent Club Licensing committee met last night to agree the sanction, calling on other League of Ireland clubs “to adhere to sound financial policies”.
Cork City met the same fate at the end of August but now Drogheda’s loss is their gain, moving the newly-crowned Setanta Cup champions up to fifth, just two points behind Sligo Rovers and with tonight’s trip to Inchicore to take on St Patrick’s Athletic as a game in hand (Richmond Park, 7.45pm).
Sligo visit Turner’s Cross on Friday but Mathews said that his players need to focus on tonight’s game rather than what could turn out to be a possible six-pointer in three days’ time.
And having staged an excellent comeback to lift the Setanta Cup, the City boss added that his side will need a repeat performance.
“We produced a great performance on Saturday against Glentoran, and if we are to get the result we need against Pat’s, we will need to do likewise up there,” he said. “It is imperative we maintain the high standards we have set for ourselve.”
Mathews has no fresh injury concerns after Saturday’s game, so Colin Healy (shoulder) and Cillian Lordan (knee) will again miss out, along with suspended midfielder Darren Murphy.
Pat’s, under pressure from Derry City in the race for second, welcome back Derek O’Brien and Jason Gavin, available again having being cup-tied for the FAI Cup semi-final. However, Noel Haverty joins Gary O’Neill, John Murphy and Stephen Paisley on the injured list.
“With Derry beating Galway, we will need to be at our best to keep the gap between ourselves and Derry,” admitted John McDonnell yesterday. “Cork will be coming here full of confidence on the back of their Setanta Cup win so it will be quite a test for us. We have 17 or so fit players to choose from which helps but games with Cork have been very close this season and we can expect another tight one.”
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