Pats and Drogs look to close gap

With leaders Sligo Rovers eight points clear with just four games remaining in the Airtricity League Premier Division, it looks increasingly like a battle for silver between St Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United.

Neither could take advantage when drawing 0-0 when they faced off on Friday, following which Sligo promptly extended their lead with a resounding 4-1 win over Derry City at the Showgrounds, two of the goals coming from Raffaele Cretaro. Boasting a much superior goal difference to their rivals, two more wins for Sligo – who travel to Cork on Friday – would be enough to secure their first title since 1977.

Still, even though they are now playing more in hope than expectation of the big prize, second-placed Pat’s and third-placed Drogheda will both be anxious to make fresh inroads into Sligo’s lead this evening, when Pats (on 49 points) host UCD at Richmond Park and Drogheda (on 48) welcome Shelbourne to Hunky Dorys Park.

Both matches kick off at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile there are two Irish internationals taking place on foreign soil today with the men’s U17s playing Macedonia in a European Championship qualifier in Skopje (kick off 2pm Irish time) and the women’s U17s also in European qualifying action away to Belarus (kick off 4pm Irish time).