Derry quartet hit with bans

Derry City’s remarkable rise up the eircom League Premier Division table could come under pressure next week after four of the club’s players were handed one-match bans.

The quartet, all first-teamers, are defenders Clive Delaney and Paddy McGlaughlin, midfielder Ciaran Martyn and striker Michael Holt.

They will all be suspended for the visit to Drogheda United on Friday, July 30.

Delaney was handed the ban by the league’s Disciplinary Commission having reached eight penalty points while the other three have reached four penalty points.

Also receiving one-match suspensions effective from next Wednesday are Shelbourne stirker Glen Fitzpatrick and Shamrock Rovers frontman Stephen Grant.

Due to Shels’ extended European involvement, Fitzpatrick will miss the live televised clash with one of their nearest rivals, Cork City, on August 14 while Grant has to sit out the Richmond Park clash with Longford Town on Monday night, August 2.

Waterford United will have to plan without midfielder Mark Clifford for one match although which one will be determined by the fortunes of Munster rivals Cork City.

The Blues are due to play the Leesiders on Friday, July 30 but if City overcome InterToto Cup rivals Nantes on Saturday and advance to the semi-finals the game will definitely be postponed.

And if they bow out of the competition, the league has provisionally set their Carlsberg FAI Cup tie with UCD for Wednesday, July 28.

That would make a date with Waterford unlikely to take place 48 hours later.