Monaghan visit champions with doubts over four players

Champions Shamrock Rovers welcome newly-promoted Monaghan United in their opening home league game of the campaign.

The Hoops have been solid so far with a hard-fought win over Drogheda United last week plus a Setanta Sports Cup win over Cliftonville.

Monaghan were equally solid in their 0-0 draw with Dundalk last Friday and former Hoops boss Roddy Collins knows his side could have snatched the three points at the death.

They will visit Tallaght Stadium for the first time looking to make their mark as a top flight team.

Rovers are minus Ciaran Kilduff (broken metatarsal), Conor McCormack (ankle ligament injury) and Conor Winn (back) through injury.

Killian Brennan returns to the Hoops squad having missed Monday’s Setanta Sports Cup clash with Cliftonville through suspension.

Monaghan have doubts over Robert Bayly, Aidan Collins, Gareth O’Connor and Shaun Maher through injury while Keith Quinn returns from a ban.

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Kenny said: "Every single victory this season will be hard fought. I think the idea that you might have easy games is naïve.

"We can’t drop our standards for anyone or we will get turned over, that is the same as it is for any team. This is our first home game of the season, and we will be looking for a win from that."

Monaghan United boss Roddy Collins said: "It’s excellent to be back playing in the Premier Division. Last week although we got a point against Dundalk in the end I was disappointed that we didn’t start the season with a win."