Derry must take chance to put early distance to champs

Victory for Derry tonight would swell the gap to Shamrock Rovers to nine points.

Derry’s Patrick Hoban celebrates after scoring against St Pat's.

It’s exactly a year since Derry City secured their statement win at Tallaght and they’ll need a similar outcome tonight to halt the march of Shamrock Rovers to a record fifth successive title.

The Hoops have again started slowly, one point taken from the games against Dundalk and Shelbourne, yet are renowned for eating into leads built up by their rivals.

Victory for Derry tonight would swell the gap to the champions to nine points.

Given their flakiness after ending a six-year wait for victory at the Dublin venue last year, it's essential to achieve that in only their fourth game of the season.

While Ruaidhrí Higgins’s Candystripes were coming from behind to beat FAI Cup champions St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday, Rovers were training within the indoor confines of the Abbotstown dome. Heavy snowfall on the east coast led to an early postponement of their planned fixture against Drogheda United.

“Derry have invested heavily in their group over the last two years,” Rovers boss Stephen Bradley correctly pointed out about the expectations attached to their opponents.

“When they sign someone like Patrick Hoban, like they did in the off-season, he'll bring goals to the team. We know it's going to be a difficult game.” 

Higgins doesn’t view the disparity in workload as a negative heading to Tallaght. “Rovers will be fresh from having their match been called off, but listen, we’ve played Friday, Monday, Friday for a long time now, so it’s nothing that the players aren’t used to.

"Hopefully the momentum gathered from Friday night will stand us in good stead going into this one.” 

Derry remain without Sadou Diallo, Patrick McEleney and Cameron Dummigan.

Similarly, injury deprives the meeting of last year’s top two the presence of Rovers midfielders Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff, the latter a former Derry player and native.

Elsewhere. Waterford aim to bounce back from their first defeat – losing 2-1 to fellow promoted side Galway United – when they welcome St Pat’s to the RSC for what should be another bumper turnout.

Shelbourne, sharing the early summit with Derry on seven points, are next to face Caulfield’s Galway, themselves basking in two successive wins.

“With John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan in charge, if we’re any way off it, Galway will do us,” warned Shels boss Damien Duff.

“Beating Sligo was great but we need to keep the ball better. It's been a brilliant start, points-wise, but I'm never happy.” 

TONIGHT'S PREMIER DIVISION (7:45pm): Drogheda United v Bohemians, Weavers Park; Dundalk v Sligo Rovers, Oriel Park; Shelbourne v Galway United, Tolka Park; Waterford v St Patrick’s Athletic, RSC; Shamrock Rovers v Derry City, Tallaght Stadium (Live Virgin Media).

MUNSTER SENIOR CUP: Kerry v Treaty United, Mounthawk Park, 7:45pm