Pressure on stuttering Derry City ahead of St Pat's trip
STUTTERING START: James McClean and Michael Duffy in conversation. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.
Tiernan Lynch is running out of lives as he takes his Derry City side to in-form St Patrick’s Athletic in the pick of Monday night’s series of Premier Division fixtures.
Three defeats from their opening six matches plunged City into a freefall out of kilter with their massive wage bill.
Losing to the last two champions, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne, wouldn’t necessarily prompt alarm but more dropped points at Inchicore would already place into doubt the pre-season title target espoused by billionaire owner Philip O’Doherty.
Seven points from six games positions them in the bottom half of the table and the building blocks Lynch has cited in pursuit of patience will be redundant unless they start reversing their fortunes.
O’Doherty has been unapologetic about laying out the expectation of ending Derry’s 29-year wait for the Premier crown. Not just this year but in 2027 too.
They face a St Pat’s side chasing a fifth win on the bounce. A shaky opening by Stephen Kenny’s side to the campaign was overcome by beating Dundalk, Galway United, Shelbourne and Drogheda United.
The last time James McClean shared an arena with Kenny was his 100th cap all of 15 months ago but they each have their own motivation to prevail before what’s expected to be a sell-out crowd.
Elsewhere, Bohemians make the short trip to Shelbourne three points clear at the summit.
“We’ve won our last five games in a row; a great run for any team,” declared Gypsies boss Alan Mathews, their latest triumph coming on Friday through Pat Hickey’s late winner against his former club Galway United.
“They’ve been different types of wins in that run too. We’ve had to work hard for each of them, finding different ways of winning and managing tricky games too. We’re not patting ourselves on the back, but we really want to keep that run going.
“That form and being able to celebrate with fans has given the lads great confidence coming into this game.
“It’s a sold-out Dublin derby, the atmosphere will be electric, and there is pressure on both teams to deliver for their fans, so we have to focus on doing our own job right and making sure we start with tempo and maintain our concentration levels for the full game.”
Waterford completed the capture of Kevin Long on Sunday, but he won’t be available for the trip to Eamonn Deacy Park. Jon Daly assisted Galway United boss John Caulfield last season, but his Blues side are in desperate need of their first win of the season.
“You don’t want very late goals getting into your head,” said wily Caulfield after their third straight 1-0 defeat.
“All our games have been close and we’ve a younger average in our team this year so I’m optimistic that the results will come.”
Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty lamented the basics being abandoned during Friday’s 4-1 hammering at St Pat’s.
Now they welcome champions Rovers to Co Louth, operating without Scott Brady and long-term casualty Owen Lambe.
The return of striker Warren Davis for his 100th appearance was a welcome highlight from a miserable night by the Camac.
Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers, Sullivan and Lambe Park
Dundalk v Sligo Rovers, Oriel Park
Galway United v Waterford, Eamonn Deacy Park (8pm, Live Virgin Media)
Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, Tallaght Stadium
Shelbourne v Bohemians, Tolka Park
St Patrick’s Athletic v Derry City, Richmond Park.
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