Latest Team News - Week 2
Sporting Fingal
Sporting will be without Brian Gannon and David Bracken, as both are automatically suspended following their dismissals against Longford. Paul Malone, Davy Sullivan and Joe Clancy remain injured but striker Robbie Doyle is available for selection after sitting out the opening fixture due to suspension.
Derry City
Custodian Quigley is out having picked up a nasty facial injury in last Fridays league opener with UCD, Sean Hargan (ankle) and Mark McCrystal (metatarsal) are also out longer term.
Cork City
Cork City travel to Dublin on Friday to ake on Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park. Mathews should have a virtually full squad to choose from tomorrow night, with only Gareth Farrelly (knee) and Billy Woods (ankle) likely to miss out. New signing Pat Sullivan is available once again following suspension and is line to make his league debut for the club.
Wexford Youths
Wexford have a full squad available bar the suspended duo of Danny Furlong and Marty Kelly.
Athlone Town by Dave Dibble
Manager Dermot Lennon is looking forward to get out of the blocks and believes his team has a good chance in this game after Fingal went down to Longford in their first game of the season. Lennon could be with out Levi Tierney out with an ankle injury and Davy Byrne are both doubtful for the game with Sporting Fingal.Noel McGee is serving a one match suspension carried over from last season booking.
Monaghan Utd Mick Cooke has no injury worries bar Stephen Finnegan who will be out of the loop for most of the season due to ongoing knee problems.
Shamrock Rovers
Apart from long-term casualties Aidan Price and Padraig Amond, and the suspended Tadhg Purcell, Chris Mulhall will also miss the game against Cork City.
UCD
UCD will work off the same 16 man panel they used against Derry for their
upcoming away tie with Bray Wanderers. This means that there is no place for midfielder Derek Doyle as UCD manager Pete Mahon feels he isn't ready to return to competitive action just yet.
Finn Harps
Paul Hegarty will have to plan without the services of defenders Marc Mukendi (groin strain) and Jonathan Minnock(achillies), as well as former Derry striker Gary Beckett (ligament).
Stephen Parkhouse (medial ligament) and debut goalscorer Shaun Williams (ankle) both
picked up knocks in the victory over Cobh Ramblers a week ago and both are
rated as doubtful for the trip to the Brandywell. Kevin Ramsey could make his debut in Harps colours should Parkhouse miss out while Marc Brolly stands by to replace Williams should he fail to
recover. Hegarty may also opt to rearrange his backline somewhat and bring the experienced Declan Boyle into the rearguard.
Shelbourne
Following their exciting scoreless draw at home to Dundalk last Friday, the Reds take to the road tomorrow (Friday) evening for their game with Kildare County at Station Road, Newbridge.
Manager Dermot Keely is left with selection problems of the best kind, with the full panel fit and well and available for selection. Mark O'Brien returns after a one week suspension and Anto 'Bisto' Flood has resumed training after taking a few knocks in last Friday's encounter.
Waterford United
Gareth Cronin will have to plan without captain John Hayes who serves an automatic one match ban following his red card last Friday. However, Cronin has Kenny Browne who looks like slotting straight in alongside David Breen at the heart of the Blues defence and he also welcomes back Vinny Sullivan and Robbie Clarke who sat out last weekend’s game in Wexford due to suspension.
Dundalk
Dundalk are sweating on the fitness of centre-half Ben Whelehan (ankle) and right-back John Flanagan (calf), who were both forced to retire early last week through injury. Midfielder Paul Crowley could return, however, captain Aidan Lynch, inspirational in the draw with Shels, is definitely ruled out through a suspension carried-over from last year, while goalkeeper Chris Bennion also serves a ban having been sent-off last week. Winger Paul Smyth is now free to play against his former club having this year signed a permanent deal with Dundalk.
Monaghan United
Monaghan have no bans to be served, however, they will be without long-term injury victim, midfielder Stephen Finnegan. Ex-Lilywhite James Hand, who joined United in the close-season, is expected to make an appearance in his new colours.
Bray Wanderers
Paddy Kavanagh who was sent off last week in Cork following two yellow cards will sit out Bray's game against U.C.D. on Friday night as he serves a one match ban.Also missing will be Derek Foran and Kevin Doherty both with hamstring injuries picked up pre season which saw them miss out against Cork City last Friday.Once again Captain Colm Tresson and Ray Kenny who were superb last week are likely to fill the central defensive positions for the Seagulls.
Bohemians
Bohemians will again be without left-back Conor Powell who sat out last week’s opening day win against Galway with a knee injury, while long-term absentee Thomas Heary is still some weeks away from first team action as he recovers from anterior ligament surgery. Glenn Cronin is another absentee and after he was carried off in Galway, while Killian Brennan Neale Fenn are both doubtful.
St. Patrick's Athletic
Stephen Brennan serves a one match suspension, however, Stephen Paisley returns having sat out the 3-1 win over Sligo.
Limerick 37
Limerick could call both Derek McCarthy and Captain Pat Purcell back into the squad, depending on late fitness tests.
Wexford Youths
Wexford are without both striker Danny Furlong and midfielder Martin Kelly, who are ruled out through one-match suspensions.