Build-up: Dundalk vs Limerick 37

Second-placed Dundalk will return to the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table for 24 hours at least on Thursday night, if they can overcome the challenge of Limerick 37 at Oriel Park (kick-off 7.45pm). The Lilywhites will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing in Waterford last weekend to a 95th minute goal despite putting in arguably their best performance of the season.

However, that’s how the dice rolls sometimes, according to Dundalk winger Jamie Duffy. “It was very disappointing, especially with the way we played,” Duffy admits to dundalkfc.com. “I thought it was the best football we played probably all season - we just couldn’t get the goal that we needed. I think if we had scored, we would have won the game, but, again, sometimes it just doesn’t happen for you.”

The Texas-born star isn’t dwelling on the Oriel outfit’s bad fortune, though. “There’s a long way to go,” the 24-year-old assesses. “There’s no panic. There’s still 21 games left. A lot of things are going to happen between now and the end, so when you lose down in Waterford, it’s not a massive disappointment. Obviously with Shels losing as well, it gives us a boost. Two points at this stage is nothing - we were five points clear and that was pegged back. As I said, there are 21 games to go, and a lot can happen yet.”

Some Dundalk fans are already eyeing up the club’s clash with Shelbourne in three weeks. Duffy, however, is taking one game at a time and is hopeful that the Lilywhites can bring a winning sequence into that crucial encounter with their title rivals on 18 July. “The next three games before the Shels match are very winnable,” Jamie says, “so we’ll just take one game at a time and hopefully end up with nine points like we did in the first round.”

The first leg of that trio comes with the visit of Limerick this week, and, despite the Shannonsiders’ run of just one win in nine games in all competitions, Duffy is expecting a difficult match. “Limerick will be tough,” he admits. “It’s very tough down there, and it’s very tough to play against them with the way that they play. But from these next three games, we’ll be aiming for nine points.”

Dundalk Team News: Dundalk will definitely be without the services of defender John Flanagan, who misses out through an automatic one-match suspension incurred as a result of his straight red card in the RSC last Friday night. Striker Robbie Farrell, meanwhile, is again unlikely to feature as he continues to struggle with a knee injury, however, centre-half Ian Ryan could be available despite shipping a heavy knock against Waterford. Dundalk will be without star player David Cassidy for Thursday night’s meeting with Limerick 37 at Oriel Park. The 23-year-old midfielder has been ruled out of the game through a one-match suspension, which has been incurred as a result of accumulating four penalty points.

Limerick Team News: Wayne Colbert and Chukwuma Manjor are set to return after completing their one match suspensions. Tommy Barrett also returns after being away on his honeymoon. Manager Mike Kerley has no injury worries bar Pat Purcell and the on-loan Shane Tracey who remain unavailable.