You are here: Home >
League of Ireland > News story >
Play-off semi-finals down for decision
|
|
|
| |
Play-off semi-finals down for decision
November 10, 2009
The travails of Derry City may be dominating the League of Ireland headlines but four other clubs contest their most important games of recent years on a big night of promotion/relegation play-off action on Tuesday.
Premier Division duo Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers meet at United Park with the victors secure in the knowledge that they will be part of the top flight again in 2010.
The losers, meanwhile, will take on the winners of the night’s other encounter at Tolka Park between the First Division’s Dublin rivals Shelbourne and Sporting Fingal.
Drogheda United v Bray Wanderers, United Park, 7.45pm
Drogheda manager Alan Mathews has key midfielder James Chambers available after suspension and the former Shelbourne man will go straight into the side.
Mathews has had a number of fitness concerns in recent weeks but he has been able to post a clean bill of health ahead of Bray’s visit.
And he hopes his players can take advantage of the reshuffle of the play-off – Drogs had been destined for an away game against either Sligo Rovers, Galway United or St Patrick’s Athletic before Derry’s license was revoked.
“It is now a different game,” said Mathews. “We were preparing for an away trip but as you know we are now at home. We just have to go out about business and be positive in our approach to the game.
“We can’t afford to be complacent, Bray have now been handed a reprieve which they will not want to waste. It is a one off game in which anything can happen.”
It remains to be seen what effect the events of the past week have had on Bray. Eddie Gormley’s side were officially relegated from the Premier Division ten days ago but Derry’s off-field troubles have given them a reprieve, and they will be desperate to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
Defender Derek Foran (groin) and winger Gary McCabe (ankle) both face late fitness tests having sat out the 1-1 draw with champions Bohemians on Friday night.
Manager Eddie Gormley said: “We gave a very good performance on Friday and worked very hard, with some fringe players putting themslves in the picture for selection for Tuesday night. We will have to work equally as hard if we hope to get a victory on Tuesday. We will be positive and hope we can get that victory.”
Shelbourne v Sporting Fingal, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Shelbourne, champions of the League of Ireland as recently as 2006, put their promotion hopes on the line when they take on arrivistes Sporting Fingal at Tolka Park.
Shels have been rebuilding steadily under Dermot Keely over the past three years and just missed out on automatic promotion by a point to table-topping UCD.
Sporting, meanwhile, have had the largest budget of any side in the First Division, assembling a squad many expected to secure top spot and a place in the Premier in their third year in existence.
Liam Buckley’s men have an FAI Ford Cup final against Sligo Rovers to look forward to, but this evening’s game is arguably more important given their ambitions of becoming one of the top clubs in the League.
Shels are without centre half Kevin Doherty (calf) while there are concerns over Richie Baker, Alan Keely (both hamstring) and Peter Hynes (groin), all of whom missed the win over ill-fated Kildare at the weekend.
Sporting are without former Leeds United midfielder Robert Bayly and striker Robbie Doyle, both of whom serve suspensions this evening.
Left back John Frost is a doubt with a hamstring strain and will undergo a pre-match fitness test.
Buckley said: “This will a tough game for both sides but one we’re certainly looking forward to. There’s never been more than one goal between the sides in all eight meetings since we entered the league last season and I’m expecting it be similarly close in this one.
“Promotion was our aim at the start of the campaign and we’re still in with a shout of achieving that. There’s an opportunity here of getting to within two games of reaching the Premier Division and it bodes well for an exciting Dublin derby.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
