Given that his side has stolen something of a march on all of its rivals in the injury-crisis stakes, Peter Hutton is clearly pleased to be sitting on three points heading into the league's second round of fixtures. Now, though, the champions are coming to town and Derry City are still a week or two away from being able to assemble a match-day squad that doesn't include a few under-19s.
“Yeah, there’ll be one or two with us again for this one,” says Hutton, “so it’ll be a challenge but we always knew it would be and we’re still very much looking forward to it.”
Ruled out
The northerners have Mark Timlin and Ryan McBride back from suspension but Stephen Dooley is now ruled out by injury with the midfielder joining a long list of players including strikers Anthony Elding, Nathan Boyle and Cillian Morrison on the sidelines.
In their absence 21-year-old Ryan Curran grew into the game last week and eventually scored Derry's winner with nine minutes remaining. In the circumstances, it's little surprise that he is set to get another chance to show what he can do.
“He led the line well and, yeah, I think it’s probably fair to say that he’s going to be in there against Dundalk.”
Ger Doherty is a doubt after injuring his finger in training this week while Seanan Clucas’s international clearance has yet to come through.
Stephen Kenny, who returns to his former club, has a full squad to choose from.
With Richard Brush out due to a shoulder injury, Sligo Rovers are registering goalkeeping coach Ciarán Kelly to play again while Jeff Henderson is still out for the visit to Drogheda.
Killian Brennan and Seán Hoare return from suspension for St Patrick’s as they look to bounce back from their opening defeat by beating Bray. Ger O’Brien and Jason McGuinness are both ruled out by hamstring problems but Morgan Langley, the United States midfielder signed this week, comes into the reckoning.
Late tests
Bohemians are again without Dan Byrne and Dave Mulcahy for the visit of Galway United while the visitors have Killian Cantwell and Ger Hanley definitely ruled out.
Cork City manager John Caulfield, meanwhile, has Billy Dennehy back for the Munster derby game against Limerick but Rob Lehane, Michael McSweeney and Alan Smith all face late tests.
Limerick’s Martin Russell remains upbeat despite an opening weekend defeat and the subsequent loss to Cobh in the league cup citing the improved performance on Tuesday as cause for optimism. “”It’ll be extremely difficult,” he says, “but we’ve already beaten Cork in the Munster Senior Cup so we know it’s achievable.”
