Limerick
defender
Robbie Williams
has targeted winning five of their remaining eight games in the hope of completing their great escape.
While they remain six points adrift at the foot of the table, Limerick’s survival belief stems from their having taken 10 points from their last four games.
Tonight, Martin Russell’s revitalised team travel to eighth-placed Drogheda United, with the home side desperate to stop their freefall which has seen them muster just two points from the last 21 on offer, the worst form of the bottom six. “Drogheda is massive,” stressed Williams. “We’re six points behind the pack, so it’s a must-win in my eyes.
Cup finals
“We’ve got eight cup finals. If we can probably win five of them, I think that could be enough definitely to get into a play-off and maybe get out of it.”
Missing captain Shane Duggan through suspension is a significant loss for Limerick, however, while fellow midfielder Prince Agyemang is out with a knee injury.
Drogheda manager John McDonnell said the signing of former Republic of Ireland international Keith Treacy during the week has lifted morale at United Park.
Though winger Treacy is short of match fitness, he, along with fellow new signing Roddy Collins, will be available pending FAI clearance. Midfielder Robert Bayly is suspended.
Now ten points clear at the top, league leaders Dundalk are at full strength for their visit to to Bohemians.
No such luck for Bohemians – the only side to have beaten the champions in the league this season – who, still seething from last week's controversial cup exit, are without Eoin Wearen, Robbie Creevy, Jake Kelly and Anto Murphy through injury while Derek Pender, Dan Byrne and Marc Griffin remain out long-term.
Having conceded the league title, Cork City and St Patrick's Athletic hope to get their Europa League qualification aspirations back on track after heavy recent league defeats when they host Galway United and Derry City respectively.
Out injured
Cork welcome
Steven Beattie
and
Stephen Folan
back into their squad after both were cup-tied for their 4-0
FAI Cup
win over St. Patrick’s last week. Captain
John Dunleavy
,
Gavan Holohan
,
John Kavanagh
and
Danny Morrison
remain out injured while
Darren Dennehy
must prove his fitness.
Karl Sheppard yesterday signed a contract extension with Cork until the end of the 2017 season.
Striker Enda Curran is suspended for Galway who are also without Marc Ludden, Stephen Walsh, Ryan Connolly and Padraic Cunningham.
Christy Fagan remains sidelined with a knee injury for St Patrick's who give a late fitness test to midfielder Ian Morris. Derry are without suspended pair Conor McCormack and Philip Lowry.
