Fingal's Fitzgerald ruled out for up to six weeks

SPORTING FINGAL defender Lorcan Fitzgerald will be sidelined for up to six weeks after fracturing his cheekbone during last Friday’s league defeat at Bohemians.

The former youth international collided with team-mate Kenny Browne early in the match at Dalymount Park but carried on playing.

He is ruled out of this evening’s game with Sligo Rovers, however, leaving manager Liam Buckley to reorganise things at the back ahead of a game that is a rerun of last season’s FAI Cup final.

Sligo have a few concerns ahead of the trip to Dublin with Paul Cook obliged to wait until close to kick-off time this evening before making calls on the fitness of Richie Ryan, Danny Ventre, Richard Brush and Pádraig Amond, all of whom are said to be doubtful.

Galway United boss Seán Connor must cope without long-term injury absentees Alan Murphy and Jonathan Keane as he prepares for the visit of Bray Wanderers, while Stephen O’Donnell is suspended after notching up Connor’s first sending off of the campaign last Friday night.

Both sides are looking to get off the mark after losing their opening games and Connor is conscious of the importance of games like this to his side.

“We are in a mini league with Bray, Drogheda, UCD,” he said.

“We need to finish on top of that league so we need to finish with three points every time we play these teams at home.”

Bray are without David O’Neill for the game while Philip Knight is a doubt but Dave Webster returns from injury.