LEAGUE OF IRELAND:HAVING SCORED a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers towards the end of last season, St Patrick's Athletic's American winger Ryan Guy says he'd gladly delight in supplying the fireworks again when the sides meet on his nation's independence day at Richmond Park tonight.
“Everyone knows anything can happen on Independence Day,” said the 23-year-old Californian, who’ll hope to add to his only goal of the season so far.
That only goal came in a surprise 3-1 win over champions Bohemians in St Patrick’s last home league game.
But a 1-0 defeat at then bottom Drogheda United last time out very much brought Jeff Kenna’s side back down to earth.
“I’m really looking forward to the game, it’s a big Dublin derby, as it always is,” added Guy. “It’s a home match for us and we really need to come back after our last result as well and show what we can do.”
With leading scorer and skipper Mark Quigley out with a broken jaw, joining Damien Lynch (ankle), Darragh Ryan (hamstring), Gary Dempsey and Mark Leech (both broken legs) on the sidelines, St Patrick’s manager Kenna must rejig in several positions.
Scarcely helping are suspensions to midfielder John Lester and defender Dave Partridge, though Alan Cawley and Gints Freimanis return.
Rovers are without midfield anchor Stephen Rice through suspension, while manager Michael O’Neill gives fitness checks to key defender Darragh Maguire (knee) and goalkeeper Robert Duggan (thigh).
“It’s a tough one, but we have the benefit of having gone there already this season, when we beat them in the EA Sports Cup,” said O’Neill.
Meanwhile, Sligo Rovers striker Raffaele Cretaro said he would gladly have been overlooked as the Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the month for June if it meant beating Albanians KS Vllaznia in Thursday night’s Europa League qualifying round first leg.
Manager Paul Cook said some of his players froze on the night as they lost 2-1, with Cretaro getting Sligo’s goal from a late penalty, his tenth of the season.
Cook remains without the experienced Gavin Peers, who is suspended along with fellow defender Jason Noctor.
Unbeaten in four league games and off the bottom of the table, Drogheda continue without injured goalkeeper Steve Williams and striker Robbie Farrell.
