WITH FIVE players still out injured, Derry City manager Stephen Kenny has few options as he prepares to face St Patrick's Athletic for a second time in three days at the Brandywell tonight, reports Paul Buttner. But fresh from Friday's 1-0 league win at Richmond Park, which leapfrogged Derry to the top of the Premier Division table, Kenny is more than content with his side's start to the new season.
"We have five out," said Kenny. "Sammy Morrow is a good player and I rate Kevin Deery very highly. Then there's Darren Quigley, Seán Hargan and Mark McChrystal, so we are not blessed with loads of numbers at the moment. What you saw there (on Friday night) - that's it."
Having lost their opening game at Linfield, another win over St Patrick's is a must if Derry are to harbour ambitions of making their first impact in the cross-border competition. They've failed to get out of the group in the last two years.
The depth of the St Patrick's squad leaves manager John McDonnell better placed to make changes. "We've a few players who we might have to use . . . because it's going to be a long week," said McDonnell, who is likely to rest defender Joe O'Cearuill who picked up a slight groin strain on Friday night.
Group Two leaders Linfield face Belfast rivals Glentoran at The Oval.
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES (8.05) - Group Two: Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic (Live on Setanta Sports Ireland); Glentoran v Linfield (Live on Setanta Sports 1).
