The first rescheduled fixtures of the League of Ireland season take place on Monday night as Derry City travel to UCD as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Finn Harps host Drogheda in the second Premier Division tie, while Treaty United welcome Athlone Town to the Market’s Field.
All three games were previously postponed due to poor weather, with the UCD game called off on March 11th and the other two on the opening day of the season.
UCD v Derry City (UCD Bowl, 7.45pm)
Andy Myler’s Students welcome the in-form Derry to the UCD Bowl, the only side in the league without a win against the only remaining unbeaten side.
It’s another long trip to the capital for Ruadhri Higgins’ Candystripes following their dramatic injury-time win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night.
James Akintunde nodded home late on as Derry made it three injury-time wins and completing a turnaround after trailing at half time.
Liam Burt had fired the home side in front midway through the first half but Derry’s patience told as Ronan Boyce polished off a fine move to net with a diving header.
For UCD, it was a fourth defeat of the season on the road as they went down 2-0 to Dundalk at Oriel Park, Daniel Kelly and Patrick Hoban scoring the goals.
So this tie presents totally different opportunities for the sides: for Myler, a chance to make up the gap with the sides above them, and for Derry a chance to go six points clear.
"I honestly believe that UCD should have more points than what they have at the minute considering how they've been playing,” said Higgins ahead of the game.
"They're very capable of creating chances and in Colm Whelan, Liam Kerrigan and Dylan Duffy have three of the best young attacking players in the country.
"We have to go there and counteract that threat and look to play on the front foot ourselves, and that's what we'll try to do."
Michael Duffy and Ciaron Harkin are out long-term for Derry, but they will be able to call on Will Patching after he went off at half time on Friday with an eye injury.
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Finn Harps v Drogheda United (Finn Park, 8pm)
Ninth meets eighth in the Premier Division as a resurgent Drogheda United look to continue their good form as they travel to Ballybofey.
After a slowish start to the season, Kevin Doherty’s will look to make it three games unbeaten as they face the side immediately under them in the table.
The win over Dundalk before the break was followed up by a 1-1 draw against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park on Friday night.
Dayle Rooney’s first-half strike put Drogs in front but a superb Darragh Burns strike earned Tim Clancy’s side a point against the side he left in the off-season.
Harps will be determined to bounce back from Friday night’s 3-0 reverse at home to Shamrock Rovers, which also saw keeper Mark McGinley sent off.
Ollie Horgan was forced to put midfielder Bastien Héry between the sticks to face Graham Burke’s penalty (he didn’t save it) after an Andy Lyons brace had put the result beyond doubt.
McGinley will have to sit the game out, which may see a recall for 40-year-old Gerard Doherty or a senior debut for 18-year-old Patrick McGarvey.
“We can’t dwell on Friday night, we need to lift ourselves and quickly if we’re to be ready for Drogheda. They’re coming in off the back of two very impressive results,” said Horgan.
“They deservedly beat Dundalk before the break and they came away from Richmond Park on Friday with a point which is a massive achievement at the best of times.
Regan Donelon, Ryan Rainey, Erol Alkan, Eric McWoods are all doubtful for Harps, while Darragh Markey, Mark Hughes, Ryan Brennan, Luke Heeney are all out for Drogs.
Referee: Oliver Moran
Treaty United v Athlone Town
Treaty United can move into fourth place by the end of the night should they navigate their way past bottom side Athlone Town.
A 2-1 win over pre-season favourites Waterford on Friday night will give the Limerick side plenty of confidence as they make it the first of two games in hand.
Goals in either half from Matt Keane and Enda Curran sealed the win for Tommy Barrett’s side, despite Anthony Wordsworth pulling one back late on.
It was the perfect way for Treaty to bounce back from a dispiriting 4-0 defeat to league leaders Cork City a week earlier and they’ll look to build on it.
Athlone arrive in Limerick happy to have simply gotten off the board, their 1-1 draw at home to Bray Wanderers on Friday their first point of the season.
Martin Russell’s young side haven’t gelled to date but Thomas Oluwa’s second-half strike, following Kurtis Byrne’s first-half opener, gives them something to work from.
Referee: Paul Norton.
