By Ed Leahy
Fans of both sides will believe that their sides should be better places at this stage of the season and it should be a tight affair as Derry welcome Limerick to the Brandywell, kick-off 3pm.
Derry have struggled in recent weeks as they were beaten by Dundalk, lucky to get a point in Bray and only won by the odd goal in five at home to lowly Athlone.
Limerick on the other hand, appear to have put their poor start behind them and have enjoyed better form of late winning their last two games to move into mid-table with just one point separating the two sides.
Stuart Taylor must travel north without the versatile Patrick Nzuzi who is serving a one-match suspension having accumulated four yellow cards, while winger Danny Galbraith (hamstring) continues to make good progress from a long-term injury.
Striker Craig Curran (hamstring) will be assessed ahead of the game having been forced off with an injury six minutes before half-time against Athlone. And young midfielder James McGrath (thigh) could be absent again having missed Friday’s game.
Limerick will travel up to Derry today and stay in Donegal ahead of the Brandywell clash and the manager Taylor believes it will prove very beneficial.
“With us going up the day before, it gives us that chance to go and rest up, get a longer lie-in in bed in the morning and get them prepared and ready for the game on Monday afternoon," said Taylor.
“We’re showing that just now. We’re on a good run, we’re scoring goals and we’re showing the other side of the game of grinding out results.
“The players are showing great character, they’re showing the mental strength that they’ve got and good fitness levels. It’s all good just now.
“It was a case of getting people back, getting them back fit and getting them match sharpness. We’ve got a very, very good side. We want to go and kick on now. We’ve got that confidence of having the wins behind our back. We’re now on a run and we’ll keep that going.
“We’re going into a very difficult game up in Derry but we’ve got two back-to-back wins and we’re looking for three back-to-back wins. We’ll look to kick on and push on and hopefully pick up another win.”
Derry will be hoping that they can make their home advantage work in their favour but with Friday’s performance in Bray so fresh in the memory and Danny Ventre ruled out through suspension, this match might have just come too soon.
Verdict: Limerick
