Hello and welcome along on a significant evening for Derry City, who will line out at Celtic Park for the very first time after securing a temporary move to the home of GAA in the Oak Leaf County while the Ryan McBride Brandywell pitch undergoes work.
The Foylesiders are hopeful of a crowd of around 7,000 at the 12,500-capacity ground for tonight’s televised visit of champions Shamrock Rovers and while last Friday’s away win over Shelbourne will have helped to ease some of the pressure on manager Tiernan Lynch, there is still a lot of lost ground to make up.
Second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic got back to winning ways a week ago and host Bohemians at Richmond Park. The Gypsies have fallen off the pace in recent weeks and come into the Dublin derby on the back of four draws followed by consecutive defeats.
Across the Liffey, Shelbourne welcome Drogheda United to Tolka Park with Joey O’Brien’s men on a three-game losing run and the visitors winless since the second week of the season.
Still rooted to the bottom of the table, Waterford are back at the RSC following a 2-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers and Galway United will provide the Blues’ latest test.
In the First Division, Cork City have opened up an eight-point advantage with a game in hand on the chasing pack and travel to the Carlisle Grounds in one of four second-tier fixtures.