City’s Declan Devine wants to secure a win over Dundalk this evening. Pic by NW Newspix (Joe Boland)
With the league in the bag and a Cup final to look forward to, Dundalk would be forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal as the season draws to a close.
So it could be a good time for the Candystripes to play the champions as they head to Oriel Park (kick off 7.45 pm).
Devine’s side has lost only three games on the road this season and go to Co Louth on the back of a 4-0 home win over Cork City last Friday night.
Victory over Dundalk would see third-placed Derry edge closer to a money-earning European spot.
In a hammer blow to Derry’s fortunes, Jack Malone is out for the remainder of the season. The 19-year-old has sustained a hairline fracture of his foot. Darren Cole is still not available through injury
But on a positive note, Jamie McDonagh is available again along with Conor Davis who has fully recovered from his injury.
Dundalk’s John Mountney remains absent with a foot injury.
Patrick McEleney, who has hamstring and back issues, won’t be risked. Dean Jarvis and Daniel Cleary will miss the game through suspension after both accumulated eight yellow cards.
Ahead of the crunch match, Declan Devine told BBC Sport, “we’ll go to Dundalk looking to win the game, something that no team has done in 32 games there.
“It will be very difficult going to the champions but every point is crucial.”
His assistant Kevin Deery added: “We’ve talked this week about the fact that we’ve only lost three times on the road this season.
“That’s a superb achievement for a group of players who have only been together since January and we can take heart from that.
“Dundalk have earned all the plaudits this season and rightly so. They have had another brilliant year but from our point, we’ve competed with them every time we met.”
“They have already won the league but we know Ruaidhrí and many of their players and they’ll still be looking to protect their 30-game unbeaten run, so there’s no chance of them taking their eye off the ball.
“We have no match for 15 days after this so we can focus all our attention on Friday night.
“A result there would really set things up for that busy end to the season.”
After tonight’s game, City have a further away tie, this time against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds on Friday, October 19.
Derry’s remaining two league games are at home with St Pat’s on Tuesday, October 22 with the final match of the season against North West derby rivals Finn Harps on Friday, October 25.
Both games have a 7.45 pm kick off.
