St Patrick's Athletic and Derry City are separated by two places in the League of Ireland Premier Division table heading into Monday's encounter at Richmond Park.

St Patrick's are in red-hot form and could move level with the visitors if they secure maximum points in the round 19 encounter.

Match preview

Another victory for Jon Daly continued his unbeaten start in charge of the club since being named permanent head coach after a stint as interim boss.

Tim Clancy resigned amid a three-game winless run last month, with Daly taking charge of four games — winning three and losing one — before getting the job full time on May 22.

He led St Pat's to a 2-1 win over Dundalk in his first game as permanent boss on May 26 and followed that up with a 3-1 success over University College Dublin at the start of June.

The upshot of five wins in their last six means the side from Inchicore are four points adrift of table-topping Shamrock Rovers and three behind the side they host on Monday.

Daly's team have an inferior goal difference, but moving level with the away side provides ample motivation before a ball is kicked in round 19.

As for Derry City, the mini wobble of the last two games have seen them surrender top spot to Shamrock Rovers, having picked up one point from an available six.

Defeat at Sligo Rovers was followed by a goalless encounter at Shelbourne, the side with more stalemates (eight) than anyone in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Success for Ruaidhri Higgins's men on Monday could see them reclaim top spot if they pick up maximum points and Shamrock fail to beat Sligo Rovers.

The Red and White Army were unbeaten on their travels before that loss at Sligo, and they seek a return to winning ways that would take their road wins to seven.

A seven-game run without losing to St Patrick's makes Derry favourites to extend that run to eight after Monday's game.

Team News

Jake Mulraney is still suspended after receiving a straight red in St Patrick's win over Dundalk last month.

Axel Sjoberg, who went off after just seven minutes against Dundalk, and Joe Redmond, injured since April, are unlikely to participate against the league's second-placed side.

Ben McCormack — who assisted all three goals against UCD — and Noah Lewis — scorer of a brace after his first-half introduction — are expected to feature on Monday.

Derry are still without Ciaron Harkin due to the cruciate ligament injury that has kept out the midfielder since September 2022.

Brian Maher's penalty save against Shelbourne prevented a home loss for City, and the goalkeeper should play a central part in Monday's fixture between the highly-placed teams.

St Patrick's Athletic possible starting lineup:
Lyness; Curtis, Lewis, Brockbank, Breslin; Murphy, Lennon, Forrester; McCormack, Carty, McClelland

Derry City possible starting lineup:
Maher; Boyce, Connolly, McJannett, Coll; Doherty, Dummigan, McEleney, Duffy; O'Reilly; McGonigle

We say: St Patrick's Athletic 1-2 Derry City

Despite Derry's recent wobble, they are backed to claim maximum points against a side they have not lost to since July 2021.

St Pat's have claimed two straight wins under Daly since his permanent appointment, but that run could end on Monday.


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