A FOUR GONE CONCLUSION?
Games to go to make it titles out of 5..but Pat wants job done now
Brady continued: “It’s been a long number of months now but I’m feeling better as the weeks have gone on.
“I feel really good so, please God, it’s not much longer. I feel almost ready and I’m itching to get back.”
Brady has not featured for Ireland since the nightmare World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark last November. And he has not played competitively for Burnley since shipping that knee injury in a clash with Leicester City last December.
But Ireland boss Martin O’neill will hope he is fit for next month’s key Nations League double header against the Danes and Wales in Dublin.
Seamus Coleman is expected to recover from a stress fracture in his foot in time for the October 13 and 16 games but Jon Walters is a fresh doubt with a calf injury. DUNDALK know the league title will be theirs again if they beat Derry City at Oriel Park tonight.
And star striker Pat Hoban is hoping it’s a night of double celebration as he targets personal goals as well as collective ones.
The Lilywhites are on the verge of securing a fourth league in five seasons having opened up a nine point lead over reigning champions Cork City.
Stephen Kenny’s charges edged within touching distance after seeing off their arch rivals 1-0 at Turner’s Cross on Friday.
Victory tonight will see them 12-points clear with just four games to go – and they are already 24 goals better off than Cork.
It’s an important week for Dundalk as they also host First Division champions UCD in Friday’s FAI Cup semi-final with a double up for grabs.
Hoban said: “At the start of the season I set myself a target to win trophies and I knew there was a lot of capability in this squad to do that.
“With the desire and drive that Stephen Kenny has, and the work that he puts into the team, you’re always going to be there or thereabouts.
“As the season went along I fancied us to win the league. It’s not done yet but we’re nearly there.
“The Derry game is massive for us and we’ve got to get the job done. If we get the three points then it’s probably over due to the goal difference.”
Hoban – who has 27 in all competitions this year – is also one goal shy of equalling the Premier Division scoring record of 25 in a season.
Ex-dundalk star Richie Towell hit that mark in 2015 while Jason Byrne and Glen Crowe did it at Shelbourne and Bohemians in 2004 and 2000/01 respectively.
Hoban might have joined them in Friday’s win over Cork but had to settle for providing the third-minute assist for Chris Shields. Hoban laughed: “Shieldsy should have played it to my good side! But, anyway, the ball went back to him and it was a great finish. He doesn’t score many but when he does they’re important. It was great to see it going in.”
Hoban continued: “We know that’s a good cushion going into the last four games.
“With four games to go, I’d fancy us winning the league but we’ve a job to do and we must be professional.”
Hoban is under contract with Dundalk next season and the Galway man insists it’s too early to be talking about his future beyond that.
“We have to wait and see,” he said. “You hear rumours all the time but I’m just focused on what I do and I just want to win trophies at Dundalk and we’re very close now.”