Sporting Fingal will be aiming to put their first points of the season on the board when they host Sligo Rovers on Friday night at Morton Stadium in a repeat of last year’s FAI Ford Cup final (7.45pm). 

Following last week’s narrow opening-day defeat at Bohemians, when a dubious late penalty decision gifted the champions the three points, Fingal manager Liam Buckley is hoping for better fortune this week when the Bit O’Red come to Santry.

“The application and attitude of our players against Bohemians was first-class and I feel for them that they came from Dalymount Park with nothing,” said Buckley.

“However, the determination to recover from that set-back has been evident in training this week and I’m expecting another committed performance against Sligo Rovers.

“We played Paul Cook’s side twice last year, losing our duel in the EA Sports Cup but overcoming them in the FAI Ford Cup final, so there will be little between the sides again this time.”

As well as not having Lorcan Fitzgerald available due to the fractured cheekbone he suffered against Bohs which rules him out for up to six weeks, a number of other players are injury doubts.

Ger O’Brien has a slight a hamstring strain and is unlikely to be risked while John Frost (calf), Shaun Williams (knee) and Eamon Zayed (hip) will undergo late fitness tests.