Doolin happy with hand he is dealt

Setanta Cup Semi-final:The League of Ireland's two form sides meet in the first of the Setanta Sports Cup semi-finals this evening (kick-off 8.05), with Drogheda United travelling to Richmond Park to take on St Patrick's Athletic for a place in this season's final.

United are again without several prominent first-team members, Jason Gavin, Declan O'Brien and Shane Bradley among those obliged to look on from the sidelines as their team, likely to be largely unchanged from that which beat Shamrock Rovers on Friday night, tackle the Dubliners.

"I haven't really got anybody to change," laughs Paul Doolin when asked about his starting 11.

"I'm not complaining, though; I thought the lads played well on Friday night, and hopefully they'll do okay again."

Glen Fitzpatrick is set to start again despite having been sent off in the weekend's league win, but the striker will be absent for Friday's meeting with Cork City.

Doolin admits this will be one of his side's toughest tests since the start of the season: "They're a good side, they've made a good start and scored a few goals without conceding many, but then so have we. It's a big game for both sides and hopefully it will be a good one. That's not always the case when good teams meet each other, and the Setanta Cup hasn't produced too many memorable games this year."

St Patrick's have Joseph Ndo available again, the Cameroon international having missed a couple of games with an ankle injury. It remains to be seen, however, if John McDonnell will change a side that won 4-0 at Sligo Rovers on Saturday.

This evening's winners take on the winners of the second semi-final, between Linfield and Cork City, scheduled for Windsor Park next Monday evening.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has taken a part-time role at the academy of his former club Blackburn Rovers. His position with Steve Staunton's set-up remains unaffected.