FAI Cup, Quarter-finals preview: The great expectation of Paul Doolin's arrival at Drogheda United hasn't increased whatever apprehension Bohemians' manager Stephen Kenny may be feeling. An FAI Cup quarter-final trip to 02 Park was always going to be tough.
"They are quite strong at home anyway," says Kenny. "I saw them last week and they impressed in the 3-0 win over Waterford. We know we will have our work cut out at what is a tight ground. We got a last minute winner in the league game there and we'd expect a similarly close game.
"It's a hard place to go and get a result and their players will be eager to impress their new manager, but we've found a bit of form and we're looking to continue that."
While the competitive Doolin will relish the fact his first game at Drogheda is a big one against his first senior club, he's glad it's not a league match.
"It's not so much about me and it being my first game, it's more about the players and what they can show me," said Doolin, before admitting with a grin, "it's a great game and the only disappointing thing from my point of view is that I'm not playing." A new manager and the confidence instilled from their biggest win of the season last week should bring a full house of some 5,000 to the game.
Doolin will not be able to field that winning team and will have to make his first real call when readjusting his defence in the absence of suspended central defender Pat Scully. Aidan Lynch, who dropped himself to the bench last week while in temporary charge with Scully, is set to come into the side. Midfielder Darren Beesley, still troubled by a back strain, is again likely to sit this one out.
Colin Hawkins is Bohemians big doubt with a hamstring strain so Thomas Heary is set to partner Paul McNally in central defence.
Longford Town manager Alan Matthews will want an improvement from his defence in the other all-Premier Division clash with Waterford United at Flancare Park.
"Bohemians are a good side, but we were punished for silly defensive errors," said Matthews of last week's 4-2 home defeat to the champions.
Unlike Matthews, who has no selection concerns, Waterford manager Jimmy McGeough is without central defender David Breen who came off in the 3-0 defeat at Drogheda while both Mark Clifford and Thomas Hughes are suspended.
Promotion is still the focus, for Sligo Rovers' manager Don O'Riordan at least, ahead of the all-First Division quarter-final with Galway United at the Showgrounds.
"I don't agree that this will be the biggest match we will play this season," insists O'Riordan. "The way we are playing lately there is still a very good chance that we can be involved in promotion.
"The attitude of my players last week at Bray, when five of them played with injuries when they could have shied off with the cup game in mind, told me everything. That proved to me that my players believe we can still make the play-offs." Sligo are without the suspended Michael McNamara and Gareth Gorman, while Galway should bring right winger Tony Folan back after suspension.
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES (7.30 unless stated) FAI Cup: Quarter-finals - Drogheda Utd v Bohemians (5.0); Longford Town v Waterford United; Sligo Rovers v Galway United.
National League: First Division - Cobh Ramblers v Bray Wanderers (7.45); Limerick FC v Dundalk (3.0).
