National League Previews

Shelbourne v Cork City

Both of these sides suffered setbacks last weekend, but that is likely to make them all the more determined when they come out to face each other this evening at Tolka Park.

Shelbourne have been playing plenty of exciting stuff in the opening weeks of the new campaign, but manager Damien Richardson points to the more positive approach of the southerners as being the key to the game.

Certainly, the arrival of Jason Kabia has been a boost and Dave Barry has already seen seven different team members get their names on the score sheet in the opening five matches. In the continued absence of Mark Herrick and, particularly, Dave Hill, a point would be a decent reward for City this evening, but against an unpredictable Shelbourne side it a very difficult target to aim for.

They will probably be without Pascal Vaudequin again and so Richardson may look at the option of starting Greg Costello whose lack of match fitness after a pre-season injury has played a part in keeping him on the bench to date.

Last season: Cork 3 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 3 Cork 3, Cork 0 Shelbourne 1.

Recent league form: Shelbourne: WDWWL; Cork: WWWWL.

Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Scully (five); Cork: Kabia, O'Brien and Flanagan (two apiece).

Betting: Home 6/4, Draw 7/4, Cork 2/1.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Drogheda v Sligo Rovers

Still unbeaten but, admits manager Nicky Reid, largely untested, Sligo travel to Drogheda hoping to make the most of the home side's early-season troubles in order to keep themselves amongst the pacemakers.

Reid might be more confident about the trip if he were sure of the fitness of Lee Thew, Ian Lynch and Steve Jones, all of whom are doubtful for this evening's game. Brian Southworth, Matt Daly and Steve Berks are the players likely to come in if the others don't make it.

Last week's defeat of Derry was the best result so far for Reid and his side, but City are severely out of sorts at the moment and the newly-arrived player manager concedes that Rovers will have to be a good deal more solid and consistent on a week-to-week basis if they are to mount a serious challenge.

Martin Lawlor, on the other hand, has very different problems with no end in sight to United's poor start to the campaign. This week, he has released Ian Gilzean after a four-week trial, while his search for other players to strengthen the squad continues.

Nevertheless, he remains remarkably positive about his side's prospects and despite a few positional switches and line up changes, the home side should make things very tough for another visiting team.

Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: Drogheda: LLLLL; Sligo: DDDWW.

Leading scorers: Drogheda: Coady and Reid (one apiece); Sligo: Jones, Ogden, Rose and Moran (two apiece).

Betting: H 7/2, Draw 9/4, Sligo 8/11.

Referee: P Dempsey (Dublin).

First Division

"Had we won last week," said Monaghan United manager Tom O'Connor, "this game would have been first against second, but, as it happens, both his side and Bray Wanderers slipped up and each will be keen to get back on track in this evening's meeting at the Carlisle Grounds.

Sean Murray is likely to get a first start for United who must wait on Mark Devlin and Bobby Byrne and O'Connor may make more changes after another disappointing home performance.

Pat Devlin will certainly make changes following his side's defeat by Limerick and the switches are likely to extend well beyond the return of goalkeeper John Walsh, who is available again after injury.

In another big game, Waterford and Home Farm will battle it out at the RSC, but the home side's manager will not know his team until shortly before the kick off when he tests the fitness of four or five players.

Finally, Galway travel to Athlone hoping that they can show a bit more consistency after their comfortable defeat of St Francis.