Drogheda United v Bohemians
It's not a case of back to the mundane for Bohemians after their top-of-the-table clash with Shelbourne last Friday. At United Park this evening, Roddy Collins will be up against Eddie May, a manager with whom he had his difficulties when the pair were at Newport County.
Bohemians should be good enough to earn the points and give Collins some satisfaction even if there are a few problems. Avery John is on international duty while Shaun Maher is suspended and Robbie Brunton injured. Eoin Mullen returns, probably at left full, which leaves Collins considering whether to play Graham Doyle or Jamie Harris at centre half.
The visiting team will attempt to get an injunction today restraining the FAI from interfering with their signing of Davey Williamson who had played a couple of games for Sligo while on loan there. If they are successful he may be included in the panel.
United will be hoping to have first choice goalkeeper Gareth Byrne back from injury but central defender Peter McDonald is suspended.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Did not meet; 99/00: United 0 Bohemians 2, Bohemians 2 United 1.
Recent league form: United: LDLDD; Bohemians: WWDDD.
Leading scorers: United: Byrne (five); Bohemians: Crowe (eight).
Betting: Home: 100/30, Draw: 12/5, Away: 4/6.
Referee: P Deering (Sligo).
Galway United v Cork City
This game was looking doubtful yesterday when the rain was still falling on an already soft Terryland pitch and an inspection is planned at 10.0 this morning before Cork City travel.
If it gets the go ahead Don O'Riordan will be hopping his players give a better account of themselves than in their other meetings with Cork this season.
They will have to do it without Michael Quirke who is still out injured while central defender Scott Morgan is doubtful.
Dave Barry still has a series of problems to contend with. Definitely out are Gareth Cronin and Anthony Buckley (both ankle), Dave Hill (cartilage), Kelvin Flanagan (back) and Liam O'Brien (suspension). Things are improving at the back for City, though, with Declan Daly and Derek Coughlan fit again while Phil Harrington (chest infection) and Mark Herrick (groin) may be fit enough to play despite their problems.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Did not meet; 99/00: United 1 City 4, City 3 United 0.
Recent league form: United: WWLDD; City: WDDDD.
Leading scorers: United: Lvine (six); City: Morley (13).
Betting: Home: 2/1, Draw: 9/4, Away: 11/10.
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
St Patrick's Athletic v Finn Harps
The league champions' erratic form continues to be a problem with last week's defeat by UCD casting further doubt on their ability to salvage a place in Europe from what has been a nightmare of a season.
Most of the club's injury problems have cleared and manager Pat Dolan insists he is happy with the majority of individual performances.
Packie Lynch (toe) is the main worry for the visit of Harps but the feeling is that he should be okay while Trevor Molloy is listed as being suspended, although the club will be contacting the league today as they feel an error has been made.
Harps will definitely be missing the suspended James Mulligan which is not good news given the form that the striker has been in. His seven goals from six games have done a great deal to lift morale at Finn Park and manager Gavin Dykes admits that his absence from Richmond this evening will be a "hugh loss".
Johnny Kenny (ankle) is also doubtful but Dykes is hopeful that he will figure, possibly up front, for Mulligan while there is some good news in the form of Shane Bradley's return to the first team panel after six months out with a cruciate ligament.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Harps 2 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 2 Harps 2, Harps 0 St Patrick's 3; 99/00: St Patrick's 2 Harps 1, Harps 1 St Patrick's 1.
Recent league form: St Patrick's: WLWDL; Harps: LLWDD.
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Hallows (six); Harps: Mulligan (nine).
Betting: Home: 11/10, Draw: 11/5, Away: 2/1.
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
Shelbourne v UCD
Even Bohemians can't boast the sort of league form that the students have shown in recent weeks. Given the comments by some Shelbourne officials, regarding UCD's league status, Martin Moran's side will be as keen as Roddy Collins was to put one over on the leaders.
UCD are, in fact, the only league club to have won in either of the last two weekends with their two victories, against Sligo and St Pat's, enabling them to make up ground on all of their rivals for European qualification.
As they will be for the rest of the season, the visitors will be without Peter Hanrahan, Tony McDonnell and Glen Fitzpatrick while Eoin Bennis (calf) and Aidan Lynch are doubtful. Brian Mooney also has a thigh strain but should start.
Keely, howver, has nearly a full squad to choose from. Declan Geoghegan is still out but Pat Scully and Garry Haylock should be in the panel despite struggling during training this week. Haylock scored a hat-trick for the reserves last weekend but a back injury limits his chances of making an appearance.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: UCD 1 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 1 UCD 1, UCD 0 Shelbourne 1; 99/00: Shelbourne 0 UCD 0, UCD 0 Shelbourne 0.
Recent league form: Shelbourne: WLWDD; UCD: WWDWW.
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: S Geoghegan (five); UCD: Martyn (seven).
Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/1.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
Waterford United v Sligo Rovers
"A big game for both clubs," was Sligo manager Tommy Cassidy's verdict on what is likely to be a tightly fought game for survival at the bottom of the table.
Steve Birks returns from suspension for Sligo but Sean Flannery has another game to serve while Padraig Moran is struggling with a thigh strain which will be tested before the journey south.
Waterford boss Mike Flanagan is waiting to see how Tim and Derek McGrath (knee and groin respectively) are before picking his side but he, too, sees something to be positive about in recent performances.
"I thought we should have beaten Bohemians and although we didn't look like beating Derry we usually don't get anything at all up there so the point was a bonus. Sligo will make it tough for us when they come here like they did at Cork last week but we'll have a chance to have a go at them and I think everybody will be looking forward to that," he said.
Last two seasons: 1998/99: Rovers 1 United 1, United 1 Rovers 1, Rovers 2 United 1; 99/00: United 1 Rovers 0, Rovers 0 United 0.
Recent league form: United: LLLDD; Rovers: WLDLD.
Leading scorers: United: Grant (four): Rovers: Moran (11).
Betting: Home: 11/10, Draw: 11/5, Away: 2/1.
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.
