National League Previews

Saturday

Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers (Finn Park, 7.15)

Despite another strong performance against Bohemians during the week, the home side still desperately need to start winning games if they are to have any chance of overhauling UCD and escaping automatic relegation.

If they are to pull it off they have to score more goals and, on the bright side, Jonathan Speak reckons that their recently arrived striker, James Marrow, looked to have settle in well by Wednesday when he scored his first National League goal.

There are problems too, however, with the fitness of goalkeeper Gareth Downey (knee) and Neil Fitzhenry (calf) keeping Speak on the edge of his seat prior to late tests this evening.

Rovers, meanwhile, will be unchanged from the team that started last week with Tony cousins, Marc Kenny and Derek Tracey all working their way back to full fitness but none of them quite there yet.

Last two seasons: 1999/00: Rovers 3 Harps 1, Harps 1 Rovers 0, Rovers 3 Harps 3; 00/01: Harps 0 Rovers 0, Rovers 2 Harps 0.

Recent league form: Harps: LDDDD; Rovers: LWLWW.

Leading scorers: Harps: McHugh and J Kenny (three apiece); Rovers: Francis (10).

Betting: Home: 7/2, Draw: 21/10, Away: 8/11. Referee: J Breen (Dublin).

Kilkenny City v Derry City (Buckley Park, 7.30)

If they didn't have enough problems just now, a good portion of Joe McGrath's panel have been battling the flu this week leaving the manager to hope for the best at the final training session before the visit of Derry.

Richie Purdy, Gavin Wilkinson and Carlos Rocha are among the players who have missed training this week due to the bug while others like Dave Mulcahy and Derek McGrath seem likely to miss the game with injuries.

"I would have liked to have everybody so we could use it as a dry run for the cup game next week," says the manager, "but now it looks like a good few of the lads I gave runs to against Galway last week are going to be out there again."

Kevin Mahon will give a league debut to 18-yearold Gary Ramsey after John Connolly suffered a fractured cheek bone that is likely to keep him out for six to eight weeks.

Eamon Doherty is suspended and so Darren McCreadie, Shaun Gallagher or James Quigley will come in on the right side of midfield.

Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 00/01: Kilkenny 0 Derry 2.

Recent league form: Kilkenny: L D L L L; Derry: W W D L D.

Leading scorers: Kilkenny: Byrne, Mulcahy, Murray, Kabia, Carter, Parkes, McGrath, Rocha and McAreavy (all one apiece); Derry: Doherty (five).

Betting: Home: 7/2, Draw: 21/10, Away: 8/11.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).

Longford Town v UCD (Flancare Park, 7.30)

The home side have a few problems up front with Keith O'Connor having to see a specialist about a neck injury that is sure to keep him out this week and Shay Zellor laid up with the flu.

Niall Byrne's lack of goals means that his place is under pressure from Robbie Farrell and under-21 team regular John Rogers both of whom are in the reckoning for starts.

Martin Moran, meanwhile, is slightly more upbeat in the wake of Tuesday's cup defeat in Waterford where, despite the eventual loss on penalties, the overall performance was considerably improved.

In the absence of Clive Delaney, Tony McDonnell reverted to central defence where he partnered Robert McAuley and the pair are likely to be there again tonight. Kevin Grogan and John Martin are still out and so the starting line-up is unlikely to be changed.

Last two seasons: 1999/00: Did not meet; 00/01: Longford 2 UCD 0, UCD 0 Longford 2.

Recent league form: Longford: LWDLL; UCD: DLWLL.

Leading scorers: Longford: O'Connor (six); UCD: Grogan and McDonnell (four apiece).

Betting: Home: Evens, Draw: 9/4, Away: 9/4.

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).

Sunday

Bohemians v Cork City (Dalymount Park, 2.30)

The Dubliners struggled a little in Ballybofey during the week where the effort of attempting to play through injuries took its toll on a couple of first team regulars. Kevin Hunt (ankle) and Dave Hill (thigh) are particular doubts while Dave Morrison is out with ligament damage and which could rule him out for the rest of the season.

There was better news for Roddy Collins at yesterday's training session, though, when Shaun Maher came through a decent run out without any serious problems. He will train again this morning but, assuming there are no hitches, he looks to be in the running for a start.

City have a string of problems with Mark Herrick, Greg O'halloran and Pat Morley all suspended while Declan Daly (stomach), Fergus O'Donoghue (eye) and Patsy Freyne (back) are expected to miss the game through injury.

Thankfully for Liam Murphy, John Cotter, Colin O'Brien and John Caulfield are all considered fit enough to come back into the panel after missing out last week through injury. Two, if not all three, are likely to go straight into the starting eleven.

Last two seasons: 1999/00: City 1 Bohemians 1, Bohemians 3 City 0, City 2 Bohemians 1; 00/01: Bohemians 1 City 1, City 0 Bohemians 0.

Recent league form: Bohemians: DWDWD; City: DLLDW.

Leading scorers: Bohemians: Crowe (20); City: Morley (six).

Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 5/2, Away: 100/30.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.