Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers (7.45)
The league champions will be looking to make it five wins out of five when Rovers come to celebrate the centenary of the club's first ever game at Dalymount Park. On September 7th, 1901 Shelbourne had the decency to come and lose 4-2 with seven-times international Harold Sloan scoring the newly ensconced home side's first goal. The hope around Phibsborough will be that Rovers will display a similar sense of occasion.
They may not, of course, have any option in the matter for Bohemians are trotting along nicely right now with the 11 goals they have scored in their last two games suggesting that they are an even sharper outfit than before the summer. Pete Mahon, though, will have to wait on Avery John who returns from international duty while Fergal Harkin and Gary O'Neill are expected to play. Kevin Hunt plays his last game before suspension.
Rovers are on almost as much of a roll just now and will certainly not be short of confidence. They will be without Pascal Vaudequin and Gareth Cronin, however, while Jason Colwell is a doubt.
Last season: Rovers 0 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 0 Rovers 1, Rovers 4 Bohemians 6.
Scorers: Bohemians: Crowe and Crawford (three apiece), Rovers: Francis (three), Grant (two).
Form: Bohemians: WWWW, Rovers: DWWW.
Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 9/4, Away: 7/2.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
St Patrick's Athletic v Cork City (7.45)
The home side may not have heard the last of the Paul Marney registration blunder, but, for the moment at least, they will be mightily relieved to be pressing the league leaders rather than starting having to start all over again with minus one point.
Ger McCarthy and Paul Osam may both miss out again with the injuries that sidelined them for the UCD match while Marney himself is now fit and well again although Pat Dolan says that he might well stick with the central midfield, Robbie Griffin and Sean Mannion, that played at Belfield.
City could be without James Mulligan, with the striker suffering from an ankle problem that he picked up in last weekend's defeat by Dundalk and Pat Morley, Noel Hartigan or 18-year-old striker Colin O'Brien could all come into the frame. There is better news in the form of the return of Neal Horgan and Tony Tynan from the World Student Games in China.
"The results have been disappointing all right," says Liam Murphy, "but aside from last week's, the performances hadn't been too bad".
Last season: City 1 St Patrick's 0, St Patrick's 1 City 1, City 0 St Patrick's 4.
Scorers: St Patrick's: Kelly (two), City: O'Flynn, Mulligan and O'Grady (one apiece).
Form: St Patrick's: WDWD, City: LLDL.
Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 9/4, Away: 7/2.
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
