Today

The league leaders must wait until this afternoon before testing the fitness of Eddie Gormley (knee) and Colin Hawkins (calf strain), but the expectation is that both will be all right in time to play in this evening's game.

If that's the case then the visitors are likely to field an unchanged side for a fourth consecutive match, all of which should be a little alarming for the First Division outfit.

Don O'Riordan is in confident mood, however, and he also expects to have a full panel to choose from - with the single exception of Ollie Neary who is cup-tied.

"It's terrible that we're going to be without him again," says the United manager, "and it seems ridiculous that he's missing out despite the fact that he hasn't played for any league team in the competition this season, but there's not a lot we can do about it at this stage."

O'Riordan has half a dozen possible replacements for Keogh with Eric Lavine and Ryan Lucas both available again and former St Patrick's favourite Ricky O'Flaherty hoping to get back into the starting line-up.

Elsewhere it might well be the same line-up that beat Home Farm Everton last week. Whatever the starting 11, there will be a fair bit of confidence amongst players who have not been beaten in their last 15 outings.

League and cup form: United: DWWWW; St Patrick's: WWDWD.

League and cup scorers: United: Clery (11), Lavine (8); St Patrick's: Molloy (13), Gilzean (12).

Route to quarter-finals: Galway United - R1: beat Drogheda 1-0 at home in replay, R2: beat Home Farm Everton 1-0 at home; St Patrick's - R1: Beat Glenmore Celtic 3-0 away, R2: beat UCD 1-0 at home.

Betting: Home: 9/2, Draw: 11/5, Away: 4/7.

Scheduled replay date: Monday, March 8th at 7.30.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

First Division

Drogheda United boss Martin Lawlor will be without the suspended Martin Beggs and Greg O'Dowd for this evening's visit to Athlone and will have to hope that Damian Maher (knee ligaments) and Gerry Boyle (ankle ligaments) pass late fitness tests before the game.

Lawlor's priority yesterday, however, remained sorting out what he sees as the unfair treatment dished out to his players by this week's disciplinary committee.

"The three-match bans given to Mark Revins, James Impey and Gareth Byrne were unbelievable in the circumstances and I'm going to pursue the matter until I get an adequate explanation for the committee members.