Fourth Round previews
Bohemians v Shelbourne
BOHEMIANS WAIT on influential midfielder Paul Keegan who must pass a fitness test on a groin injury if he’s to play. Striker Raffaele Cretaro won’t feature due to a hip injury while Steven Gray and Anthony Murphy remain out with Achilles injuries.
Michael Coburn is suspended for First Division Shelbourne, though manager Alan Mathews has fellow defender Sean Byrne back from a ban. Midfielder David Cassidy is the chief injury concern.
Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers
LAST YEAR’S beaten finalists Sligo are without six players for what is the first meeting of these sides in the FAI Cup.
Captain Conor O’Grady is suspended while fellow midfielders Joseph Ndo (leg), Romuald Boco (Achilles) and Gary McCabe (ankle) are out injured.
Harps are without long-term injured goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher while attacking midfielder Stephen McLaughlin is suspended.
Sporting Fingal v Limerick
THE HOLDERS hope to have central defender Colin Hawkins back from a six-week absence with broken ribs to give manager Liam Buckley a full squad to pick from.
“We were in the same position as Limerick last season insofar as they’ll want to belie their tag of underdogs against a top-flight side,” said Buckley.
Limerick, fourth in the First Division, are without experienced defenders Dave Rogers and Thomas Heary, who are cup-tied.
Longford Town v Shamrock Rovers
LONGFORD manager Tony Cousins, a big favourite of the Rovers’ faithful when there as a player, has defender Philip Byrne, midfielders Cathal Brady and Craig Mooney, along with striker Derek Glynn, all available again following injury.
Defender Craig Sives should return from a groin injury for Rovers who wait on captain Dan Murray (groin) and striker Thomas Stewart (thigh). Pat Sullivan (knee) and Dessie Baker (Achilles) are out.
Cork City FC v Monaghan United
CORK ARE without the cup-tied defenders Eoghan Lougheed and Gavin Kavanagh, along with striker Shane Barrett, for this all First Division clash.
Manager Tommy Dunne also remains without defender Stephen Mulcahy (groin) and midfielder Cathal Lordan (knee).
Defenders Aidan Lynch (calf) and Paul Whelan (cup-tied) are out for Monaghan who wait on midfielder Dean McMahon and leading scorer Philip Hughes.
St Patrick's Ath v Belgrove
LEINSTER SENIOR League side Belgrove, the only non-league team left in the competition, are without suspended striker Keith Dawson, though they’ve recently signed midfielder Gavin Whelan, a goalscoring cup winner with Drogheda United in 2005.
St Patrick’s are missing cup-tied midfielder Garreth O’Connor along with injured trio, midfielder Dave Mulcahy (hamstring/suspended) and strikers Paul Byrne (ankle) and Danny North (knee).
UCD v Bray Wanderers
UCD MANAGER Martin Russell brings fit again midfielder Paul Corry back into his squad, though he remains without long-term injured defender Sean Harding and striker David McMillan.
Bray, who’ve lost all three league games with UCD this season, are without suspended left-back Dane Massey while defender Adam Mitchell (hamstring) is rated doubtful. Captain Daire Doyle returns after missing the last two games.
Galway United v Salthill Devon
GALWAY MANAGER Sean Connor welcomes defenders Rhys Meynell and Paul Sinnott back from suspension for this first Corrib derby.
Midfielder Alan Murphy remains out with a knee injury.
Bottom of the First Division Salthill are without ex-Galway midfielder Cian McBrien who is cup-tied. Player-coach Mike Quirke, twice a semi-finalist with Galway, is likely to come into the side in his stead.
