National League PreviewAfter a disappointing run of results that he puts down to a succession of injury problems, Stephen Kenny will have close to a full squad available to him again for this evening's game in Waterford, where Bohemians could do with ending their run of seven league games without a win.
"They've done really well, there's no taking it away from them," said Kenny of tonight's opponents, "but we'll be quite confident going down there after the week we've had this week. A lot of the lads are either back in contention or doing much better in training than they had been for quite a while. It was the best week we've had since the opening couple of the season and we'd be hopeful that will translate into a good result for us down there."
Definitely back in contention are Colin Hawkins and Thomas Heary while Glen Crowe, Fergal Harkin, Stephen Caffrey and Dave Morrison are all said to be getting back to their best after various injury problems.
"It's been disappointing for us since the first four or five games but we were worse off than this last season when there was no real reason for it and then we won 13 out of 15," adds Kenny. "This time around at least you can look at the injuries and say they're a big factor. If we can put them behind us I would certainly expect things to improve."
At Dalymount, Waterford came from two behind to take a point and Alan Reynolds's side have shown since that the result was no fluke. Reynolds faces a fitness test on a groin strain before deciding whether to start himself but will be without Willie Bruton (dislocated shoulder) and Kevin O'Brien (thigh).
Pat Fenlon expects to be without Wesley Hoolahan (groin) and Kevin Doherty (calf) for his side's meeting with Derry this evening but Tony McCarthy, Thomas Morgan and Alan McDermott are among those in contention to fill the vacancies.
"We have a couple of problems but nothing too serious," says Fenlon, whose team lost for the first time last week when beaten 3-0 by Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park. "The main thing is that whoever does start performs. Last week we had eight, nine maybe 10 players out there who didn't play. It was just a blip and I wouldn't go reading too much into it but we'll be looking for an improvement again this week all right."
Gavin Dykes, with the pressure mounting for his City players to show an improvement, must wait on the fitness of Peter Hutton (foot), Alan Murphy and Mark Farren (both hamstring). City have just two league wins and could do with an upset this evening.
Cork City, meanwhile, haven't won at home since the opening night of the season and Pat Dolan will know that if his side are to be title contenders they must stop conceding points at Turner's Cross. John O'Flynn should be on the bench for the southerners this evening after coming through most of the midweek league cup game without any problems, and Neale Fenn is expected to start despite a minor thigh strain.
Shamrock Rovers head south without Liam Kelly and Marc Kenny, both injured, but Keith Doyle is back from suspension and Mark Rutherford is in contention again after coming through Monday's league cup game.
In the night's other match Drogheda take on St Patrick's without Alan Reilly, who has a knee problem, while Martin Russell must, aside from long-term absentees Barry Prenderville, Gary McPhee and Stephen Quinn, wait to assess the fitness of Kharim El Khebir and caretaker assistant Paul Osam.
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Premier Division - Waterford United v Bohemians, RSC, 7.30; Cork City v Shamrock Rovers, Turner's Cross, 7.45; St Patrick's Athletic v Drogheda United, Richmond Park, 7.45; Shelbourne v Derry City, Tolka Park, 7.45. First Division - Galway United v Monaghan United, Terryland, 7.30; UCD v Sligo Rovers, Belfield, 7.45; Finn Harps v Athlone Town, Finn Park, 8.0.
