Today
Shelbourne V Sligo Rovers (7.0)
Having drawn their last three league outings, Shelbourne will be looking to do better than St Patrick's did against Nicky Reid's side last Sunday. The visitors remain one of the most difficult sides to beat in the premier division, however, and the Dubliners may have to improve slightly on some of their recent performances if they are to win.
Damien Richardson reckons he saw just the sort of form he has been hoping for in the Ballybofey cup match and, with that in mind, he may opt to stick with the five-man midfield and lone striker despite the return to fitness of Liam Kelly. Dave Campbell is likely to miss out due to a virus, so Dean Fitzgerald will probably start in the centre of the field.
In-form goalkeeper Nicky Broujos, who is suffering from a viral infection, is one of several doubts for Rovers with Nicky Reid also doubtful with a hamstring problem. Sean Flannery is in Portugal with the under-18 side and Padraig Moran is still ruled out by a hamstring problem.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Sligo 1 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 3 Sligo 0, Sligo 0 Shelbourne 3; 97/98: Shelbourne 3 Sligo 0, Sligo 1 Shelbourne 1.
Recent league form: Shelbourne: WWDDD, Sligo: WLDDD.
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: S Geoghegan 13, Scully 10; Sligo: Moran 8, Jones 6.
Betting: Home: 8/13, draw: 12/5, away: 4/1. Referee: J Casey (Westmeath).
Derry V Dundalk (7.30)
Dundalk have embarked on something of a late-season charge over the last few weeks and they will be keen to maintain the run as they look to score the third away win of the season in these teams' meetings.
Ian Ferguson is still out with a knee problem and will probably miss the rest of the season while Noel Melvin will be playing for the last time as he is suspended for the remaining three games. Peter Withnell picked up a bit of a knock last week but should be okay, so he will probably start up front with Raymond Campbell on the bench.
Derry must cope without central midfielder Paul Heggarty, who is suspended, but Tom Mohan is fit to play his first game of 1998 and his return on the right-hand side will allow Craig Taggart to move inside.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Dundalk 2 Derry 4, Derry 5 Dundalk 2, Dundalk 0 Derry 1; 97/98: Derry 1 Dundalk 2, Dundalk 0 Derry 1.
Recent league form: Derry: WLDWL, Dundalk: LDWWW.
Leading scorers: Derry: Keddy and Hargan 5 each; Dundalk: Byrne 9, Hoey and Melvin 6 each.
Betting: Home: 4/5, draw: 9/4, away: 3/1. Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
Tomorrow
Cork City V UCD (2.0)
The hosts still have a quite lengthy list of problems but just about everybody that played in the cup semi-final win is all right which is good enough for manager Dave Barry.
"It was a very good performance and now we have to go and try to qualify for Europe before the final," he said yesterday. With Fergus O'Donoghue, Philip Long and Johnny Glynn all set to miss out, the only real question mark is whether Kevin Flanagan recovers sufficiently from a back injury to play. UCD will be without Ciaran Kavanagh who is suspended but everybody else is fit for a game which the students will be desperate to win in order to avoid the relegation play-off. The team is expected to be largely unchanged from the one edged out by St Patrick's a fortnight ago.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: UCD 2 Cork 1, Cork 1 UCD 0, UCD 3 Cork 0; 97/98: Cork 1 UCD 0, UCD 0 Cork 0.
Recent league form: Cork: LWWDD; UCD: WWWDL.
Leading scorers: Cork: O'Brien 7, Cahill 6; UCD: Sherlock 9.
Betting: Home: 1/2, draw: 12/5, away: 1 1/2. Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).
First Division
Limerick will know by the time they take on Monaghan tomorrow how slender their chances of grabbing the second automatic promotion place is, as Bray tackle Longford at Strokestown Road this evening.
Wanderers' Robbie Coyle is unavailable for the trip as he must serve a one-match ban but Darren O'Brien, who has had a terrible run of injuries since arriving from UCD, is fit again and will be included in the travelling party.
A win for Pat Devlin's side would virtually guarantee them promotion but Longford beat them 1-0 earlier in the season and another defeat would leave Dave Connell's side with plenty to play for tomorrow.
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.
