St Patrick's Ath v Bray Wanderers
It would be fairly run-of-the-mill stuff for other teams but St Patrick's manager Liam Buckley knows that his side's second away defeat of the season is cause for some alarm and tonight at Richmond Park he will be hoping to see his team reassert themselves after the defeat by Shamrock Rovers.
So far St Patrick's have looked very good at home and the pattern of the team has become more settled over the last few weeks with everybody adapting quite well to the 3-5-2 formation after some initial difficulties. With only Paul Campbell (flu) considered to be in any way doubtful, Buckley is likely to field an unchanged team with Packie Lynch again running the defence and the club's current man in form, Trevor Molloy, leading the attack.
On paper the quality available to the home side should mean that they are far too strong for their visitors but then Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians may have thought the same before they lost to Pat Devlin's side.
Devlin has more or less a full squad to choose from for this game although several players, like Kieran O'Brien, John Walsh and Maurice Farrell, will probably be allowed another couple of weeks to recover their fitness before being asked to compete for first-team places. In their absence there may still be some rotation but Jason Byrne is expected to be their key figure up front again.
Last season: did not meet.
Recent league form: St Patrick's: WWWWL; Bray: WDLWD.
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Molloy (six), Gilzean (five); Bray: Byrne (five).
Referee: T Tully (Cork).
Shelbourne v Waterford United
After last week's trauma against leaders Cork City, Shelbourne take on a side who have taken a couple of bad beatings since being promoted but who are on a little bit of a roll of late.
Waterford manager Mike Flanagan said after last week's win at Bohemians that he was pleased with the way his side were progressing and, having tightened up the defence, he would be looking for a little more attacking spirit from them.
The visitors are unlikely to fiddle much with a winning formula but Shelbourne may make one or two changes with manager Dermot Keely possibly bringing in central defender Damien Maher who is added to last week's panel.
Neil Trebble, Shelbourne's new striker who scored on his debut at Turner's Cross, will definitely start again. But after that one or two places are up for grabs as Keely looks for a combination that can deliver a bit of consistency and halt the concession of `soft goals' that have so far plagued the side.
Last season: did not meet.
Recent league form: Shelbourne: WLWWL; Waterford: LLLWW.
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Sheridan and Fenlon (three each); Waterford: Dully and Wood (two each).
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
First Division
It's been a decent couple of weeks for Drogheda United. Martin Lawlor's team finally discovered how to bang the goals in, led the promotion race briefly and landed a new sponsorship deal from the local wing of McDonalds.
Consequently the postponement of their game last weekend was a setback. There are still a few injury problems to be sorted out for tonight's game with Monaghan with Jamie Impey doubtful with an inner ear injury, Darren O'Keefe expected to be laid up for another three weeks because of ankle ligament damage and Dixie Nugent still troubled by a calf strain. Martin Beggs is suspended.
Galway, after their flying start to the season, will be looking for only their second victory in seven outings at home to St Francis tonight.
"People may find it strange," said Galway manager Don O'Riordan, "but I'm not that worried because I can see what we're capable of and I think we have a good long run in us. I'm particularly excited about the team for this game with St Francis because I should have players like Jumbo Brennan, Brendan O'Connor and Adrian Cregg back to full fitness again which means that I'll have some difficult but great choices to make."
The matches, at United and Terryland Parks respectively, both kick off at 7.45 this evening.
