Bohemians v St Patrick's Ath

The outgoing champions get another attempt to improve on their dismal record in Dublin derbies this season in tonight's televised game (kick-off 8.05) against Bohemians who desperately need to win in order to keep their increasingly faint championship hopes alive.

Both clubs are pretty much at full strength with Pat Dolan in a position to stick with the same panel of players he used for last week's home defeat by Shelbourne. Colin Hawkins, who confirmed yesterday that he will be playing his football in England next season has been cleared to play until the end of the campaign having been previously told that he needed surgery and would miss the remainder of the St Patrick's programme.

Trevor Molloy, meanwhile, served his one match ban in the club's Leinster Cup match earlier this week and is therefore eligible to return. Bohemians are still without the injured Mark Dempsey but after last weekend's win in Galway manager Roddy Collins admits that he wasn't envisaging any changes anyway.

"I'm not convinced that we've nailed down the European place yet so we have to keep going," said Collins. "We've got to forget about next week's cup match for the moment and give this game everything."

Last two seasons: 1998/99: St Patrick's Ath 3 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 St Patrick's Ath 1, St Patrick's Ath 1 Bohemians 3; 99/00: Bohemians 0 St Patrick's Ath 0, St Patrick's Ath 1 Bohemians 3.

Recent league form: Bohemians: D W D D W; St Patrick's Ath: L W D D L.

Leading scorers: Bohemians: Crowe (nine); St Patrick's Ath: Hallows (seven).

Betting: Home: 5/4, Draw: 2/1, Away: 15/8.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

Drogheda Utd v Finn Harps

The defeat of Waterford might have been a narrow one but it has given a glimmer of hope to Finn Harps' survival chances. Nobody at the club is underestimating the amount of trouble they are still in, however, least of all manager Eddie May who admits that while his players showed "a lot of heart" to take last week's three points they are probably going to be required to show a bit more know-how over the next few games.

May will stick with the same team for this, a game (kick-off 7.45) in which he says both teams are fighting for their lives and the hope is that "having taken enough draws since I arrived, the lads can go on and win another couple to land us in the playoff spot." Gavin Dykes will also field the same team despite being slightly disappointed with his strikers against Derry. Jonathon Minnock is still suspended while Dykes himself has had the 'flu this week and James Mulligan is carrying a slight ankle injury but right now there's little question of either starting on the sidelines.

The last visit to United Park, when Harps threw away a two-goal lead, was more or less what persuaded Charlie McGeever to depart the scene and with the need for points growing more urgent by the week Dykes now needs a better performance this evening on their return to the ground.

Last two seasons: 1998/99: Did not meet; 99/00: Drogheda United 3 Finn Harps 2, Finn Harps 0 Drogheda United 0.

Recent league form: Drogheda United: D L D L W; Finn Harps: D L L D L.

Leading scorers: Drogheda United: Byrne (five); Finn Harps: Mulligan (nine).

Betting: Home: 13/8, Draw: 2/1, Away: 11/8.

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).

Waterford Utd v Cork City

Waterford United manager Mike Flanagan has just about everybody available to him for this game (kick-off 7.45) in the latest round of his club's bid for survival.

Both of the McGraths are now fully fit and Flanagan's only concern ahead of the visit of Cork surrounds David Whittle who stood in for Tim McGrath in central defence last weekend.

Dave Barry is without the suspended Greg O'Halloran while Dave Hill is still suffering with a cartilage problem so either Declan Daly or Stephen Napier will have to slot in at right full.

The battle to grab a place in Europe is boosted at the other end by the return to scoring form of Pat Morley who has picked up a couple in his last two games after a long series of blanks.

"It's been great that he's been finding the net again all right," says Barry, "but rather than worrying about him having a dry spell, which every player is going to have, you'd have preferred if some of the other lads had chipped in a few during that time."

City have fared well in terms of goals against Waterford in recent years although last year's late season draw at Turner's Cross was a blow to their championship hopes and anything less than a win tonight would be another disappointment.

Last two seasons: 1998/99: Cork City 5 Waterford United 0, Waterford United 0 Cork City 2, Cork City 0 Waterford United 0; 99/00: Waterford United 1 Cork City 3, Cork City 0 Waterford United 0.

Recent league form: Waterford United: D W W D L; Cork City: D D L W D.

Leading scorers: Waterford United: Markey (three); Cork City: Morley (15).

Betting: Home: 3/1, Draw: 2/1, Away: 5/6.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power