Previews: National League

Bray Wanderers v UCD

Bray Wanderers v UCD

The home side expect to be without Pat O'Brien, who picked up a groin strain in the game against Galway, for at least six weeks but Irish Youth international Gary Dempsey is added to the squad after joining from Everton.

Stephen Fox and Jody Lynch are still laid up but the rest of the panel is fit and Pat Devlin is unlikely to shake things up too dramatically after last week's fine fightback against Shamrock Rovers.

Having recorded their first win in four, the visitors must wait on Aidan Lynch and Mick O'Byrne both of whom have been struggling over the past week. Brian Mooney and Barry Ryan are fit and Tony McDonnell may make his first start since damaging his foot at the end of last season.

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Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: Wanderers: WWDLD; UCD: WDLLW.

Leading scorers: Wanderers: Byrne (three); UCD: Delaney (two).

Betting: Home: 5/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 6/4.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Galway United v Shamrock Rovers

While Tom Silke is back from America and available for selection Don O'Riordan feels tomorrow's under-21 game might be a better place for the former Athlone Town man to work on his fitness for the moment.

With everybody playing so well over the past couple of weeks, he says, there are unlikely to many changes from the side that drew with St Patrick's Athletic although Sean Malee is a slight doubt due to a bout of the flu.

For Damien Richardson the only problem is the absence of Marc Kenny due to suspension. With Pascal Vaudequin and Billy Woods both having come off the bench at Bray last week without any problems, the Rovers boss has options in midfield.

Last season: Rovers 2 United 1 United 0 Rovers 3, Rovers 0 United 0.

Recent league form: United: WLLWD; Rovers: DDWDD.

Leading scorers: United: Lavine (five); Rovers: Grant (two).

Betting: Home: 6/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 5/4.

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).

St Patrick's Ath v Longford Town

Still looking for their first win of the season, the hosts are expected to pick much the same side that played in Terryland Park last week with Trevor Wood possibly retaining the goalkeeper's jersey due to Seamus Kelly's continuing problems with a viral infection.

Longford Town are still without long-term absentees Paul Perth and Niall Byrne but Stephen Kelly is finally ready to take at least a place on the bench after a long lay-off.

After the win against UCD, though, and the draw last week in Cork it's hard to see just how Stephen Kenny would voluntarily make any changes to his starting 11 for the moment.

Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: St Patrick's: LDDLD; Longford: WLLWD.

Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Russell (two); Longford: O'Connor, Notaro, Holt, Smith and Zellor (one apiece).

Betting: Home: 11/10, Draw: 9/4, Away: 2/1.

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).

Shelbourne v Bohemians

Roddy Collins has a few additional options for this game with Tony Hopper, Rob Bowman and Darren O'Keeffe all available again after missing the Kaiserslautern match through ineligibility, injury and suspension respectively.

Mark Dempsey is joined on the injury list by Tony O'Connor who picked up a knee problem in the UEFA Cup tie and may be replaced in a straight swap by Bowman.

For Shelbourne, the two Geoghegans are getting back to full fitness with Declan a couple of weeks away from first-team action, and Stephen expected to start as substitute. Jim Crawford is again missing due to a back problem. Having scored in successive games, Richie Foran is the one to ensure Stephen Geoghegan's return to the starting line-up is postponed and Dermot Keely may opt to stick with the same side that beat Kilkenny City last Friday night.

Last season: Bohemians 0 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Shelbourne 1.

Recent league form: Shelbourne: LWLWW; Bohemians: DWWDL.

Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Foran (two); Bohemians: Crowe (three).

Betting: Home: 5/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 6/4.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times