FAI Cup/Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, Tolka Park, 7.45 On TV: TG4: Their league fortunes this season may be starkly different but Shamrock Rovers and Waterford United will have to contend with similar difficulties in their respective Carlsberg FAI Cup games this evening as both are obliged to leave a string of ineligible players on the bench.
Rovers boss Pat Scully is without six recent recruits for the visit of arch rivals Bohemians with Andy Myler, Mark O'Brien, Chris Breen, Derek Pender, David McGill and Paul Shiels all cup tied.
Such has been the rate of turnover at Rovers during the past few seasons that goalkeeper Barry Murphy is the only player there to have experienced this particular derby game before.
"I've been telling the lads they won't experience another game like this in their careers," he said yesterday. "And the fact it's a cup tie will only give an extra edge to it all."
Scully concedes there is pressure from the supporters to win and observes, "Because it's the only meeting this year, they'll be even more wound up about it than usual."
Bohemians are without Jason McGuinness who will serve the suspension that should have kept him out of the league win over Shelbourne last week while Kevin Hunt is unlikely to be risked at this still early stage of his recovery from knee surgery.
Tickets for the game, which is to be broadcast live on TG4, will be available from booths outside Tolka Park from around 6 pm and schoolboy members of both clubs are to be allowed free admission.
Waterford United manager Gareth Cronin is also badly hit by the unavailability of players for his side's game against Longford Town this evening with Alan Cawley, Alan Keely and Robbie Hederman amongst those who are cup-tied while goalkeeper Dave Conroy was not signed in time.
"What it will do is give me a chance to have a look at several of the under-21 players, lads I mightn't otherwise have had a chance to see in this sort of situation," says Cronin. "There's a big job to be done here during the close season and the contracts for next year are there to be fought over so hopefully everyone will look to impress me. If they all do that then we're certainly good enough to be in with a shout."
Longford manager Alan Matthews will be without a couple of former Dublin City players - David Freeman and Damien Brennan - while Shay Kelly and Stephen Paisley are injured and Davy Byrne is likely to make only the bench. Dessie Baker is available after suspension. "With a new manager coming in they've picked up a bit and played very well against Drogheda so we know it'll be tough . . . It's important we stay involved in the cup. We'll make sure we don't take anything for granted."
