SETANTA SPORTS CUP:THE first of the Setanta Cup semi-finals kicks off this evening at Richmond Park where St Patrick's Athletic will be looking to maintain their strong early-season run of form and establish an advantage over Sligo ahead of the pair's second-leg meeting back at the Showgrounds, reports Emmet Malone.

The hosts should have Damien Lynch available again after the right-back missed Friday night’s lively scoreless draw in Dundalk but Brian Cash misses out against his former club as the 27-year-old is cup-tied having already appeared in the group stages of the competition for Rovers.

Paul Cook will be without Joseph Ndo for the very same reason with the midfielder having already featured for Bohemians while Paul Walsh is again sidelined due to a leg injury.

In the Premier League, meanwhile, Bohemians are back in action to clear a date this coming weekend for their next Setanta Cup game.

The champions visit Bray Wanderers looking to go clear at the top of the table but Pat Fenlon’s ability to make changes in the wake of Friday’s draw with Sligo Rovers is limited by doubts about the likes of Stephen Gray, Anto Murphy and Killian Brennan.

Wanderers are at pretty much full strength for the game and Eddie Gormley gets to add Stephen Brennan with the Dubliner having rejoined the Carlisle Grounds outfit prior to the weekend.