Tonight's Quarter-Final Previews

Saturday

Saturday

Bluebell United v Shelbourne (Tolka Park, 7.30)

Ken Gibbons brings his side to Tolka hoping they can do what Bangor Celtic couldn't in the last round, cause the upset of the season. The Bluebell boss has watched the Premier Division leaders in their previous cup outings and has been impressed but he feels that Bangor's fightback after going three down shows that it's not all gloom.

"I thought that early on they tried to contain Shelbourne and that it wasn't until after the first 20 minutes that they really started to play their own game," he says. The switch to Tolka Park wouldn't appear to have done much for their prospects but that's where the final of the Intermediate Cup is in a couple of weeks so Gibbons isn't too upset.

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Shelbourne, meanwhile, will be without Declan Geoghegan for three weeks with a groin strain while Dave Campbell is suspended. But Carel Van Der Velden is back from suspension and Mark Hutchison is available to come back in at left full for Geoghegan.

"If we perform then we should win, if we stop playing like we did against Bangor then we'll make it very difficult for ourselves," said Shelbourne boss Dermot Keely.

Route to quarter-finals: United - Bt St Mary's 3-0 (h), Sligo Rovers 1-0 (a); Clonmel 2-0 (h) replay; Shelbourne: Bt St Francis 1-0 (a); Bangor Celtic 3-2 (a).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).

Finn Harps v Galway (7.15)

Fergal Harkin (suspended) is the only absentee from the home side's squad so manager Gavin Dykes has a few options to play with. The likelihood is that Shane Bradley will play with Dykes then deciding as things progress whether to play with three at the back and wing backs or push Minnock into midfield and stick with 4-4-2.

For Galway the only real change from recent weeks will be the absence of Fergal Coleman who is cup-tied. Michael Donnellan will play in his place. Don O'Riordan must decide whether to bring back in Neil Ogden or Billy Clery, both of whom started last week's draw at Belfield on the bench.

"In the league we've beaten them up there already this season", O'Riordan said, "and that will give us a lot of confidence going into this game."

Route to quarter-finals: Harps - bt Home Farm Fingal 2-0 (h); Longford Town 7-1 (h) replay; United - Beat St Patrick's 3-2 (a) aet; Athlone Town (h) 4-2 on pens.

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).

Kilkenny City v Bray Wanderers (7.30)

Pat Byrne should have a full panel available for the latest of a long line of games against promotion-rivals Bray this season. Sean Murray took a bit of a knock against Athlone and had to come off but he's now expected to be fit in time to play. Bray have several players either doubtful or out of contention to play this evening. Alan Byrne (knee) tops the list of those ruled out by injury while Eric Grinde has returned to his Norweigan club, FC Fjora. P J O'Connell (flu), Stephen Gifford (hamstring) and Stephen Fox (stomach muscle), are all doubtful, as is goalkeeper John Walsh who has a pulled muscle.

On the brighter side Maurice Farrell is back from suspension and Don O'Connor, who did well at right full last week is available to stand in for Gifford if he doesn't make it. If Walsh misses out then Eddie Van Boxtel may make his debut.

Route to quarter-finals: City - Bt Dundalk 3-2 (a) on pens; Cork City 2-0 (a); Wanderers - Bt Derry City 2-1 (h) aet; Fairview Rangers (a) 2-0.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times