League of Ireland Premier Division:Bohemians manager Sean Connor has described as "ludicrous" last year's decision to introduce a play-off between the League Cup winners and First Division champions for a place in the following season's Setanta Cup.
Connor will bring his side to the Brandywell next Tuesday night for this year's League Cup final against Derry City knowing that a win would ease the pressure a little on everyone at the club during the remaining weeks of the campaign but a place in the all-Ireland competition - one of the key objectives now for all of the country's leading clubs - will not be guaranteed because of the changes made last year.
"How can anybody get a second chance at a trophy when they've been knocked out?" he asked. "It's ludicrous. They've been beaten but they have a second shot at the real prize. I really think it's ridiculous."
Connor's more immediate aim is to secure another win at Richmond Park this evening against St Patrick's Athletic where Bohemians could move to within three points of second place in the table, a finishing position that would bring with it a bigger reward than just a Setanta Cup place.
"To be three points off second with five to play . . . I think most clubs would have grabbed that," he says. "We've got some tough matches to come but we'd be right in there with a shout, particularly the way we're playing at the moment."
The visitors will be missing Neale Fenn (ankle) and, most likely Glen Crowe (groin) while their opponents might again have to cope without key central midfielder Joseph Ndo but St Patrick's manager John McDonnell has been buoyed by his side's recent performances and reckons, after some decent performances that his players are regaining their momentum.
"We've only lost one of the last four in the league, and that was to a horrendous own goal so we're not on that bad of a run at this stage," he says. "We haven't beaten Bohs at all this season, though, and so this one would be a very good one to win. They gave us a bit of kicking last time in the cup, they were very physical but we've no complaints, we'll just be a bit more ready for them I hope this time."
McDonnell accepts that his side, along with three or four others, is primarily in a race for second place at this stage, "although Rovers losing to Bray the other night is a reminder that anything can happen. You've got to position yourself to pounce if something extraordinary happens to Drogheda."
Drogheda have Stuart Byrne back from suspension for the visit of Sligo Rovers this evening but Aidan O'Keeffe must serve the second half of a two-match ban.
Elsewhere, Pat Scully's Rovers must bounce back from the defeat at Bray when they travel to Cork tonight where they will be missing goalkeeper Barry Murphy and Paul Shiels, both of whom were sent off at the Carlisle Grounds.
"We'll miss Barry and Paul," says the Rovers manager, "but the good news is that everybody else (bar long-term absentees) is available."
Darragh Ryan is still out for the home side but Colin Healy returns from suspension, Gareth Farrelly appears to be over a hamstring problem and John O'Flynn could shake off a groin strain as City look to win a fourth league game on the trot.
At Terryland Park, Galway United face Longford Town with manager Tony Cousins boosted by the return of Stephen O'Flynn, Derek O'Brien, John Lester and Wes Charles although Regi Nootimeer is suspended.
Both sides have problems ahead of this evening's game at the RSC between Waterford United and Derry City with United missing Dave Mulcahy, Karl Bermingham and Packie Holden while Derry are missing Barry Molloy, Kevin McHugh and Mark McChrystal.
UCD are missing Paul Crowley and Shane Fitzgerald for the visit of Bray who will be without Colm Tresson and Paul Dunphy.
LEAGUE OF IRELAND:Premier Division (7.45 unless stated): Cork City v Shamrock Rovers; Drogheda Utd v Sligo Rovers; Galway Utd v Longford Town; St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians (7.55); UCD v Bray Wanderers; Waterford Utd v Derry City. First Division: Limerick 37 v Wexford Youths; Shelbourne v Kilkenny City (8.0).
