National League PreviewsCork City face another stiff test of their ability to put opponents away at Turner's Cross when Bohemians travel south this evening looking to build on a run of five straight wins that has moved them to the edge of the championship title race.
Defeat for the Dubliners would leave them 15 points behind Cork City, which despite their two games in hand, would look an impossibly tall order for the second half of the season.
A win, though, would move Gareth Farrelly's team to something like striking distance.
The visitors are boosted by the return from suspension of central midfielder Kevin Hunt, while Mark O'Brien is a slight doubt.
For the hosts, Colin O'Brien is likely to be laid up again with an ankle injury, picked up against Galway United, that has taken longer than expected to clear up.
"Other than that we have everybody available," says Damien Richardson, "and if we can turn in a performance like Tuesday's then we should be all right.
"It was disappointing to lose to Longford (in the League Cup) but Bohemians are the perfect opposition for to pick ourselves up against - they play the game in the proper way, they look to produce the sort of football that will bring people into the ground rather than drive them away and that's the sort of team we enjoy playing against."
If things go their way in Cork and Shelbourne can beat St Patrick's Athletic for the second time in a week then the defending champions could close the gap to three points, and Pat Fenlon is boosted by the return to fitness of Colin Hawkins and Alan Moore a week ahead of the trip to Belfast for the Champions League first qualifying round game.
Alan Reynolds is still a week or so away from full fitness, however, after joining the Tolka Park outfit while nursing a thigh strain.
"I've a bit of work to do yet," he said yesterday, "but I'm training and enjoying it. They're a great bunch of lads and it will be good to be playing again without all of the stuff that goes with being the manager as well."
It's been a tough season so far for the Inchicore side, who have yet to win two in a row.
John McDonnell has new signing John Frost available for this evening's game, but Ger Rowe is ruled out by the terms of his loan deal from the Northside club.
It's swings and roundabouts too for Derry City, who take on Finn Harps at the Brandywell.
Clive Delaney returns from suspension for the Candystripes but Stephen Kenny will be without Eddie McCallion, who faces a lay-off of at least two months with a medial-ligament injury.
With talks over his departure still ongoing, Pat McCourt is likely to play for Shamrock Rovers against Drogheda United tonight. Shane Robinson misses the trip to his former club with a broken foot.
Tony McDonnell of UCD, meanwhile, was yesterday named as the Eircom/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month for June.
The 29-year-old midfielder has been in outstanding form for the students, his goals against Shelbourne and Drogheda United helping Pete Mahon's side get through the month unbeaten.
The career at Arsenal of the former under-21 Ireland international Graham Stack looks to be coming to an end; the 23-year-old goalkeeper joined Reading yesterday on loan until January with a view to the deal then becoming permanent.
Stack, who joined the London club in 1998 and was an ever present in the FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2000, played just five first-team games but did well as he helped a weakened side reach the semi-finals of the League Cup during the 2003/2004 season.
There was still little prospect of overhauling those in front of him in the pecking order, however, and after his 30 first-team games at Millwall last season, it now appears he and the Highbury club have decided it is the time for him to move on.
Tonight
(7.45pm unless stated)
Premier Division
Bray Wanderers v Longford Town
Cork City v Bohemians
Derry City v Finn Harps
St Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne
Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda Utd
First Division
Galway Utd v Limerick FC (7.30pm)
