National League previews: With Cork City's top scorer Kevin Doyle having departed for Reading, the league leaders will be increasingly reliant on the team's other attacking talent as they seek to maintain their title challenge from the front during the weeks ahead.
Damien Richardson said yesterday he has no immediate intention to bring anyone in to replace the under-21 international striker, who scored six times in his last eight appearances for the club, and so Neale Fenn will get another chance this evening at Bray to re-establish his partnership up front with John O'Flynn as the manager's preferred option for the long term.
At least as important, however, will be the influence from just behind the front two of George O'Callaghan, whose performances for Cork during May were rewarded yesterday when he was named as the Eircom/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month.
It was a good spell both for the 25-year-old and his club, the southerners having taken 13 points from 15 in their five games since the start of May while their rivals Shelbourne - whom they beat 2-0 at Tolka Park on the 30th - were taking just five.
"It's a little bit of a surprise that Shelbourne have gone through this malaise," says Richardson, "but we know that it won't last much longer and so it's been up to us to make as much ground on them as we could.
"We also know that we'll have a bad spell somewhere down the line ourselves and at that stage it will be down to us to lose as little ground as possible.
"Bray will be difficult for us, but we're the league leaders and know it's up to us to go places like the Carlisle Grounds and show people that we're worthy of that status. It's a more open league this year, which is a good thing for everybody, but if we are going to establish ourselves as the best side in the country over the course of the season then we need to be looking to go and win these sort of games."
Cork will be without Liam Kearney, Colin O'Brien and Denis Behan, all of whom are injured and so Richardson expects to start with the same line-up that began Monday's cup replay win over Galway United at Turner's Cross.
Wanderers are missing Stephen Gifford, Keith Long, Robbie Dunne and Keith Kelch, but Pat Devlin reckons his side are "due a win over Cork", particularly having gone there back in March and done well.
While Shelbourne attempt to halt their run of disappointing results against Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park, Drogheda United would overhaul them if Pat Fenlon's side lose and UCD are beaten in Drogheda.
"The fact they've lost a few games has probably opened it up for everybody," says Drogheda United manaager Paul Doolin. "But when you look at the players they have you know they're going to be there at the end.
"We're glad to be up there, though, because last season it took us longer to find our stride. The Derry City game was disappointing because of the goals we conceded, but it was our first defeat in 12, which you have to be happy with.
"We're fixed well enough for this one (Gavin Whelan returns to the panel, but Damien Lynch is suspended), but it will be tricky," he adds. "UCD are a good side with a habit of doing well against the sides in the top half of the table.
"I'm glad to see them back in the top division and doing so well because I'm still grateful to the club for giving me my break in coaching. That doesn't change the fact," he laughs, "that I'll be hoping they lose this game".
PREMIER DIVISION: Bray Wanderers v Cork City, 7.45pm; Drogheda United v UCD, 7.45pm; Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, 8pm. First Division: Galway United v Dublin City, 7.30pm; Limerick v Sligo Rovers, 7.45pm.
