TODAY
FINN HARPS v BOHEMIANS (7.45)
THE target for the respective managers tonight at Finn Park will be to wipe that self-satisfied smile off the face of their opposite number: both Roddy Collins of Bohemians and Gavin Dykes of Harps have presided over a series of decent results.
The pair, team-mates at Sligo Rovers, seem particularly happy with the respective performances last weekend when Bohemians beat UCD 2-0 at Belfield and Harps beat Galway 3-1 at Terryland Park.
Collins reckons the win "probably makes us the best travellers in the league", but for Dykes and co the victory meant points away from home for the first time this season.
Graham O'Hanlon is available again for Bohemians after missing the past four weeks due to a cartilage operation, but Collins sees no reason to change his team. "We competed with Cork at their place and UCD at theirs - so I don't see any reason why we can't go up to Ballybofey and give Harps a good run for their money."
Dykes echoes the sentiment, saying he does not like "messing with things that are going well enough by themselves". Declan Perkins,
a former under-21 international, arrived this week from Purfleet but will start on the bench alongside last week's signing, Don Tierney.
Last season: Harps 2 Bohemians 3; Harps 1 Bohemians 0; Bohemians 0 Harps 1.
Recent league form: Harps: L D L W W; Bohemians: L W D D W.
Betting: Home: 2/1; Draw: 9/4; Away: 11/10.
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
Sligo Rovers v Galway Utd (7.45)
MIXED fortunes for these two last time out with Sligo finally letting loose against Derry away (3-1) while United lost their way a little bit on home turf for the second time in succession and lost heavily to Finn Harps (1-3).
Galway manager Don O'Riordan insists that Eric Lavine and Jason Kabia have already demonstrated the potential they have as a striking partnership, so now it's just a case of them starting to fulfil it, while at the back there is the talent and work ethic to halt the recent slide. Despite four defeats on the trot, but O'Riordan will field much the same team: Luther Watson, however, is set to return for the suspended Daragh Sheridan at right back.
Sligo's Jim McNally, meanwhile, will scarcely tinker much with a side that he reckons didn't just "sneak a win up at the Brandywell, but could easily have scored four or five". Wesley Charles may have to settle for a place on the bench after missing last week's win due to minor illness.
Last season: Did not meet.
Recent league form: Rovers: L L L L W; Galway United: W L L L L.
Betting: Home: 6/5; Draw: 12/5; Away: 7/4.
Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).
Tomorrow
Cork City v Drogheda Utd (2.0)
AFTER a fine 3-1 win at Rovers last Sunday this week's task for Cork City looks mundane. However, United have lost just once away from home so far this season, at Shelbourne a fortnight ago, and they have shown that they are prepared to have a go at anybody when the mood takes them.
They have a string of injuries to worry them, with Stephen Roche and Darren O'Keeffe both suffering from a virus, Jamie Impey still hindered by knee ligament trouble, Fergal Coleman suffering an ankle hoping to shrug off a calf strain. Derek Coughlan is back in full training for Cork, and Greg O'Halloran is also on the verge of regaining his place in the panel.
Last season: Did not meet.
Recent league form: Cork City: L W D W W; Drogheda United: W D W L L.
Betting: Home: 1/3; Draw: 3/1; Away: 7/1.
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Derry City v UCD (3.15)
A TOUGH one this for both sides after their games in Dublin last night, but the two clubs agreed to reschedule the match, postponed after the recent death of Dr Tony O'Neill, for tomorrow on the basis that neither would have an advantage.
Mick O'Byrne is definitely out for the visitors due to a hamstring problem while several other UCD players are carrying kocks. Tony McDonnell and Peter Hanrahan are reckoned to be doubtful.
For Derry, striker Gary Beckett has postponed an operation andplayed on Friday night while Liam Coyle is still suspended.
Last season: UCD 2 Derry City 2; Derry City 2 UCD 0; UCD 2 Derry City 1.
Recent league form: Derry: L L D W L, UCD: L W W L D.
Betting: Home: 10/11; Draw: 9/4; Away: 5/2.
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
St Patrick's Ath v Shamrock Rovers (3.15)
FOR the champions the struggle to field a first-choice team continues. This week Colin Hawkins (bruised ribs) and Stephen McGuinness (knee) both face late fitness tests while Keith Doyle (broken nose) is expected to play. Dessie Byrne returns from suspension while Paul Osam has suffered a suspected broken toe.
After three defeats on the trot Rovers manager Damien Richardson also needs all the luck he can get, particularly as he will have to cope without either Marc Kenny (hamstring) or former Saint Tony O'Dowd (suspension).
Last season: Shamrock Rovers 2 St Patrick's Ath 1; St Patrick's Ath 3 Shamrock Rovers; Shamrock Rovers 0 St Patrick's Ath 1.
Recent league form: St Patrick's Ath: W D D W W, Shamrock Rovers: W W W L L.
Betting: Home: 4/5; Draw: 9/4; Away: 3/1.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power
