Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers (Finn Park, 7.45)
Gavin Dykes has agreed with the Finn Harps' board to take charge for the next four games before meeting to decide where to go from there.
"No-one was more sorry than me to see Charlie McGeever go," said Dykes. "I spoke to the players about it and told them that it was our fault Charlie resigned.
"I've found out just how much work is involved in management in the few days I've been in charge. The amount of work Charlie put in was phenomenal."
Dykes is fit again after a slight back strain, but Tom Mohan will be out for six weeks with a broken jaw.
Sligo's teenage trio of Keith Gilroy, Paddy Conlon and Jonathan Davey are unavailable as they're involved in a schools trial in Waterford tomorrow. Andy McCann and Declan Lynch, come into the squad for the first time while Jim Sheridan is back following a month out with a hamstring strain.
Last season: Sligo 1 Harps 1, Sligo 0 Harps 2, Harps 1 Sligo 1.
Current league form: Harps: LLLDL; Sligo: LDLLL.
Leading scorers: Harps: Mulligan 3; Sligo: Moran 3.
Betting: Home: 6/4, draw: 11/5, away: 6/4
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Galway United v Derry City (Terryland Park, 7.45)
Derry manager Kevin Mahon will risk starting Liam Coyle despite his knee injury. It's a gamble that shouldn't really backfire as Coyle then starts a six-match suspensions.
Gary Beckett (knee) won't be risked, however, as Derry strive to get back to winning ways.
Galway add Scott Morgan to their panel after a month out with a knee injury. Ollie Keogh and Mike Keane are still not fully fit.
Last season: Did not meet.
Current league form: Galway: LWWLL; Derry: WWLLD.
Leading scorers: Galway: Clery 4; Derry: Beckett 2.
Betting: Home: 6/4, draw: 12/5, away: 11/8.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
St Patrick's Ath v Waterford (Richmond Park, 7.45)
Waterford manager Mike Flanagan was yesterday given a vote of confidence by the board of directors.
"Mike Flanagan's job is not in jeopardy," said general manager Bob Breen before also confirming that Brian Flood and Jason Kabia would not play for the club again while Karl Gannon and Barry Wood have been placed on the transfer list.
Waterford have agreed terms with Ian Gilzean and St Patrick's Athletic, but wait for a final decision from the player on whether he wants to move from Richmond Park.
St Patrick's manager Liam Buckley and club captain Eddie Gormley were due to have talks last night in an attempt to settle their differences. All going to plan, Gormley, dropped after a row with Buckley last week which culminated in transfer speculation, could be back in the panel tonight.
Last season: Waterford 0 St. Patrick's 2, St Patrick's 2 Waterford 0, Waterford 0 St Patrick's 0.
Current league form: St. Patrick's: WLWDD; Waterford: WLLDL .
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Gilzean 3; Waterford: Griffin, KIrby, Kirby, D McGrath, Stirling 1 each.
Betting: Home: 4/11, draw: 3/1, away: 13/2.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
Shelbourne v Drogheda United (Tolka Park, 7.45)
Shelbourne have lost last week's stand-in strikeforce of Richie Baker and John Powell. Baker is away with the Irish under-21s in Macedonia while Powell pulled a hamstring after scoring twice at the Showgrounds.
Manager Dermot Keely has the luxury, however, of being able to restore Garry Haylock and Stephen Geoghegan, back from suspension and injury respectively. Drogheda hope to be back to full strength.
Last season: Did not meet.
Current league form: Shelbourne: DWWDW; Drogheda: LDWDW
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: R Baker, Fenlon, Powell, S Geoghegan 2 each; Drogheda: O'Keeffe 2.
Betting: Home: 4/11, draw: 3/1, away: 13/2.
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
UCD v Shamrock Rovers (Belfield, 7.45)
A very sad night in prospect at Belfield as UCD host their first game since the untimely death of Dr Tony O'Neill. Fittingly, it's against Rovers whom UCD beat in their finest hour in senior football to win the FAI Cup back in 1984.
Manager Theo Dunne has particularly felt `The Doc's' loss this week as he's had to pick the team on his own for the first time. A minute's silence will be observed prior to the kick-off.
UCD are without suspended pair Clive Delaney and Ciaran Martyn. Eamonn McLoughlin will come into defence with Dunne not deciding until nearer kick-off time who should partner Ciaran Kavanagh in the middle of the field.
Tony O'Dowd (ankle), Shane Jackson (hamstring) and Richie Purdy (calf) are out for leaders Rovers. Brian Byrne is set to start his first league game in seven months when partnering Tony Cousins in the attack.
Last season: Shamrock Rovers 2 UCD 0, UCD 0 Shamrock Rovers 2, Shamrock Rovers 0 UCD 0.
Current league form: UCD: WDDLW; Shamrock Rovers: LWWWW.
Leading scorers: UCD: Martyn 2; Shamrock Rovers: Purdy 4.
Betting: Home: 7/4, draw: 9/4, away: 5.4.
Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford)
Soccer
Drogheda United have been fined £100 by the National League's disciplinary committee in relation to the behaviour of one of their players, who allegedly urinated on the pitch, during the half-time interval at the Brandywell last month.
Shamrock Rovers' goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd has been suspended for one match following his sending off against Sligo Rovers a fortnight ago. Also suspended for one match is Galway United midfielder Darragh Sheridan who has received five bookings since the start of the season. The Suspensions are effective from Tuesday, October 9th.
