Cobh face daunting trip to Richmond Park

AFTER A GOOD win over Shamrock Rovers at St Colman's Park last week, Cobh Ramblers resume their search for some points away from home with Stephen Henderson's side facing the slightly daunting task of taking something from Richmond Park if they are to break their duck.

Ramblers' promotion-winning campaign last year was built on the foundation of superb home form and while the club has, predictably, found life more difficult in the top flight, they remain unbeaten at St Colman's so far.

It's something their skipper, Alan Carey, sees as a key part of their survival plan during the months ahead.

"The step up from First Division to Premier Division has been huge for us," he says. "The tempo has been quicker and, as we've found out, individual errors are punished much more so than in the First Division.

"I think our home form is going to keep us up, though. We've shown in our home games already that we are very hard to beat on our own patch.

"Even in the games we drew (against Galway United and Cork City), we were the better side and could have won.

"Now, he adds, "we just have to keep that up and add a few positive away results to it so that we can push up the league. It is always going to be difficult to pick up points against the bigger clubs away, but at home we are confident of beating anyone."

John McDonnell would, presumably, say the same of his side if they can play the way they did against Linfield on Tuesday evening. The Dubliner has Dave Partridge back but Joe O'Cearuill joins a lengthy injury list.

Still, if his men add finishing to some of the other qualities displayed in the Setanta Cup game then Ramblers could be in for a tricky evening.

Derry City are in Bray where, in addition to a string of longer-term problems, Clive Delaney and Mark Farren face late fitness tests.

The home side have at least as many difficulties, though, with Eddie Gormley, who is still without the suspended Gerry McCabe, waiting to assess the fitness of Mark Duggan, Andre Georgescu and Emeka Onwubiko.

Cork City will be aiming to extend their run of victories to four tonight against Finn Harps in Turner's Cross.

Pat Sullivan is still suspended but Alan Mathews should have everyone who featured in the midweek win over Cliftonville available to him again.

Paul Hegarty, on the other hand, is still without the likes of Jonathan Minnock, Gary Beckett and Chris Breen, somewhat limiting his scope to change things after last week's disappointing performance against St Patrick's.

The former Derry City man is still likely to try to shake things up a little, though, with Marc Mukendi, Declan Boyle and Kevin Ramsey all potential starters.

In the night's other top flight game, Shamrock Rovers will look to bounce back from the defeat in Cobh by beating UCD at Tolka Park. Pat Scully expects Darren Stapleton and Ger O'Brien will both be fit enough to feature despite having struggled in training with thigh and knee problems respectively.

Pete Mahon, meanwhile, has a full squad to choose from for the first time this season as Ian Bermingham and Derek Doyle both return from injury.

"I'm expecting to win," he says. "I see no reason why we shouldn't and it's about time we beat Rovers."