National League Previews

Bray Wand v St Patrick's Ath

Having been well beaten when these two met last week in Inchicore, Bray could be better fixed for the return fixture. Bo McKeever is carrying a knee injury and looks doubtful for tonight's game while Alan Smith and leading scorer Jason Byrne are also likely to miss out.

On the brighter side Graham Cassin and Barry O'Connor are back in Pat Devlin's squad for a game which should, despite the Waterford match being on television, attract the biggest crowd of the season so far to the Carlisle Grounds.

The champions have minor doubts about the fitness of Colin Hawkins (back strain) and Willie Burke (groin strain) but everybody should be okay in which case manager Liam Buckley will probably stick with the side that won last Friday.

"I have decided finally what I'm going to do," says Buckley "but given that we're been playing fairly well and scoring goals I wouldn't imagine that there would be too many changes."

Last week's performance, he says, was pleasing with the 3-0 scoreline a fair reflection of the way the game went but "I know Bray can play a good bit better than that so I'll expecting a tough game from them".

Last two seasons: 1997/98: Did not meet; 98/99: St Patrick's 3 Bray 0.

Recent league form: Bray: DLWDL; St Patrick's: WWWLW.

Leading scorers: Bray: Byrne (five); St Patrick's Molloy (six), Gilzean (five) and Gormley (four).

Betting: Home: 4/1, Draw: 5/2, Away: 8/13. Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Waterford Utd v Shelbourne

Had last week's encounter been televised there would hardly have been more than a handful of viewers who could have stayed awake throughout the contest and RTE will be keeping their fingers crossed that both teams are a little more adventurous this evening.

United manager, Mike Flanagan, admits that the responsibility to come out and play a bit will, as hosts, be on his side this time but he admits that the ability to show much imagination when getting forward remains something of a weakness for his side.

The caretaker manager, who may be confirmed in the post over the next couple of weeks, adds Padraig Dully to the squad that travelled to Tolka Park last week and the striker, who was an ever present until he missed that game, may well return to the starting line up.

Shelbourne are likely to make a couple of changes after turning in a performance that, while it was enough for them to take the points last Friday, was fairly uninspiring. Tony Sheridan is unlikely to remain out on the left where he looked lost while there could be changes in two or three other positions.

What is promising, though, is that the visitors know that they need to keep on winning if they are to have real chance of battling their way back into the race for the top honours and so there should, at the very least, be more to shout about than there was a week ago.

Last two seasons: 1997/98: Did not meet; 98/99: Shelbourne 1 Waterford 0.

Recent league form: Waterford: LLWWL; Shelbourne: LWWLW.

Leading scorers: Waterford: Dully and Wood (two apiece); Shelbourne: Sheridan and Fenlon (three apiece).

Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 9/4, Away: 5/4. Referee: J Stacey (Waterford).

First Division

St Francis v Drogheda United

Martin Lawlor takes his Drogheda side to Dublin in search of a fourth successive victory and with 11 goals scored during the previous three wins there is finally an abundance of confidence in his squad.

Darren O'Keefe and John Carroll are still out injured for the visitors but Jamie Impey, who played last week despite being some way short of full fitness is now well on the way to having recovered from a particularly bad ear infection. He should start as might Martin Beggs who has missed the last two outings due to suspension.

Andy Ramage is the home side's only real doubt with the Englishman requiring some treatment for a minor knee injury but manager Jimmy Harte is hopeful that his most recent signing will be all right to play. If he's not then several players are in contention for a start with Gary O'Sullivan possibly heading the queue.

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.