Crucial test for Rovers

WITH Friday's trip to Waterford in the Cup ahead of them, tonight's home match with Finn Harps is the second of a crucial three game sequence inside six days for Shamrock Rovers, and, according to Pat Byrne, his players have been all too well aware of it.

"That's the way they've been thinking and there's a danger of the Cup game overshadowing this one. But it really is a case of taking it one game at a time," he said.

Sunday's limp defeat to UCD, which further questioned the inner resolve of the mercurial Hoops, has accentuated the need for three points - all the more so as it would drag an even more out of sorts Harps into the relegation play off picture.

Thus, this fixture will not have the freedom it might have had. Rival midfielders John Toal and John Quigg come back into the equation after serving suspensions, while Niall Keogh (impressive as a substitute against UCD) is likely to replace Gino Brazil in Rovers' defence.

But the respective managers may not be inclined to make wholesale changes; Charlie McGeever made seven for the scoreless home draw with Bray on Saturday in turning "a little corner".

Meanwhile, Shelbourne full back Pascal Vaudequin has had his eight game ban reduced to five weeks, beginning on February 9th.

The decision by the arbitration tribunal means Vaudequin will be available for next Sunday's FAI Cup second round tie against Dundalk.

Also, Tony O'Connell, the Bohemians chairman, has insisted his club "are fully supportive of Derry City's continuing membership of the National League" and that the club will "always be welcome at Dalymount Park".

The statement follows his decision, and that of two fellow directors, to boycott the Brandywell in protest over refereeing standards at the ground and a perceived bias against his club there over the years.

Nevertheless, the three Bohemians directors will not, as yet, rescind that decision.