FAI National League Team News And Statistics

Today Shelbourne V Drogheda Utd (7.0) The Dubliners are likely to be unchanged from last week's draw in the Brandywell where, in the first half, they played some truly exceptional football. Alan Gough is still out with a thigh strain giving Stephen O'Brien another chance in goals, while Greg Costello is still a week or two away from full fitness.

Stephen Geoghegan, who will be presented with his Player Of The Year award for last season from supporters' group National League United, is likely to start the game on the bench as Damien Richardson attempts to avoid pushing him too far too fast, a process which the Shelbourne manager describes as "frustrating for both of us".

Drogheda, meanwhile, must wait to see if Andy Ramage (achilles tendon) and John Carroll (bruised foot) will be fit, with the former the less likely to make it. Manager Martin Lawlor feels that his side are improving, but he admits that it might be another couple of weeks before they are capable of causing serious problems for the other teams in the division.

Last season: Did not meet.

League Cup/League form: Shelbourne: WWW/WD; Drogheda: WWL/ LL.

Leading league scorers: Shelbourne: Scully (two); Drogheda: Coady (one).

Betting: Home: 2/7, Draw: 7/2, Away: 10/1.

Referee: P Dempsey (Dublin).

Finn Harps V St Patrick's Athletic (7.30)

PAT DOLAN finds himself with a novel problem for a National league manager, a player coming back from international duty with an injury and the St Patrick's boss is not entirely thrilled with the way the problem has been handled. "All I knew about Thomas's problem was what I read in the newspapers and heard on the radio. I can't imagine one of Alex Ferguson's players taking a knock like that and him not even getting a fax or a call to let him know what the situation is."

The gash on Morgan's shin isn't the only problem facing Dolan with neither Martin Reilly, nor Eddie Gormley likely to be fit again in time for the trip to Donegal, but there are still a number options for the Dublin club's manager to choose from.

Harps, on the other hand, after weeks of problems of one sort or another appear to be just about to full strength. Declan Boyle will make his debut after completing a move from Derry City to replace Stuart Gauld, while James Mulligan is back in contention for a start and Stephen Kelly has recovered from a bout of the flu. All of which should mean an improvement at both ends over the 4-2 defeat at Dalymount last Friday night.

Last season: Harps 1 Shelbourne 2, Shelbourne 2 Harps 0, Harps 3 Shelbourne 2.

League Cup/League form: Harps: DWD/WL; St Patrick's: LWD/DW.

Leading league scorers: Harps: Speak, Johnston, Cullen and McGettigan (one apiece); St Patrick's: Molloy, Gaynor and Devereaux (one apiece).

Betting: Home: 5/2, Draw: 9/4, Away: 10/11.

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).

Sligo Rovers V Dundalk (7.30)

Both teams are still looking for their first league wins, but both will expect tough games from opposition who seem to be much improved over last year.

Nicky Reid is without the suspended Matt Daly, but as the defender only started last week's match on the bench, it will not prove too much of a setback and the former Manchester City man is likely to start with the same team which drew at Tolka Park against Shamrock Rovers.

The visitors are likely to include new signing Kevin Brady, whose short spell at Derry seems to have been ended by the arrival of the Robbie Brunton, while Fintan McConville is fit again after being out with a back injury. Tom McNulty may be one of those to make way.

Last season: Dundalk 2 Sligo 1, Sligo 2 Dundalk 1, Sligo 1 Dundalk 3.

League Cup/League form: Sligo: LDW/DD; Dundalk: WWW/LD.

Leading league scorers: Sligo: Jones, Reid and Ogden (one apiece); Dundalk: Byrne (one).

Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 2/1, Away: 7/2.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Tomorrow Cork City V Derry City (12.0)

"WE'VE COME a long way over the past 12 months," says Cork City manager Dave Barry, "but this match will give us a fair idea of just how far." The hosts will miss Dave Hill who has damaged ligaments in his knee and will still be without Patsy Freyne, who is also affected by a knee problem, but there is better news regarding Brian Barry Murphy who returns after missing last week's journey to Kilkenny.

For Felix Healy it has been a mixed week with Liam Coyle and Gavin Dykes back training but Paul Hegarty, who had a quiet game against Shelbourne last Sunday, highly doubtful for this game after injuring his knee in the game.

Goalkeeper David Platt, who previously had a spell with Finn Harps and is another of Healy's players at Coleraine to move to the Brandywell, has arrived on a short-term contract as cover for Tony O'Dowd who broke his hand last week and he will start, but Tom Mohan will definitely be out for another two to three weeks.

Last season: Derry 0 Cork 1, Cork 0 Derry 1, Derry 0 Cork 2.

League Cup/League form: Cork: WWD/WW; Derry: DLL/DD.

Leading league scorers: Cork: Kabia (two), Derry: L Coyle and Hutton (one apiece).

Betting: Home: 7/4, Draw: 7/4, Away: 7/4.

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).

UCD v Kilkenny City (Belfield Park)

WHILE STILL feeling that his side are some four weeks away from being at full strength, Alfie Hale will be looking for a bit more from them today given that this is their first outing against a team that is not widely fancied to take the title.

Nevertheless, the Dubliners' performance in Dundalk last week was a considerable step forward over their first league outing against Shamrock Rovers and Dr Tony O'Neill will himself be looking for further improvement tomorrow.

Everybody should be available again for the Students who will be hopeful of getting their first win of the campaign while Hale must, once again, contend with a variety of problems. Paul Cashin may be out for the rest of the season if, as suspected, his knee injury turns out to be caused by a snapped cruciate ligament, while Martin Reid is suspended for two games.

Pascal Keane and Aidan Cooney may start, however, after both coming on last week, while Kevin Kelly is available after being kept out up to now due to pressure of work.

Last season: Did not meet.

League Cup/League form: UCD: DLD/LD; Kilkenny: LLD/LL.

Leading league scorers: UCD: Bennis (one); Kilkenny: Hale (one).

Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 9/4, Away: 4/1.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).

First Division

Bray Wanderers travel to Galway for one of the games of the weekend in the division without the suspended Pat O'Brien and Anthony Mernagh who is suffering from a chest infection, but Anto Whelan returns after a knee injury and Graham O'Hanlon is available again after taking part in the World Student Games in southern Italy.

Sean O'Neill is Galway's main doubt, but the ankle injury sustained in the league game with Home Farm is not nearly as bad as was thought at first and there is a chance that he will play. Striker Eric Levine, meanwhile, has attracted some interest from clubs north of the border, but he and Ryan Lucas look set to commit themselves to United for the season early next week.

Elsewhere, Monaghan United will be handicapped by a string of injuries which include Mick Scully (hip), Lee King (calf) and Neil Dowling (ankle) when they play hosts to Waterford United tomorrow, although new signings Ken Brien and Sean Murray may make their league debuts. The visitors have problems of their own as Sean Riordan and Alan Reynolds are both suspended, but Alan Barry will come into contention.