In-form Mooney misses trip to Cork

League of Ireland Premier Division: Pragmatic as ever, Longford Town manager Alan Mathews is hoping the suspension of his in-form striker Dave Mooney for tonight's trip to Cork City will prove a blessing in disguise.

Mooney has scored nine times in bottom-of-the-table Longford's last eight league games as they've bridged a 13-point gap down to one over the last two months.

"You may think the timing is bad with the good run Dave's on, but, looking at it in a completely different context, I believe it couldn't be better," said Mathews.

"Obviously, it's not great that's he gone at all, but we're playing Cork away and we have nine games to go. You look at the games coming ahead.

"If he's going to be taken out of a game you'd prefer he miss this one than, say, the home game with Waterford or Bray. At least when he gets this out of the way and remains injury free, he has a clean run until the end of the season."

Robbie Martin comes in up front for Mooney while right-back Patrick Sullivan returns following work commitments in America.

Cork boss Damien Richardson has keeper Michael Devine back from suspension and in contention to come back into the side as Mark McNulty is still suffering from a knee injury.

Cillian Lordan, provided he shakes off a virus, may start at right-back in place of Neal Horgan who is unlikely to play due to the death of his father, Pat.

A bereavement is also set to rule goalkeeper Dean Delaney out of Waterford United's clash with Bohemians at the RSC. Packie Holden comes in for his first game since March.

Bohemians' midfielder Thomas Heary's season is over due to knee ligament damage while keeper Brian Murphy remains out with a leg injury. Alan Blayney continues in goal having kept a clean sheet on his debut at Bray a fortnight ago.

Striker Darren Mansaram and left-back Conor Powell are suspended, though winger Harpal Singh is finally fit to come into the squad.

Defenders Owen Heary and Liam Burns also return from suspension and injury while Chris Turner came back unscathed from under-21 international duty with Northern Ireland.

Without a win in four games, leaders Drogheda United hope captain Stuart Byrne, who along with winger Ollie Cahill shipped a knock in Galway last week, will be fit to play in the game of the night against Derry City at United Park. Fringe striker Aidan O'Keeffe is suspended.

Unbeaten in 11 domestic matches since boss John Robertson took charge in July, Derry are without the suspended Kevin Deery while fellow midfielder Pat McCourt and striker Sammy Morrow remain out injured.

Keith Fahey returns from suspension to bolster St Patrick's Athletic's midfield at home to Bray Wanderers, though manager John McDonnell gives a fitness check to Joseph Ndo who has a calf injury.

Though defenders Ray Kenny and Chris Deans are back from bans, suspension deprives Bray of the midfield influence of Alan Cawley while Colm Tresson (heel) and Derek Tyrrell (shoulder) are out injured. Manager Eddie Gormley must wait on midfielders Jay O'Shea (foot), Paddy Kavanagh (foot) and Mark Duggan (ankle) and striker Emeka Omnubiko (ankle).

"This is our most crucial part of the season," says Shamrock Rovers' manager Pat Scully. "We have two tough games in four days; results which will tell us a lot about ourselves."

Midfielders Alan Reynolds and Eric McGill are suspended while right-back Ger O'Brien and top scorer Tadhg Purcell require fitness tests prior to tonight's visit of Galway United to Tolka Park.

Tonight - League of Ireland, Premier Division (7.45pm):Cork City v Longford Town, Turner's Cross; Drogheda United v Derry City, United Park, 7.45pm; St Patrick's Athletic v Bray Wanderers, Richmond Park; Waterford United v Bohemians, RSC; Shamrock Rovers v Galway United, Tolka Park, 8pm; First Division: Limerick 37 v Cobh Ramblers, Jackman Park, 7.45pm; Finn Harps v Dundalk, Finn Park, 8pm; Wexford Youths v Monaghan United, Wexford FC, 8pm; Uefa U17 European Championship Qualifier: Republic of Ireland v Ukraine, Terryland Park, 7pm.