National League Previews

Saturday

Finn Harps v Kilkenny City

Pascal Vaudequin is ready to make his league debut for Finn Harps this evening and the Frenchman couldn't have arrived at a better time for his hosts as Charlie McGeever tries to cope with a series of injuries and suspensions. Davie Dowling and Jonathon Minnock are both still unavailable because of suspension while Jonathon Speak is likely to be out for a few weeks after taking a bad knock against Bray. On the brighter side, Shane Bradley, who came in and did well in the cup match, is likely to retain his place.

Kilkenny, meanwhile, will be hoping to bounce back from what Alfie Hale describes as an "embarrassing" display against UCD in the Cup. "There'll certainly be changes in the line-up and there had better be changes in the attitude," says Hale, who adds new signings Trevor Vaughan, Ray Carolan, Brendan Rea, Pierce Walsh, Martin Reid (returned from retirement) and David Breen to the squad.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Did not meet; 97/98: Kilkenny 2 Harps 3.

Recent league form: Harps: WLWLL; Kilkenny: LDLDL.

Leading scorers: Harps: Speak (eight), Johnston and Mulligan (four apiece); Kilkenny: Hale (three).

Betting: Home: 1/4, Draw: 7/2, Away: 10/1. Referee: E Barr (Dublin).

Sligo Rovers v Shelbourne (3.0)

By the standards of their season to date, Sligo come into their big televised game with the Dubliners on the crest of a wave but manager Nicky Reid knows that they need to win somewhat more convincingly if they are to silence the critics.

A couple of weeks ago his side helped to send Shelbourne top by beating St Patrick's Athletic at Inchicore but Reid was quick to admit that they conceded far too much to the home side and were more than a little lucky to escape with all three points. The somewhat drawn out defeat of Mervue will not have done that much to settle nerves.

Sligo, however, should be at full strength for the game with a long series of suspensions finally behind them and Padraig Moran recovered from injury.

That's more than can be said for the visitors who must wait until this morning to assess the fitness of Dave Campbell (ankle) and Stephen Geoghegan (groin). Both are highly doubtful and so Dean Fitzgerald and Liam Kelly may be in from the start. Declan Geoghegan may be in the panel after coming through a reserve game in midweek without any problems.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Sligo 1 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 3 Sligo 0, Sligo 0 Shelbourne 3; 97/98: Shelbourne 3 Sligo 0.

Recent league form: Sligo: LWDWW; Shelbourne: WLWDW.

Leading scorers: Sligo: Jones and Moran (five apiece); Shelbourne: S Geoghegan (12), Scully (eight).

Betting: Home: 4/1, Draw: 11/4, Away: 4/7. Referee: G Perry (Dublin).

Sunday

Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United

Shamrock Rovers turned in a pretty good performance on Wednesday night to dispose of Drogheda in their cup replay at Tolka Park and it is difficult to imagine that manager Mick Byrne will tinker too much with a winning formula.

The visitors, on the other hand, may have to juggle things slightly despite threatening an upset early on in the midweek match. Roy Fox and Michael Harte, who both did fairly well after coming on during the second half on Wednesday, may come into the reckoning for the starting line-up.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Did not meet; 97/98: Drogheda 1 Shamrock Rovers 3.

Recent league form: Rovers: WLDWW; Drogheda: LDDLL.

Leading scorers: Rovers: Cousins (11); Drogheda: N Reid (three).

Betting: Home: 4/9, Draw: 5/2, Away: 7/1. Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

UCD v Cork City

Cork travel to Belfield in a considerably stronger position than they have been in for quite some time. Dave Barry has Jason Kabia, Kelvin Flanagan and Stephen Napier all back from suspension while Fergus O'Donoghue has been cleared by the US soccer authorities to play in the league here.

"It's good to have so many more options to choose from," says Dave Barry, who is still missing Dave Hill and Mark Herrick. "Now we've got to get back on the tracks after a few disappointing weeks."

UCD, in contrast, still need to put a bit more distance between themselves and the bottom two which, Theo Dunne reckons, they would have a pretty good chance of doing if only they could play as they did in Kilkenny last week. Damien Bolger, who picked up a knee injury in last weekend's outing, is the home side's main concern.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: UCD 2 Cork 1, Cork 1 UCD 0, UCD 3 Cork 0; 97/98: Cork 1 UCD 0.

Recent league form: UCD: DLDDL; Cork: WDDDD.

Leading scorers: UCD: Sherlock (four), Bennis and Griffin (three apiece); Cork: O'Brien (seven), Kabia and Cahill (five apiece).

Betting: Home: 5/2, Draw: 2/1, Away: Evens. Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).

Tomorrow's Shield match between Longford Town and Athlone Town is subject to a pitch inspection at 10.0 this morning.

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.