National League Previews

Premier Division

Drogheda Utd v UCD

(United Park, 7.45)

Drogheda Manager Martin Lawlor is anxious to play down the significance of this game in the fight to secure the lifeline of the play-off spot, though Theo Dunne, UCD's manager, has no difficulty in calling it a six-pointer.

The Students currently hold that third-from-bottom slot, but are 10 points clear of Kilkenny and 11 ahead of bottom-of-the-table Drogheda.

"It's a fair point to stress the importance of the match in relation to us catching UCD, but I'm more interested in us maintaining the exceptional level of performance we've achieved in our two most recent games against Shelbourne and Cork City," said Lawlor, whose side have yet to win a match.

"We should have beaten both of them on the chances we created. We are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment and as long as that continues, I can have no complaints with my players."

Lawlor has a further boost tonight with the return from injury of Rod De Khors, James Impey and Roy Fox, who all missed the 1-1 draw in Cork last week.

UCD suffered a major defensive blow when Tony McDonnell tore a hamstring against Derry last week. He's out for up to a month.

Captain Aidan Lynch, who had moved into midfield since Terry Palmer returned, will revert back to central defence with Robert Griffin likely to come back into the starting 11, probably in a midfield role.

"This is a crucial game for us after losing last week and Sligo winning," said Dunne. "We can't allow the four-point gap above us to widen any further."

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Didn't meet: 97/98: UCD 3 Drogheda 0.

Recent league form: Drogheda: LLLLD; UCD: WLLDL.

Leading scorers: Drogheda: N Reid (three); UCD: Sherlock (four), Griffin (three).

Betting: 7/4 Drogheda, 7/4 UCD, 7/4 draw.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

St Patrick's Athletic V Cork City

(Richmond Park, 7.45)

Eddie Gormley is definitely out of tonight's game courtesy of former team-mate Davy Campbell's late challenge in last week's televised win over Shelbourne.

The St Patrick's midfielder has badly bruised ligaments in his right ankle, though there is no serious damage, and he hopes to be fit to play against UCD on Sunday week.

St Patrick's manager Pat Dolan also has slight doubts concerning strikers Martin Reilly (back) and Trevor Molloy (hamstring), but is confident both will play in another big test for his side tonight.

"Cork remain one of the strongest sides in the league and are always difficult to beat," said Dolan, before heaping praise on their manager Dave Barry. "Dave is an Irish sporting legend," added Dolan. "If you're looking for someone with character and ability to lead you to the title this season, then Cork City have that man in Dave Barry."

Whatever about the title, Barry is eager to get a result at Richmond Park as he's fearful that a 10-point gap, which would open between the respective clubs if St Patrick's win, would leave his side with a little too much catching up to do.

Barry continues without former skipper John Caulfield who will be out for another three weeks with his back problem. Dave Hill, who has played in a couple of reserve team games recently, may possibly need a further exploratory operation on his knee which has kept him sidelined since early September.

There is also a minor doubt concerning midfielder Kelvin Flanagan who went over on an ankle in training during the week, but Barry is hopeful he'll be fit to play.

Dolan was spot on with his tactics in defeating Shelbourne last week and firmly threw down his side's title credentials as they went five points clear at the top.

They've conceded just one goal in their last nine games in an unbeaten run stretching back 12 matches. Cork will want to do themselves, and the other pretenders, a favour tonight if they're not to have lost the league by Christmas.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: St Patrick's 1 Cork 1, Cork 1 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 0 Cork 0; 97/98: Cork 0 St Patrick's 1.

Recent league form: St Patrick's: WDWWW; Cork: WLWDD.

Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Gilzean (five), Molloy and Reilly (four each); Cork: O'Brien (five), Cahill (four).

Betting: 5/6 St Pat's, 100/30 Cork, 2-1 draw.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

Shelbourne v Finn Harps

(Tolka Park, 7.45)

It's hardly ideal having to face your bogey side after a potentially-damaging defeat the previous week, but that's Shelbourne's lot tonight.

Harps have beaten Shelbourne three times since coming up from the First Division two years ago and their manager Charlie McGeever is quick to make it known that he enjoys his trips to Tolka Park.

"Shelbourne are the type of team that allow you to play, which means you always have a chance against them," says McGeever. "Their losing last week also now means that they are within the grasp of the four or five clubs immediately behind them. They're catchable."

Meanwhile, his opposite number, Damien Richardson, is at pains to stress the need for his side to bounce back and win well tonight. "My players have a point to prove after losing to St Patrick's last week and it's up to them to go out and show that it was merely a small step backwards," said Richardson.

Shelbourne are actively seeking to strengthen their squad with players from England, but Richardson says he won't be rushed into buying.

He expects to field the same team tonight, while Harps should also be unchanged from last week's good home win over Shamrock Rovers.

Shelbourne have announced that, from this Friday on, all schoolboy teams will be admitted free of charge once they are accompanied by two paying adults, following on from the success of the scheme last week.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Shelbourne 1 Finn Harps 2, Shelbourne 2 Finn Harps 0, Finn Harps 3 Shelbourne 2. 97/98: Finn Harps 3 Shelbourne 1.

Recent league form: Shelbourne: WWWWL; Finn Harps: DWWLW.

Leading scorers: Shelbourne: S Geoghegan (nine), Scully (seven); Finn Harps: Speak (seven).

Betting: 4/7 Shelbourne, 11/2 Finn Harps, 9/4 draw.

Referee: J O'Reilly (Dublin).

First Division

First Division Bray Wanderers can put their recent inconsistent form behind them tonight with a win over Longford Town sufficient to lift them back to the top of the table - for 24 hours at least.

Their manager Pat Devlin has been baffled by his side's up-and-down displays this season. Bottom-of-the-table Longford surprisingly beat Bray earlier in the season, so there is a score to settle there as well.

Bray have Richie Parsons back from flu and club captain Anthony McKeever available again after injury, while 18-year-old striker Gary Smith is included in the squad having returned home from Sunderland.

Athlone still harbour ambitions of snatching the play-off spot, but will need to get back to winning ways against Home Farm/Everton tonight after a generally poor display in losing to Galway last week.

"Our form has been indifferent of late and we need to tidy up one or two things in relation to our training, which we are dealing with now," said Athlone manager Liam Buckley, who picks from a full-strength panel.

Home Farm have Stephen Gifford back from suspension and their confidence will have been lifted after last week's deserved 3-0 defeat of leaders Waterford.