National League Previews

Bohemians v Derry City (7.45)

Liam Coyle is the main concern for the visitors with the striker having picked up a knee injury in the cup win that has prevented him from doing any serious training over the past week. He will undergo a late fitness test to see if he can play some part in the game.

Kevin Mahon, meanwhile, will definitely have Eddie McCallion available for selection again as the Northern Ireland under-21 international has recovered from a hamstring problem. The former Blackburn Rovers player will come back into the panel for the team but, given the fact that Darren Kelly has been doing well at right full and scored the winner against Longford last Sunday, he may have to sit the start of this one out.

Bohemians expect to have a full panel again. Graham O'Hanlon is the only player with any doubts hanging over him. He has played in several of the Dublin club's recent games despite a foot injury but may do so again as his team look to extend their current unbeaten run in the league to six.

It won't be easy against a City side who have a habit of taking something from their trips to Dalymount. Of the 18 league meetings between the two at the ground so far the Gypsies have won just four with Derry having come out on top on seven occasions.

Last two seasons: 1997/98: Derry 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Derry 0, Derry 1 Bohemians 0; 98/99: Derry 0 Bohemians 2.

Recent league form: Bohemians: DDWDW, Derry: WDLLW.

Leading scorers: Bohemians: Swan (seven); Derry: Coyle (six), McHugh (four).

Betting: Home: 6/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 6/4.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

Shelbourne v Dundalk

Dermot Keely will be looking to build on last Sunday's outstanding performance against Shamrock Rovers this evening but he will not be helped by the fact that Tony Sheridan (shin), Declan Geoghegan (dead leg) and Stephen Geoghegan (ankle) are all causing a certain amount of concern.

All three played key roles in the cup defeat of Rovers and Keely will be particularly keen not to allow the striking partnership of Sheridan and Geoghegan to be broken up just when it really seems to be gelling.

Keely's old club have some problems too with John "Jumbo" Brennan (hamstring) and Kevin Brady (groin) both facing late tests. David Capper is definitely out with an ankle injury and while Tom McNulty's return will help to cancel the Englishman's absence Jim McLaughlin admits that the other two being out would leave him with serious problems.

If Brady does fail his test then Noel Melvin will probably drop into defence while Ray Campbell could push forward into attack if Brennan's not about but that, of course, might just leave the side who won their last championship under Keely stretched across the centre.

Last two seasons: 1997/98: Dundalk 0 Shelbourne 1, Shelbourne 2 Dundalk 0, Dundalk 2 Shelbourne 1; 98/99: Dundalk 1 Shelbourne 2.

Recent league form: Shelbourne: LWWWL; Dundalk: DDWLL.

Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Sheridan (eight), Fenlon (six); Dundalk: Ward, Reddish and McNulty (two apiece).

Betting: Home: 4/9, Draw: 5/2, Away: 13/8. Referee: T Tully (Waterford).

Waterford United v Bray Wanderers

It's hectic stuff down at Waterford where Mike Flanagan will have plenty to think about in the build up to this evening's game. Michael Devine, Jason Kabia and Steve Brown are all back in contention having missed last week's cup game while Joe Keith, Robert Griffin and Karl Gannon are still missing.

In the longer term Alan Reynolds is facing a six-week lay-off but Joe Harkin and John Frost have started training again and should be looking at a first team comeback in a matter of weeks. Derek McGrath and Brian Flood both come into contention having arrived at the club from Bohemians and Finn Harps respectively.

Bray Wanderers, meanwhile, have a problem or two themselves with Barry O'Connor and John Ryan both expected to miss this game due to groin strains. Steve Jones goes straight into the squad after signing from Sligo, however, and he could start in place of Ryan.

"We'll see how it goes," says Pat Devlin "but it's best not to go into our games with Waterford expecting anything because over the last few years they've just been crazy." Right enough, the matches have been all over the place for the last few years with a tendency for results at one ground to mirror results at the other. With this in mind, Devlin is trying not to think too much about the fact that his side won the first encounter of the season 6-0 back in October.

Last two seasons: 1997/98: Waterford 0 Bray 3, Bray 0 Waterford 1, Waterford 1 Bray 3; 98/99: Bray 6 Waterford 0.

Recent league form: Waterford: LLDLL; Bray: LLLWD.

Leading scorers: Waterford: Dully, Gannon and Wood (two apiece); Bray: Byrne (five), Parsons (three).

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

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).

First Division

Galway United are facing a bit of an injury crisis ahead of this evening's trip to St Francis with striker Ricky O'Flaherty apparently having infected just about half of the club's playing staff with the flu during last week's round trip to Drogheda.

Cobh, meanwhile, must wait on Paul Coughlan, who picked up a shin injury in the win over Garda, before John O'Rourke names his side to take on Athlone at St Mel's Park this evening.

Fixtures: Athlone Town v Cobh Ramblers, Limerick v Home Farm Everton (7.30), St Francis v Galway United (7.30).

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.