National League Previews

New Boss Liam Buckley should certainly get plenty of opportunity to assess the depth of talent available to him this weekend for around half-a-dozen players who probably would have liked to be available the weekend the team changed hands look likely to be laid up.

Packie Lynch and Trevor Molloy, both of whom started in Derry but had to come off before the end, are still struggling with injuries and there has been little enough progress amongst defenders Jeff Clarke, Willie Burke (Burke, in fact, has gone backwards after an attempted comeback in Monday's reserve match against Athlone backfired) and Colin Hawkins, all of whom have been missing for a couple of weeks.

Throw in Thomas Morgan's absence due to injury and a very outside chance that Eddie Gormley, who missed training during the week due to the flu, will recover and Buckley will surely be glad that his predecessor has provided him with so many options.

Dundalk, in contrast, have one problem - but it's a biggie. Brian Byrne is still carrying a knee injury and, anxious to rush his most promising source of goals back into action before he is ready, manager Jim McLaughlin will allow him to rest again this week.

That, almost certainly, means the Lilywhites will start with the same team beaten last week by Sligo - a result says the Dundalk boss that "flattered" the visitors to Oriel Park.

Last season: St Patrick's 1 Dundalk 0, Dundalk 0 St Patrick's 0, St Patrick's 4 Dundalk 2.

League Cup/League form: St Patrick's: LWW/W; Dundalk: DDD/L.

Betting: Home: 30/100, Draw: 100/30, Away: 8/1.

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).

Shamrock Rovers v Bray Wanderers

As so often before, the Hoops are a little worried about the fitness of striker Tony Cousins but basically expect him to play. Last year's top scorer didn't reckon he was 100 per cent ahead of last week's opener against Shelbourne but it is a knock received during that game that now threatens to keep him out this evening.

"He has a slight ankle problem as a result of a kick he got last Friday," says Mick Byrne, "but I think he'll be alright at the end of the day, and if h isn't there are a few other things we can look at trying."

One of the possibilities Byrne will be looking at is partnering Jason Sherlock with young striker Derek Cummins while shifting Derek Tracey up into attack, and bringing in somebody like Brian Morrisroe on the left-hand side of midfield is another option. Things would be easier if Sean Murray was available this evening but he is not, while transfer-listed Sean Francis is unlikely to get a look in.

Bray, meanwhile, must wait to check on the fitness of Bo McKeever who had to have six stitches to a head wound after a clash in the defeat by Cork. Graham Cashin (ankle) will be out for a couple of weeks, but there is some good news for Pat Devlin with Kieran O'Brien and Richie Parsons, both of whom came on for the last quarter of an hour last Sunday, now fit enough to play from the start.

Last season: Did not meet.

League Cup/League form: Rovers: LWW/D; Bray: WDL/L.

Betting: Home: 2/5, Draw: 11/4, Away: 7/1.

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

First Division

It will have been with somewhat mixed feelings that Home Farm Everton manager Liam Brien waved goodbye to teenage defender Barry Ferguson last week, the money that has come in for the teenager from Coventry City may allow him to strengthen his squad over the coming weeks, but more immediately he has to cope with the loss of another of his side's best players.

"It is difficult," says Brien "particularly after losing Stephen Gifford, Graham Doyle and Owen Heary. To be honest, though, I knew after the first couple of matches that I saw him play in that I was going to have problems holding on to him."

Brien can at least take some comfort this evening from the fact that one of his most experienced players, Val Keenan, should be available again after shaking off a hamstring problem. Frank Darby will miss the trip to Drogheda, though, where both teams will be looking to put their first points on the board.

Athlone, meanwhile, head for Galway for the night's other first division game where Liam Buckley's former assistant Jimmy Green will take charge of the team. Both sides won last week and this game should be an interesting test of both side's capacity, especially Galway's, to mount a serious challenge for one of the two automatic promotion places.

Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.