Soccer: National League Previews

Today

Bray Wanderers v Dundalk (7.45)

Pat Devlin's side have been the surprise packages so far and they will be looking to continue their fine run when Jim McLaughlin's brigade visit the Carlisle Grounds this evening.

Devlin, though, is still missing a few of his first-choice players with Barry O'Connor winding up his three-match ban this weekend while Kieran O'Brien and Stephen Fox remain sidelined by injury. Graham Cassin, who suffered a broken bone in his foot during the League Cup campaign, came through a reserve game during the week and may come into the squad.

Dundalk will be without Mick Doohan and David Crawley, both of whom are suspended. That should mean that Shane Reddish will be back in an otherwise unchanged side.

Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: Bray: LWLWW; Dundalk: LLDLD.

Leading scorers: Bray: Byrne 3; Dundalk: Withnell 3.

Betting: Home: 11/10, draw: 15/8, away: 5/2. Referee: T Tully (Cork).

Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps (7.30)

The problems persist for the hosts with Padraig Moran, Mattie Hare and Steve Birks ruled out through injury for this evening's clash with Harps.

Conor O'Grady is also unavailable due to being with Brian Kerr's under-18 squad for next week's UEFA qualifying tournament which takes place in Dublin.

Birks, who has played in the club's last couple of games, presents the most immediate problem with manager Nicky Reid somewhat reluctant to play two naturally left-sided central defenders, Jim Sheridan and Ian Lynch, together. Brian Hetherstone may return after missing the last three matches and Glen Shannon, having scored three goals in four games (only one of which he actually started), should have just about done enough to earn a start this time.

Harps will be at full strength with Donal O'Brien, John Gerard McGettigan and Davie Dowling all available again. Having seen Paddy McGrenaghan and Jonathon Speak come in and do well, though, manager Charlie McGeever expects to stick with the same starting XI that played so effectively against St Patrick's Athletic - which means the only tussle will be for places on the bench.

Last season: Sligo 2 Harps 2, Harps 1 Sligo 1, Sligo 0 Harps 2.

Recent league form: Sligo: WDLDD; Harps: WLDDW.

Leading scorers: Sligo: Shannon 3, Hallows 2; Harps: Mulligan 3.

Betting: Home: 7/4, draw: 13/8, away: 13/8. Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Tomorrow

Cork City v Waterford United (2.0)

Patsy Freyne is back for City as they seek to extend their 100 per cent record against a Waterford side who have made it difficult for everybody they have encountered so far.

Freyne cracked a rib a few weeks ago but came through training this week without any problems, although Dave Barry will wait until closer to the kick-off before deciding whether to juggle the midfield line-up. At the back, however, he will have to make at least one change as Greg O'Halloran is with the under-18s in Dublin, so Declan Daly is likely to switch to fullback with Gareth Cronin or Noel Hartigan possible replacements at the centre of the back four.

Tommy Lynch is another manager to have a player away on international duty with John Frost residing in the Irish camp. But the United player-manager's woes don't stop there because Joe Harkin and Robert Griffin, two other players to feature regularly on Waterford's left side, are also ruled out, by a broken toe and nose, respectively.

Mark Reid will probably come in for Griffin while Alan Barry is the most likely centre back to start but Frost's absence is causing a little more concern and will probably prompt a positional reshuffle.

Last season: Did not meet.

Recent league form: Cork: WWWWW; Waterford: WWLDD.

Leading scorers: Cork: Cahill, Dobbs and Flanagan 2 each; Waterford: Dully 2.

Betting: Home: 4/6, draw: 9/4, away: 7/2. Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).

Derry City v Shelbourne (3.15)

Well, they've lost just one so far but Dermot Keely, like the Shelbourne fans, probably expected a little better than four draws from the first five games of the new campaign.

Still, injury deprives Keely of his best side, though, with Stephen Geoghegan about to resume training but a couple of weeks away from a place in the Dublin club's starting line-up. At the back, however, there is better news with Pat Scully ready for action again and likely to play at least some part in tomorrow afternoon's game. James Keddy, meanwhile, who made a surprise return last week after being diagnosed as having a cruciate ligament problem, will start again.

City have problems of their own with Gary Beckett having picked up an injury in the game at Dundalk while Paul Hegarty is suspended. The upshot is that Eamonn Doherty looks set to partner the recently returned Peter Hutton in the centre of the field.

Felix Healy's side have not exactly hurtled out of the starting blocks either but they are now three matches unbeaten with nine goals in those games. Another three points tomorrow and last season's nightmare would all start to seem like a very distant memory.

Last season: Derry 2 Shelbourne 2, Shelbourne 1 Derry 0, Derry 1 Shelbourne 2.

Recent league form: Derry: LLWDD; Shelbourne: DDDLD.

Leading scorers: Derry: L Coyle and McHugh 2 each; Shelbourne: Sheridan 2.

Betting: Home: 7/4, draw: 13/8, away: 13/8. Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).

First Division

Cobh Ramblers' recent poor run suggests that leaders Galway United can continue their fine start to the new campaign with a win at St Colman's Park this evening but Don O'Riordan won't be taking anything for granted and John O'Rourke will be determined to end the visitors' unbeaten march.

The hosts will be without Willie Byrne, who hasn't recovered from a dead leg picked up in the Limerick match, but Anthony Kenneally should shake off an ankle injury to play while Philip Long returns to the panel after four weeks out.

"Things haven't gone so well since we beat Kilkenny 2-0 up there," says O'Rourke "but I'm glad that we're playing Galway now because the lads have shown already that they seem to lift themselves for the big games."

Galway will be without the suspended Michael Quirke but could be unchanged for the fourth successive game.

Limerick manager Dave Connell will almost certainly stick with the same XI that scored solid wins over Cobh and Athlone in their last two outings when he names his side for tomorrow's home game with Monaghan.

James Coll is in line to make his onfield debut for Athlone against St Francis this evening while Kilkenny City will be almost back to full strength at Whitehall with Brendan Rea, Aidan Cooney and Pierce Walsh all recovering steadily from recent knocks.