There are three games on Friday night in the eircom League Premier Division, with title chasing Drogheda United hosting Longford Town, while Bohemians play Cork City and Dublin City face Shamrock Rovers in desperate need of points.
Bohemians v Cork City
Glen Crowe remains a big doubt for Bohs with a knee injury as boss Gareth Farrelly is likely to stick with his 4-1-4-1 formation. Dave Morrison is out suspended though Colin Hawkins is available again following a ban and should come back into defence as Bohs hope to extend their eight match unbeaten league run.
Colin O’Brien is set to continue in Cork’s central defence in the absence of Alan Bennett (ankle ligament). New French midfielder Osvaldo Lopes, 24, is again likely to be on the bench for City.
Drogheda United v Longford Town
Jumping back to the top of the table would cap a super week for FAI Cup semi-finalists Drogheda. Unbeaten in eleven games, boss Paul Doolin must re-jig his side though, with both Aidan Lynch and Barry Molloy banned. Gary Cronin and Sean McClare vie for a starting role.
Fellow cup semi-finalists Town wait on skipper Barry Ferguson (knee) and Midfielder Dean Fitzgerald (hip) while winger John martin is definitely out having suffered concussion in Monday’s cup replay win in Athlone.
Shamrock Rovers v Dublin City
"This game is huge for us as we can’t allow Dublin to get any closer," said Rovers caretaker boss Noel Synnott. Liam Kelly, Pat Deans, Keith Doyle, Gavin McDonnell and Fiachra McArdle remain out, but defender Trevor Croly should be back following an ankle injury.
Barry Ryan, Alex Nesovic, Efan Ekoku and Marc Kenny are all out for bottom of the table Vikings. Carlton Palmer (thigh) is a big doubt. "Rovers are safe and they know it," said Vikings’ boss Roddy Collins. "We need the points more than they do."
Filed by Johnny Proby
