Win could bring league glory within Shels’ grasp

SHELBOURNE can take a huge step towards winning the Eircom League title by beating Bohemians at Tolka Park tonight (7.45pm).

Bohs will be back to near full-strength with the availability of two players who missed Friday's win over Cork City full-back Simon Webb and centre-forward Robbie Doyle.

Shels lead Bohs by two points so a win for them would be very significant with only eight series of matches to go to the end of the competition.

Manager Pat Fenlon refused to regard it as a title decider, however, and said: "We've still got to play eight games, including matches against St Pats and another against Bohs so I wouldn't say the winners are guaranteed to win the title."

Shels had to come from behind to secure a 2-2 draw, through a late goal from Ger McCarthy, when the teams met at Tolka earlier this season. Bohs won a thriller between the two at Dalymount with a goal from Ken Oman.

St Patrick's Athletic go into their game against Derry City at the Brandywell (7.30 pm) knowing they will go above Cork into third position if they win the two games they have in hand over the Munster side.

Derry are stuck firmly in the relegation zone but they will be encouraged by the news from Inchicore which suggests St Pats will be without five of their regular first-team players because of injuries.

Derry have shown something of a revival under new manager Gavin Dykes.

After a battling draw away to fellow-strugglers Drogheda United, they will be looking for more encouragement here before facing another candidate for relegation, UCD, on Friday.

Waterford welcome back team captain John Frost after a one-match ban for the visit of bottom club UCD to the RSC tonight (7.30 pm).

Pat Holden will continue in goal for Waterford as regular Dan Connor completes a two-match ban.

The Blues will also have to find a replacement for midfielder Mark Clifford who was sent off in the defeat by St Pats last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Cork City's leading goalscorer, John O'Flynn, bids to return from injury at Turner's Cross tonight (7.45 pm) against FAI Cup winners Longford Town.

O'Flynn, who has missed nine City matches in the Eircom League because of a knee injury, is "raring to go" according to manager Pat Dolan but he will not be risked from the start of the match.

Cork face two matches over the next four days that could be critical to their prospects of qualifying for Europe next season they play Shamrock Rovers on Friday and a fit O'Flynn would certainly boost their challenge.