Optimistic Hoops face Shels in Dublin derby

SHAMROCK ROVERS manager Liam Buckley sees tonight’s Dublin derby with Shelbourne as marking the end of the first phase of the season, rather than a chance to reel in the early pace-setters.

The third-placed Hoops travel to Tolka Park tonight for a 7.45pm kick-off, looking to close a three-point gap on the leaders.

But Buckley said: "It's early days yet to be looking at the league table. We've only just started the season and there's a long way to go yet.

"Nevertheless, we've had a reasonable start and if we go there and turn them over which obviously we're looking to do then it will make it a very good start to the season, as we'd be joint top after the first nine games.

"Shels are a professional outfit and a good side, though; a footballing side like us, and we both like to pass the ball around. It augurs well for a good game of football."

Buckley is not able to recall striker Trevor Molloy, whose ankle injury is still a week away from recovery. But fellow frontman Liam Kelly is set to return after overcoming a thigh strain, and midfielder Jason Colwell is back from a one-match suspension.

Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon will have to wait until just before kick-off to name his starting line-up.

Shels centre-half Kevin Doherty and wide players Richie Baker and Wes Hoolahan all picked up injuries in the draw with Cork City at Turners Cross last Friday, and all three are rated as doubtful starters.

James Gannon and Jim Crawford are both suspended tonight, serving one-match bans.

Of the injured trio, Fenlon said: "We'll be giving the three lads late fitness tests before I can pick my side but with suspensions our options have narrowed considerably.

"With Rovers having done so well in their big win over Derry they are sure to come out and play a bit of football. Dublin derbies are always tight and tense affairs. Our supporters often class the Shels and Bohs derbies as the big ones, but to me Rovers is always the big one.

"This is old rivalry. Although we will be without some key players, it will give some fringe players a chance to impress and claim a place on the team."

Stuart Byrne has a chance of making the bench, having made good progress in his recovery from injury, but while Dessie Baker has returned from his loan at UCD, he is not eligible to play for Shels until next week.

Tonight sees a second capital clash as Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic meet at Richmond Park at 7.45pm.

Bohs will have striker Glen Crowe leading the line once again and no doubt he'll have a spring in his step, having retained his place in the Republic of Ireland squad for next month's Euro 2004 qualifiers against Albania and Georgia.

But the defending champions will be missing new signing Thomas Heary. The former Ireland U21 international defender, who signed last week from Huddersfield Town on a free transfer, is serving a suspension after his dismissal in his last Nationwide League game for the Terriers.

St Pat's Stephen Quigley faces a fitness assessment, having received a heavy blow to his head during last weekend's draw at UCD. That same game saw defender Ryan Casey suffer a recurrence of the foot injury he sustained on League Cup duty against Shels, ruling him out for two weeks, while midfielder Davy Byrne faces a month out with an ankle injury.