Shels look to turn screw on rivals

Eircom Premier League leaders Shelbourne will look to turn the screw on their rivals tonight when they travel to United Park to play Drogheda United (7.45pm).

Victory will see Pat Fenlon’s side open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table and in the continued absence of leading scorer Jason Byrne, Gerard Rowe will remain in attack. Rowe scored on Friday night in the 2-0 win at Longford.

Also out for Shels are defensive trio Kevin Doherty, Jamie Harris and Tony McCarthy. Doherty played only 33 minutes of the victory over Longford before he was replaced with Alan McDermott while both Harris and McCarthy were absentees at Flancare Park.

Drogheda, who will be playing their fourth game in 11 days tonight, look set to bring in some fresher legs from essentially the same squad which snatched a draw against bottom club Dublin City on Friday night.

Mark Quinless did not play that game due to illness while Alan Reilly suffered a breakdown from his knee during the warm-up.

In tonight’s two eircom League Cup quarter-finals, the only Premier Division side in action is Cork City who travel to Limerick. The other tie sees Sligo Rovers playing host to Finn Harps.