DROGHEDA UNITED return to league action tomorrow night and after their heroic near miss in Kiev their aim against St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park will be to kick-start their attempt to nail down a place in European competition for next season.

Paul Doolin's men are a good way off third place at present and on the face of it their best shot at a place in Europe looks to be the FAI Cup although they must survive a visit to league leaders Bohemians in that competition next Friday night if they are to maintain their hopes of a place in the final.

For the moment, though, Doolin reckons they must get their heads down, string together a few league wins and then, "see what happens", and Inchicore tomorrow night will represent an early test of their character.

"There's a mental as well as physical tiredness to get over after you've played a side like Dynamo Kiev," says Graham Gartland, "because it's such a step up in quality. But we've had three days to recover so we can't use that as an excuse. We have to go there and show the same sort of qualities we showed on Wednesday, the ones that won us the league last year."

United will again be without first-choice goalkeeper Dan Connor while their hosts have Derek O'Brien and Dave Rogers suspended. Gary O'Neill and Dave Partridge will miss out again because of groin and wrist injuries respectively but former Drogheda man Jason Gavin is back from suspension and is likely to start.

"Drogheda did well in Europe during the week and they'll be coming back on a high, we're aware of that," says Johnny McDonnell. "But we know we're okay and we know what we're capable of so we'll look forward to the game on Sunday."

Derry City, meanwhile, travel for this evening's game at Cobh without Ciarán Martyn (ankle) or Barry Molloy (knee) while Peter Hutton and Mark McChrystal (both groin) are both also likely to miss out.