UEFA CUP QUALIFYING ROUND: Stuart Byrne and Wes Hoolahan are set to return to the Shelbourne starting line-up this evening as the Dublin club, in common with Derry City, chase a place in tomorrow's draw for the first round proper of the UEFA Cup.
Byrne was injured in the away leg of the Dublin side's tie with Olimpija Ljubljana but has made sufficient progress in training to figure in Pat Fenlon's calculations. By yesterday afternoon it appeared the player would be handed a pivotal role in midfield with either Thomas Morgan or Jim Crawford making way.
Up front Hoolahan looks set to be handed the task of partnering Jason Byrne as the home side seek to overcome the single goal deficit from the opening game. The young winger was in sparkling form for the Irish under-21s last week in Poland where he scored one of the Republic's five goals but his return journey took so long Fenlon opted to start last week's FAI Cup tie against Sligo with him on the bench.
Fenlon was cautiously optimistic regarding his team's prospects yesterday with the Shelbourne boss making it clear he feels they are in with a strong chance of turning the tie around.
"We've have to be more patient than we normally are," he said. "In the past we've been too cavalier and paid the price by going out to early goals."
He added that having seen the Slovenians in action on a couple of occasions and received other reports about them he is well aware of what his players will be up against. At the time of the first leg he was critical of his opposite number, Tomas Kavcic, after the Olimpija coach apparently suggested he had not done much research on the Irish team because they were from a part-time league.
Tickets for the game, priced €15 for adults and €7 for children will be available outside Tolka Park this evening.
Dermot Keely, meanwhile, could bring Billy Clery back into the centre of the Derry City defence for his team's game with Apoel of Nicosia. The former Galway United player has not played for almost two months because of injury but Keely is set to gamble on his fitness as he seeks to find a defensive combination capable of improving the side's record at the back.
Again, the visiting team come with a single-goal lead to defend, although in City's case Gary Beckett's away goal means a 1-0 win will be enough to guarantee the Irish club's presence in tomorrow's morning's potentially lucrative first-round draw.
Keely has recruited a number of players including under-21 Northern Ireland international Gordon Simms, former Portsmouth player Lee Molyneaux and Paul Aldridge, the son of former international John, since arriving at the Brandywell but none are eligible for this game. Former Shelbourne goalkeeper Alan Gough is available again after completing a European suspension and deciding against a move to Linfield.
"We'll be praying for a turn in the weather because the heat will suit them," says Keely, "but we'll be giving it a right go and we feel we're in with a good shout."
