Setanta Cup preview and news: With Cork City and Drogheda United already assured of their semi-final places, the attention turns to tonight as Linfield travel to Derry for their first competitive game at the Brandywell in three and a half decades and Shelbourne travel to the Oval to face Glentoran in search of their fourth win over them since last July.
Neither of the Eircom League clubs have been consistent recently, but both will still view places in the last four as achievable targets even if Linfield, as current group leaders, look best-placed to progress. With the Irish League title safely in the bag, David Jeffrey rested half of his first-choice players on Saturday and the likes of Glenn Ferguson, Peter Thompson, Jim Ervin and Noel Bailie should all return tonight. Paul McAreavey is ruled out by suspension following his sending off at Tolka last week.
City are also missing a first-team regular with Seán Hargan, their top scorer in the competition, ruled out as a result of his sending off against Glentoran. Killian Brennan is struggling slightly with a groin strain and will undergo a late fitness test, but Stephen Kenny has everyone else bar long-term absentee Gareth McGlynn available for selection.
"Friday's win over Sligo was a good performance, I was pleased, but to be fair we'll have to step it up again this evening if we're going to beat Linfield," says Kenny. "We need to get results from both of our remaining games if we're going to go through and with this one being at home you'd say that it's one that we have to look to win even if they are unbeaten in nearly 50 games."
Kevin McHugh is added to the squad after serving the second half of a two-match eircom League suspension over the weekend but the former Finn Harps striker looks set to start on the bench as Kenny keeps faith with Gary Beckett and Mark Farren up front.
Fenlon concedes that the past few weeks have been frustrating at times: "The important thing is that it's still in our own hands. Two wins and we're in the semi-finals." Once again the Shelbourne boss is obliged to make changes and his difficulties are particularly acute at the back with Owen Heary and Colin Hawkins both suspended while Jamie Harris and Dave Rogers are both doubtful due to injury. Seán Dillon is expected to deputise at right back again while Stuart Byrne may well end up dropping back into central defence. New Glentoran manager Paul Millar retains hopes of a semi-final spot especially after their recent success over Derry.
In the other group games, a win by two or more goals for Drogheda over Cork at United Park would mean a home draw in the semi-finals. City, though, go into the game with seven wins and one draw from eight competitive outings so far this season. In the group's other game, between Portadown and Dungannon Swifts, there will only be pride at stake.
In the Eircom League, meanwhile, both Alan Matthews and Seán Connor should have full squads to choose from as Sligo Rovers travel to Longford for a refixed Premier Division tie.
Ireland's under-17s kick off their bid for a place in the summer's European Championship finals tonight at Dalymount Park where they will be without Tottenham striker Terry Dixon for their opening game of a four-team mini-tournament against Israel.
The women's national team, meanwhile, lost their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Biel 2-0 on Saturday.
Tonight'sFixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
SETANTA CUP - Group One: Drogheda Utd v Cork; Portadown v Dungannon Swifts. Group Two: Derry City v Linfield (live on Setanta Sports); Glentoran v Shelbourne.
NATIONAL LEAGUE - Premier Division: Longford Town v Sligo Rovers. First Division: Limerick FC v Kildare County (7.30).
