Crucial Dublin derby at Tolka

AS Derry City chuckle away heartily, Shelbourne and Bohemians take their title ambitions down to the wire at Tolka Park this evening. The stakes could hardly be higher, hence Damien Richardson's assertion that the game is akin to "Russian Roulette."

"We could kill each other off," admits the Shelbourne manager, "as a draw would probably suit Derry." Indeed that would enable Derry to pull nine points clear of Bohemians (and 12 of Shelbourne) by overcoming Home Farm tomorrow.

Furthermore, Richardson concedes that defeat could possibly extinguish their league hopes. "We could kill Bohs off and by the same token they could conceivably kill us off. That's what gives the game an element of a shoot-out to it, and an added dimension to a Dublin derby."

Roll up, roll up then, for in light of their recent form at the venue, Richardson goes so far as to claim that "Tolka Park is the entertainment capital of the National League. If you look back over our last half dozen games at the ground it's difficult to dispute that statement."

The last six competitive games involving Shelbourne at Tolka read 3-3, 4-2, 1-0, 2-0, 4-2 and, of course, 4-6. Ironically, the two relative duds were when relegation bound Bray and Home Farm came calling with the defensive shutters up. Throw in the Sheffield Wednesday friendly, 4-2, and last Tuesday's Leinster Senior Cup semi-final win over UCD, 3-2, and it is clear that Shelbourne are the great entertainers of the domestic game.

With Pascal Vaudequin and Mark Rutherford (from the flanks) and Tony Sheridan (from practically anywhere) supplying the armoury, Stephen Geoghegan and Pat Morley have drawn only two blanks in the 16 games they have partnered each other up front (scoring 29 goals between them). Shelbourne are always a threat going forward.