Derry know time is short

They may have missed out on the real thing in May as a result of Tuesday's defeat by Cork, but Derry manager Felix Healy is convinced his team face a whole series of cup finals, starting this evening in Inchicore, as they look to salvage something from a season that has gone badly off the rails.

Now Healy knows the club's only route to a place in European competition next season is by finishing at least fourth in the league, while in order to gain a place in the draw for the qualifying round of the UEFA Cup they will have to end up at least one place higher than that.

"The goals against Cork pretty much summed up our season, a centre-half mis-hits a shot and it goes in off the post and one of our lads turns the ball in to his own net. But Inchicore isn't a bad place to go to try to lift ourselves," he said. "It's a big game, there'll be a good crowd there and nobody will be under any illusions about how little room we have left for error if we are to get anything out of the season."

Gary Beckett may figure in Healy's plans if a lighter cast on the lower part of his arm proves sufficiently flexible to allow him to play, while recently recruited Robert Bell is sure to be handed a role in midfield.

St Patrick's Athletic, meanwhile, already without Paul Osam, may have to draft in either Mick Moody or Stephen McGuinness for Colin Hawkins who Pat Dolan rates as "very, very doubtful" for the game.

Robbie Devereux is back in the reckoning after missing the trip to Cobh with a minor injury, while Thomas Morgan may start after losing out in Dolan's tactical shake up for the cup game.

Matt Britton has been named as the Opel Soccer Writers player of the month for January. The Shamrock Rovers man turned in a series of fine performances during the month.

St Patrick's Athletic's Colin Hawkins took supporters' organisation National League United's version of the award.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Derry 1 St Patrick's 1, St Patrick's 1 Derry 1, Derry 2 St Patrick's 0; 97/98: St Patrick's 0 Derry 0, Derry 1 St Patrick's 1.

Recent league form: St Patrick's: DLDWD; Derry: LLWDL.

Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Gilzean (eight), Molloy (seven); Derry: Keddy and Hargan (five apiece).

Betting: Home: 8 to 11, Draw: 9 to 4, Away: 100 to 30. Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).