Tonight
Premier Division
Derry City v Finn Harps (7.30)
Inconceivable at the start of the season, the remarkable scenario of a north-west derby with a relegation play-off place at stake for both sides visits Brandywell tonight.
And the way it's shaping up either one of these two, and champions Derry are the worse off at the moment, look like having to meet Limerick to stay in the top flight.
"Of the three of us in this predicament, I don't think it will be UCD who will finish third from bottom," said Finn Harps manager Charlie McGeever. "They're simply playing too well at the moment."
Derry's manager, Felix Healy, was scarcely more optimistic. "If we lose this match, we're heading for a play-off. There's no two ways about it," he said.
"The defeats of UCD and Harps during the week has given us a better chance, but whoever of the three loses this weekend the most pressure will be on them going into the last game," added Healy.
Derry are without their inspirational striker Liam Coyle who is unfit after retiring with a hamstring strain after 23 minutes of last week's defeat at Kilkenny.
Harps hope to have James Mulligan back available again after he missed the midweek defeat to Cork due to flu. Pascal Vaudequin, who's struggled with a hamstring strain for over a month, is definitely out.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Finn Harps 0 Derry City 1, Derry City 3 Finn Harps 0, Finn Harps 0 Derry City 1. 1997/98: Derry City 1 Finn Harps 0, Finn Harps 1 Derry City 0.
Current League form: Derry City: DWLDL; Finn Harps: DLDLL.
Leading league scorers: Derry City: Hargan (five); Finn Harps: Speak (nine).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)
Betting: 8-13 Home/4-1 Away/9-4 Draw.
Tomorrow
Premier Division
Cork City v Bohemians (2.00)
Cork bounced back from two potentially damaging defeats to put themselves back in the hunt for a European place with Wednesday's excellent win at Finn Harps moving them to within two points of third-placed Shamrock Rovers.
"We were bitterly disappointed after the Sligo defeat, so the win on Wednesday has given us the boost we needed to challenge again," said Cork manager, Dave Barry. "We've been in the top three or four for most of the season and we can't let it slip now."
Cork will need to take something from this game and then play Shamrock Rovers for what should be a European decider next week.
Patsy Freyne is a doubt for Barry as he's on antibiotics for an infection while he's still without knee injury victims, Colin O'Brien and Mark Herrick.
Bohemians' really need to win their two remaining games to have any hope. Though manager, Turlough O'Connor, is just pleased to still be involved after the difficult season they've had with injuries.
"It's an eliminator for Europe and we have an outside chance," said O'Connor. "It's smashing to still have something to play for at this stage of the season after what we've been through."
Maurice O'Driscoll and Derek Swan return from suspensions but leading scorer, Graham Lawlor (knee), and Tommy Byrne (thigh) are both doubtful.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Bohemians 1 Cork City 0, Cork City 0 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Cork City 0. 1997/98: Cork City 1 Bohemians 1, Bohemians 4 Cork City 2.
Current league form: Cork City: WDDLL; Bohemians: WLWWL.
Leading league scorers: Cork City: O'Brien (seven); Bohemians: Lawlor (11).
Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).
Betting: 10-11 Home/9-4 Away/5-2 Draw.
St Patrick's ATH v Dundalk (3.15)
"Our performance last week had a lot of skill, a lot of passion, a lot of guts and was an absolutely massive win for us," said St Patrick's ebullient manager, Pat Dolan, of his side's fortunate win over Shamrock Rovers last week.
"We've achieved our pre-season target of qualifying for Europe. We've achieved a little bit more as well. There's only two teams that can win the league. It's now deuce with Shelbourne to serve, if you like.
"It's very difficult when circumstances dictate that you have to go to Finn Harps and win and you have to go to Shamrock Rovers and win. It takes players of character, substance and great ability to come through those tests. We're still there and will be until the end."
And so will Dundalk, though as an unwitting bit player, as they meet the top two in their final games.
"Dundalk have always had a say in league titles and anybody who thinks that they are going to be anything but extremely difficult to beat is fooling themselves," added Dolan.
St Patrick's should be unchanged from the side that won at Tolka Park last Sunday. Paul Campbell is still suspended while Packie Lynch is out for the season with knee ligament damage so Mick Moody will continue.
Dundalk's Noel Melvin is suspended for the rest of the season while Iain Ferguson is also gone with a knee injury.
Powerhouse striker, Peter Withnell, is hoping to have recovered from his niggling knee problem to play against Shelbourne next week, but he's very doubtful for tomorrow's game.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Dundalk 1 St Patrick's Athletic 0, St Patrick's Athletic 2 Dundlak 2, Dundalk 2 St Patrick's Athletic 2. 1997/98: St Patrick's Athletic 1 Dundalk 0, Dundalk 0 St Patrick's Athletic 0.
Current league form: St Patrick's Athletic: WDLWW; Dundalk: LWWDL.
Leading league scorers: St Patrick's Athletic: Gilzean (11); Dundalk: Byrne (nine).
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Betting: 1-3 Home/7-1 Away/3-1 Draw.
UCD v Sligo Rovers (3.15)
UCD must lift themselves again after Tuesday's defeat to Shelbourne in what will surely be remembered as the match of the season.
Few would disagree that the gallant Students deserved something from the game, and no-one would suggest they deserved to lose the way they did.
"We know the players have the ability to get us out of this situation and we simply have to go out and perform again," said UCD coach, Noel King.
UCD are still nursing several knocks, some of which players carried into Tuesday's game, but hope to have everyone available for their next attempt at avoiding the play-off tomorrow.
Sligo Rovers' 4-1 defeat of Cork City last weekend saw them safe, but manager, Nicky Reid, is conscious of finishing as high as possible in the table.
"The game means far more to UCD, but we're professional footballers and we owe it to the club and our fans to try to win the match, which is what we will try to do," said Reid.
Sligo continue without Neil Ogden and have doubts over Conor O'Grady (calf), Marcus Hallows and leading scorer, Padraig Moran who both have hamstring strains.
Last two seasons: 1996/97: Sligo Rovers 2 UCD 1, UCD 1 Sligo Rovers 1, Sligo Rovers 2 UCD 0. 1997/98: UCD 1 Sligo Rovers 1, Sligo Rovers 2 UCD 1.
Current league form: UCD: DLWWL; Sligo Rovers: DDDLW.
Leading league scorers: UCD: Sherlock (nine); Sligo Rovers: Moran (eight).
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
Betting: 7-4 Home/5-4 Away/9-4 Draw.
First Division
The First Division ends a week earlier than the Premier with everything already settled. Waterford United are champions and are joined in next season's Premier Division by Bray Wanderers who return at the first attempt following their relegation at the end of last season. Limerick FC, who have finished third, await either Derry City, UCD or Finn Harps in the two legged play-off.
Limerick manager, Dave Connell, should rest several of his key players, who have been carrying knocks over the last few games, for their final league game away at Home Farm/Everton tonight. He'll doubtless then take in UCD's game with Sligo tomorrow having already run the rule over Derry City in their defeat to Kilkenny last week.
