League at last wins live TV debut

IT says everything about both the domestic game's administration and the interest in it from Montrose and its environs that it's taken until 1997 for a league game to be televised live.

Only in Ireland? Never mind, we shouldn't bicker. As Felix Healy says of today's eagerly-awaited meeting between the country's two best sides: "It should be interesting."

Tim O'Connor, RTE's Head of Sport, has always maintained that there is a greater audience out there for Irish club football than, say, the comparatively well-televised Irish club rugby.

Sod's law therefore decrees that when the opportunity finally arises, this afternoon's pivotal title game will be a scoreless bore? it shouldn't do, really.

These two are a cut above the rest. Both can play skillfully and at a quick tempo. Shelbourne manager Damien Richardson, always looking at the broader picture, sounds the clarion call for both sides: "This is an opportunity that has to be grasped.

"Both teams have to utilise the opportunity as a flagship for the National League. The immediacy of the championship means we have to win, I admit, but in a matter of time it will be just a statistic."

Recalling other lost opportunities, such as the 30,000 plus that attended Shamrock Rovers' RDS bow against St Patrick's and several Cup finals, Richardson admits: "I know people will say that's corny and that I'm playing psychological games, but I firmly believe this is a great chance to demonstrate the qualities that are inherent in both sides."

A full house would help. Alas, today's coverage may well hit the Tolka Park attendance, especially as Saturday afternoon is neither the opportune nor traditional time for National League games.

Another concern is the normally renowned Tolka Park pitch, which has taken a bit of a buffeting this season, though it has been well watered. On top of which, the stakes are huge.

A draw will give Derry the comfort of requiring just six points from their final four games - the next three of which are at home. A win would all but copperfasten a first title since 1988-89.

Shelbourne have to win to reduce the lead to four points. Though their next three games are away, Shelbourne's run-in against the bottom four looks easier. Knowing this, Shelbourne will give it an almighty go.

If Shelbourne are rewarded for a bright start with an early goal, then we could be in for a classic, all the more so as this Cup final dress rehearsal is being handled by one of the game's two best referees, John McDermott. If he can, he'll let it flow.

Were Derry to adopt the direct, safety first, long-ball game from the back which ensured stalemate for 86 minutes at UCD a fortnight ago, until Peter Hutton's priceless winner, then a Shelbourne goal would have to bring the best out of them.

Derry are well capable of it too; the sheer power and pace of their game was instrumental in coming from behind against Bohemians, Shelbourne (from 2-0 down here in October), Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's.

Mind you, Derry haven't been pushed for a while; they've won their last four away games without conceding a goal, and have posted six 1-0 away wins since Christmas.

Another feature of their imperious march toward the title has been the manner in which they have coped with the increasing pressures, of weekly, big games.

"From the first match every match seems to have been a big match," says Felix Healy almost, wearily, though his man-management skills deserve credit for deflecting the pressure away from his relatively young rebuilt side.

"We have got better as the season has progressed, says Healy, who will bring his team down to Dublin this evening. "We'll have a little chat, but nothing too serious. Then we'll let Ryan Coyle tell a few of his jokes."

As he says, this will be interesting. For devotees it will be anything but dull, whatever about the wider audience.