Firrst Division could be decided tonight
Dublin City hoping to claim title - 20 November 2003
Dublin City can win the eircom First Division, guaranteeing promotion, if they beat Athlone Town on Friday night and if Bray Wanderers fail to beat Cobh Ramblers while elsewhere, Finn Harps will keep up the chase when they face Kilkenny City.
Dublin's clash with Athlone at Mel's Park kicks off at 7:45 as does Bray's home game against Cobh Ramblers while Finn Harps kick off against Kilkenny at 8:00.
The permutations of the eircom First Division title race are explained at the bottom of the page.
Dublin City have never been out of the top four all season despite manager John Gill protesting that they were weakest of the promotion challengers.
But now standing on the threshold of promotion, Gill is continuing to talk down their chances insisting that the title will not be decided until next week's last day clash between the Vikings and Bray at Whitehall.
"I know we could win it on Friday but I don't think it will happen. I would love if it did happen, but I think that will go down to the last day of the season," he said.
Gill also travels to Athlone without the suspended Wes Byrne meaning Robert Clarke is likely to slot in at left back with either Gavin Doyle or Barry Burke taking Clarke's midfield slot.
Athlone go into the game as one of the form teams in the League and are determined to finish the season strongly.
Since August, Town have lost just three of their 14 games and are fourth in the form table which has pleased manager Jimmy Greene as his side continue to make progress.
"It's a huge game for Dublin City but we want to keep our run going and win our final two games. We've had a very good second half of the season and in our last 14 games; we've won 7, drawn 4 and lost 3. By our calculations, if the League started in August, we'd be fourth which shows the improvement we've made and bodes well for the future," he said.
However, Athlone go into the clash without Michael Collins (back) and Alan Kelly (knee) while Des Hope (thigh) and Stuart Holt (hamstring) are rated doubtful. But back in contention are Shane Jackson, Stephen Gavin and Stephen Kelly.
Bray Wanderers v Cobh Ramblers
Bray Wanderers take on Cobh Ramblers knowing that they almost certainly need a victory to keep alive their automatic promotion hopes (Kick off 7:45).
Even if Dublin City fail to beat Athlone Town, Bray would leave themselves with too big a gap to close should they fail to win though manager Pat Devlin is looking at the positives rather than the negatives of the situation.
"We've got two games to go and if we win both, we will win the League, it's as simple as that," he said.
Top scorer Eamon Zayed has joined up with the Republic of Ireland Under 20s and will miss the final two games of the season meaning that either John Flood or Kieran 'Tarzan' O'Brien will partner Stephen Fox in attack.
Cobh will be without Dave Warren (work commitments) and Darren Murphy (knee) and will be hoping to take some points off Bray – the only side that Cobh have taken no points from this season.
"We'll have to rectify that," said manager Dave Hill. "We were unlucky in the first game, very unlucky in the second game and it is just a case of taking our chances. But we're due some good luck against them and hopefully that's on Friday."
Finn Harps v Kilkenny City
Finn Harps still have an outside chance of taking the automatic promotion spot, but victory in their final two games of the season is a must starting against Kilkenny City on Friday night (Kick off 8:00).
Harps are relying on Dublin City picking up no more than one point from their last two games and Bray picking up less than four to claim top spot, but manager Noel King has reminded his players that it can't be done unless victory over Kilkenny is assured.
"We can do it if results go our way, but we need to beat Kilkenny," he said.
He will be without Donal O'Brien though Under 21 midfielder Sean McGowan is likely to deputise.
Kilkenny will travel to Donegal with an under strength side as David O'Neill, Craig Maher and Lee Quilty miss out because of work commitments and Jimmy Shanahan is ruled out with a broken foot.
David Dunphy and Anthony Tobin have also left the club and returned to Junior football in Limerick, meaning the majority of the squad will be Under 21 players.
"Most of the players will be going up there with have some experience having played against Dundalk, Sligo and Athlone, but the last game Kilkenny were there was a 6-0 defeat and we don't want that again," said manager Ger Bickerstaffe.
"I came in to steady the ship and maybe assess the squad but results haven't been good all season so it's difficult to turn things around quickly. We've tightened up defensively, but the team is still far too inexperienced."
Promotion Permutations
At this stage, Finn Harps must win their remaining two games against Kilkenny City and Cobh Ramblers to have any chance of winning the league while, it looks like the title will probably come down to the November 29 clash between Dublin City and Bray Wanderers.
As it stands:
1. Dublin City Points 63, Goal Difference +17
2. Bray Wanderers Pts 60, GD +22
3. Finn Harps Pts 58, GD +27
Dublin City beat Athlone, Bray Wanderers beat Cobh Ramblers, Finn Harps beat Kilkenny City
The title is between Dublin City and Bray Wanderers with Bray needing to beat Dublin City to claim the title.
Dublin City beat Athlone, Bray Wanderers draw with Cobh Ramblers, Finn Harps beat Kilkenny City
Dublin City will claim the title unless they lose the final game of the season against Bray Wanderers and Finn Harps beat Cobh Ramblers. Bray can't win the title.
Dublin City beat Athlone, Bray Wanderers and Finn Harps both fail to win
The title is Dublin City's.
Dublin City draw with Athlone, Bray Wanderers and Finn Harps both win
Bray go within one point of Dublin City ahead of next week's clash between the two, Finn Harps cannot top the table because whoever picks up the points between Bray and Dublin would beat them.
Dublin City draw with Athlone, Bray Wanderers draw with Cobh Ramblers and Finn Harps beat Kilkenny City
A three-way contest going into the final day. Dublin would win the title if they avoid defeat against Bray while a win for Bray would see them join Dublin but climb above them on goal difference. However, a Finn Harps victory in Cobh would see them join both sides on 64 points and, at present, they have a better goal difference.
Dublin City draw with Athlone, Bray Wanderers draw and Finn Harps fail to beat Kilkenny City
It's between Dublin and Bray with Bray needing to win at Whitehall to claim the title while a draw would be enough for Dublin.
Dublin City draw with Athlone, Bray and Finn Harps both lose
Dublin City win the title
Dublin City lose to Athlone, Bray Wanderers and Finn Harps both win
It's a three-way contest. Finn Harps would need to beat Cobh to have a chance of winning the League, but they would also require the Dublin v Bray game to end in a draw. Otherwise, the winner between Dublin and Bray would claim the title.
Dublin City lose to Athlone, Bray Wanderers lose or draw and Finn Harps fail to win
The title is between Dublin and Bray with Dublin only needing a draw on the final day to claim the title.
from FAI website
