Intertoto Cup race reaching boiling point - 13 November 2003
The race for the Intertoto Cup spot is reaching boiling point with Cork City, St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Waterford United all going into Friday's games with a chance of earning third spot and that European place.
Cork City are currently in the hot seat and they will be hoping to hang onto the spot with a victory over struggling Derry City at Turner's Cross (Kick off 7:45).
Cork's form has dipped dramatically and they are now without a win in five games and manager Pat Dolan has been forced to re-jig his team with Nigerian midfielder Michael Nwankwo expected to come into the midfield in place of the suspended Colin T O'Brien.
Kevin Murray serves the second of his two-game ban while Liam Kearney (stomach) and Billy Woods (groin) are both expected to recover from their slight strains. The match will be Kearney's and Kevin Doyle's last game in a Cork shirt this season as both are due to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad for the World Youth Championships on Sunday.
Derry travel to Cork without four first choice players; Liam Coyle (calf), Peter Hutton (ankle ligaments), Sean Friars (cartilage damage) and Billy Clery (work commitments) meaning Under 21 duo Gareth Mullan and Rory McDaid are added to the squad.
Manager Gavin Dykes faces the difficult task of lifting Derry out of the relegation mire over the next four games and with UCD on a charge behind them, there is a huge danger that the Candystripes could slip to the bottom of the table.
But Dykes insists that he is unconcerned about UCD because Derry can remain ahead of them if they win their own games. "It's a big game but they are all big games right now. We know what we've to do and we'll only worry about our games," he said.
Longford Town v St Patrick's Athletic
At Flancare Park, St Patrick's Athletic will be hoping to stay in contention for an Intertoto Cup spot with a revenge victory over FAI Carlsberg Cup winners Longford Town (Kick off 8:00).
Trailing Cork by five points, Pat's can climb above them if they win their games in hand, and they travel to Longford full of confidence after coming back from 2-0 down to draw with Drogheda United 2-2.
"It was disappointing to lose the Cup final and we now have a chance to get them back but we have to keep our eye on the ball because we can get third spot which will make it a very good season. To get to two Cup finals winning one and then qualifying for Europe through the League will be very successful," said manager Eamonn Collins.
But with Davy Byrne (knee), Paul Rose (flu) and Keith Fahey (flu) all ruled out and Paul Osam doubtful with a knee injury, Collins will forced to field a totally revamped side for the game.
Longford manager Alan Mathews will be without the suspended Graham Gartland, but he is hoping to have Sean Prunty (back) and Shane Barrett (dead leg) available.
Shamrock Rovers v Waterford United
Just behind, Cork and Pat's, Shamrock Rovers and Waterford United will be hoping to take advantage of any slip ups in the European race when they come head-to-head at Tolka Park (Kick off 7:45).
Both teams admit that they really need to win all of their remaining games to stand any chance of taking third place, though neither will give up until it is mathematically impossible.
"There still could be a lot of surprises. There will be a lot of ties between the top sides and we can take advantage," said Waterford's Jimmy McGeough who will select an unchanged side after Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Cork City.
Shamrock Rovers, meanwhile, will be without goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd (calf), Stephen McGuinness (foot), Samir Boughanem (ribs) while Trevor Croly (ankle), Glen Fitzpatrick (calf) and Pat Deans (flu) are doubtful for the game.
Under 21 goalkeeper Shane Davoran will come in for O'Dowd while Alan Reynolds will play into the midfield.
UCD v Drogheda United
Bottom side UCD take on fellow strugglers Drogheda United at Belfield Park with manager Pete Mahon insisting that their best hope of avoiding relegation is through the relegation play-offs (Kick off 7:45).
With just three games remaining, Mahon believes that UCD will not haul back the seven-point gap on Drogheda but he does believe that they can overtake Derry City – just two points ahead of them - and avoid automatic relegation.
"I think that Drogheda will look for a draw which means we can't catch them but we need to win to keep the pressure on Derry," said Mahon who has a full strength side to choose from.
Drogheda manager Paul Doolin welcomes back Barry Molloy into the side after suspension though, he expects to field largely the same side as which drew 2-2 with St Patrick's Athletic on Tuesday.
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