derry to pull out of cup final?

**mouldymurphy** · 05/03/2002, 3:45 PM

from www.eircomleague.net
Derry City manager Kevin Mahon has claimed that the club is willing to forfeit the upcoming eircom League Cup because it is a two-legged affair.
In the remainder of this month alone, Derry have to play five Premier Division games, at least one game in the FAI Cup - as well as their two-legged League Cup final against Limerick.

Mahon was keen that the Limerick game be played on one day only but Merrion Square has stuck to its original plan. The first leg will take place on Monday, March 18th at Jackman Park, with the second leg scheduled for the following Monday.

"We've been told that the League game against St Pat's must go ahead next Tuesday," an irate Mahon told Paul Lennon of The Star.

"But if we are asked to travel to Richmond Park 48 hours after our Cup semi-final against Bohemians then it's tantamount to handing the three point to Pat's."

Meanwhile, the City manager is confident that his side can upset Bohs at Dalymount Park on Sunday. Derry knocked the Gypsies out of the League Cup at the Phibsborough venue last month but few expect the same result on Sunday.

"We'll travel without fear or pressure. No one expects anything of us," said Mahon, who are likely to be at full-strength with the exception of Pádraig Moran (groin).

**Pablo** · 05/03/2002, 3:56 PM

they are being a bit stretched to be fair to them....i wonder would a club from the pale get the same treatment....

**mouldymurphy** · 06/03/2002, 12:20 PM

Derry City has reached a reasonable compromise with eircom League officials over the scheduling of the first-leg of the League Cup final.

Kevin Mahon and his players appeared to be stuck in an impossible spiral of away games – five on the trot – with the Jackman Park League first-leg squashed between crucial Cup and League fixtures.

Now, officials have agreed that the League Cup will be played at the end of the season, allowing Derry to move ahead with efforts to clear their fixture back-log.

That means that the Candy-Stripes can now press ahead with a back game at Belfield Park next Tuesday night.