Shels will be dying to put one over on us, says Richardson
Shelbourne, seven points behind Cork with two games remaining, can't now make it three in-a-row, but they can still have a huge say in the outcome at the top when they host the Leesiders at Tolka Park tonight.
City boss Damien Richardson, who was previously in charge at the Dublin club, expects no favours (8pm, Setanta Sports). "Shels will definitely be up for it because they will have been hurt by our ascendancy this season," he says. "I know them at Tolka Park and they will take that personally. And then there's the small matter that they'll want Derry to win the league because with that scenario (and we win the FAI Cup) it will get Shels into the UEFA Cup. However if we win it would get Drogheda into the UEFA Cup.
"They are on the crest of a magnificent run of results - they certainly have been the form team over the last couple of months. But personally that's when I like to meet teams, because the law of averages suggests that a great run has to stop somewhere."
While the sold-out signs were going up at Turner's Cross as early as yesterday for next Friday's potential title shoot-out against Derry, there is a possibility that the whole game could be up by tomorrow night. Because should Cork win tonight and Derry lose against St Pat's at the Brandywell tomorrow, the title would belong to the Leesiders.
However, with two games still to go, Richardson refuses to even contemplate that prospect.
"All we've been doing is training at evening time so that our concentration is at its utmost for this particular game. I'm doing everything I possibly can to ensure our concentration is total for this game. Because if it isn't, there's a real danger of losing against Shelbourne."
There is an outside possibility that John O'Flynn may see action tonight, although Richardson may not risk the striker with the crunch game against Derry in the offing.
Says the City manager: "I could put him on the bench but the odds are that things will hinge on the last game of the season against Derry so it would be negligent of me to take a chance on him for this game. My thought would be that for Friday week he would be a definite but for tonight we'll give him up to the last moment before we make a decision."
Meantime, O'Flynn's Shelbourne counterpart Jason Byrne has been named the eircom/Soccer Writers player of the month, a tribute both to his own scoring spree and his club's overall form.
"It just goes to show what we can do," says Byrne, although he concedes that the club's best spell of the season has come too late for them to retain their title. "I think that's why we're so disappointed because we know what we are capable of doing. The lads are really looking forward to next year."
Manager Pat Fenlon notes that Shels haven't beaten either Cork or Derry in the league this season so tonight is their last chance to take the scalp of one of the title contenders.
As to the destination of the title, he says: "From our point of view, we'd hope that Derry win the League and Cork win the Cup because it gives us a chance of getting into the UEFA Cup. I've a lot of respect for the two managers. And whoever wins the league will deserve to win it. It's not over one or two games, it's over the whole season."
While Cork and Derry continue to slug it out at the top, tonight also sees a huge game at the other end of the table as Waterford, two points ahead of Shamrock Rovers, face the second from bottom club at Dalymount Park.
If Waterford win they're safe but if the victory goes Rovers' way, the Blues would need to beat Drogheda and hope UCD don't lose to Rovers on the last day of the season.
It's a battle for survival between two of the great rivals in Irish football history so Waterford boss Brendan Rea may even be erring on the side of understatement when he says: "This has the all the ingredients of a thriller."
Waterford's Kenny Browne misses the game through suspension so Niall Andrews could come back into defence. John Hayes faces a fitness test on his hamstring injury while Kevin Doherty, Pat Purcell and Stephen Grant, who are all carrying knocks, should be fine.
Roddy Collins goes into the game with a whole host of personnel problems, with Kieran Foley, Marc Kenny, Keith Doyle and skipper Trevor Molloy all suspended, while Lee Roche and Cathal O'Connor are nursing knocks.
"It's been a roller-coaster season in so many ways - and now we're battling to retain our Premier Division status,'' says Hoops' veteran midfielder, Derek Tracey. We were always facing an uphill struggle after the deduction of eight points earlier this season. Now our recent run of four defeats has plunged us deep into trouble.
"But despite losing to Cork City last Monday, the fans were amazing. The depth of feeling they have for Rovers is what has kept the club alive in recent years.
"Every player is keenly aware of the great history and tradition at the club. We know that it's still in our hands. If we win our final two games of the season that will ensure Rovers will be playing Premier Division football in 2006."
Elsewhere, bottom club Finn Harps travel to Drogheda tonight with their Premier Division status hanging by a thread, while Bray Wanderers entertain Bohemians.
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