Jim set to give Derry the Blues

WATERFORD UNITED manager Jimmy McGeough threw his hands in the air at the prospect of condemning his home-town club, Derry City, to relegation for the first time in history and exclaimed: "Don't blame me, it's not my fault."

McGeough admitted he faced tomorrow's eircom League tie with mixed feelings. He won Cup and League titles with Derry before helping Waterford set headlines in the late 1960s and early '70s and knows just what it means to Derry to be flirting with relegation.

He said: "I can't believe it. Derry is a hot-bed of soccer and for me to see them struggling is simply beyond belief."

He pointed to an obvious complication that has not helped Derry's cause when he said: "Probably winning the Cup last season made them a little complacent. Then having three managers in the one season did not help and they lost confidence."

Despite his internal anguish at the plight of his home-town club, however, McGeough will only allow himself harbour one ambition tomorrow and that is to help Waterford win. The live coverage of the match on TV3 (3.15) will help the players approach the game in the right frame of mind.

Said McGeough: "I have a full squad with everybody back after suspension and injuries. The team played great football against Longford last week but I will send out the strongest team so there will be changes."

Back after suspension are David Breen, Dave Mulcahy and Kevin Waters while captain John Frost is fit again.

"Everybody says they want an entertaining game on football so I say let's go, let's entertain" said the upbeat McGeough.

Meanwhile, Cork City manager Pat Dolan has congratulated his players and coaching staff on clinching a place in the Intertoto Cup. St. Pat's loss to Longford Town on Thursday meant Cork cannot be denied that, even if FAI Cup winners Longford overtake them.

"It is great that we are safe with one series to go" said Dolan, "it takes the pressure off our last match. It is a great source of achievement to think we have done so well but it is no surprise - if you saw the commitment of the players in training on Thursday you would understand the spirit within the group.

"I may experiment a little now for the Drogheda match ... we'll have a staff meeting and discuss our options. But while we are delighted that Cork are in Europe we know we must do better. Dublin clubs have won the League seven seasons in-a- row and it is time that changed."

Dolan has grand ambitions for Cork. "This is the biggest club in the League," he said, "when I came out of the cinema on Thursday a pizza-van driver hooted at me and shouted 'we're in Europe'.

"The public in Cork identify with their club so much that it has to be the biggest club and while we're pleased with out first season, it will not be enough in the future."

The competition in the first division is extremely hot with Limerick and Kildare County clashing at Pike Rovers ground tomorrow (3 pm) competing for a play-off place.

Limerick are two points above Kildare after an incredible 12 game unbeaten run and after wiping out an 11 point advantage Kildare once enjoyed.

Finn Harps travel to St Colman's Park for a clash with Cobh Ramblers tonight (7.45) already assured of a play-off spot and plan to use the game as a warm-up.