Almost Dunne and dusted

SUPER Saturday has dawned at the top of the Airtricity League First Division as Shelbourne and Cork City prepare to go head to head at Tolka Park to decide the title on the last day of the season.

After an absence of five years, Shels are already celebrating their return to the top-flight with promotion having been secured thanks to their resounding 4-0 win over Finn Harps on Tuesday night. A draw tonight will be enough to see Shels crowned champions before they turn their attention to the FAI Cup final where they will meet Sligo Rovers.

For Cork City, it’s still everything to play for as even promotion is not yet guaranteed ahead of the final round of fixtures. But a draw for the visitors will be enough to see them go up while a win would secure the title for a club which, only two seasons ago, died and was reborn in the most turbulent episode in its history.

“At the start of the season you would have bitten the hand off anyone to be in this position,” said City manager Tommy Dunne. “And even three months ago, you would have said it wasn’t going to happen because Shels were so far ahead.”

With their supporters fearing another fatal collapse, Shels managed to get back on course in the home straight but not before Cork City had put themselves right back in the frame with a 4-1 walloping of the Reds at Turner’s Cross in August.

“Maybe that was the turning point for us because we performed exceptionally well on the night,” said Dunne. “But I’m no eejit to think that Shels aren’t capable of turning us over at Tolka – there’s no doubt they are capable of doing that. But what matters now is that we have the opportunity of going there to try and win the division. If you win you win it and if you draw you’re guaranteed promotion because our goal difference is far superior to Monaghan and Limerick.

“But we’re not thinking about the draw. We’re going there to perform as best we can and try to win the game. We’re going to be positive enough to get a result in Tolka Park, either the win or the draw, but preferably the win to win the league. We can’t have 1,500 Cork City supporters going up there and us lying down to take the draw. No way. Listen, they run the club so they dictate to us what way we’ll do it.”

For all the Rebel Army footsoldiers who are making their way to Dublin, the nightmare scenario involves Cork losing and Monaghan United winning, a combination of results which would plunge City into a two-legged play-off against Galway United next week. Given the Tribemen’s abject record in the Premier Division this season, Cork would find themselves in the unusual position of being a second-tier team regarded as favourites against a top-flight side but that prospect is still one that Dunne desperately wants to avoid.

“Okay, we know that the worst than can happen tonight is that we end up in the play-offs — but then you could end up not being promoted,” he pointed out.

The hope for all concerned with Cork City is that it won’t come to that. Indeed, the fear shared by promotion rivals Monaghan and Limerick must surely be that, at some point this evening both Shels and City decide that it’s in their mutual interest to settle for the draw. But that’s certainly not the way Tommy Dunne expects things to pan out. “We have gone out to win every game we have played this season, and we will not be changing our approach for this match,” he said.

“Shels are already promoted, but there is a league title at stake and they also have a cup final the following week. Whoever plays for them will be looking to put in a good performance, as they will be playing for a league title and also for a place in the cup final team. For us, promotion is at stake, but the league title is at stake also, so we will be doing our best to win the match.”

While Danny Murphy returns from suspension, City have there are a number of injury doubts ahead of the tie. The biggest concerns Davin O’ Neill is considered a major doubt with a hamstring injury, as is Gavin Kavanagh with a back problem. The experienced duo of Neal Horgan (knee) and Greg O’Halloran (Achilles) have also struggled with injuries in recent weeks, but Dunne is hopeful that they will both be available.

Kick off at Tolka is 7.45pm.