Battle to avoid relegation intensifies

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION: WITH THEIR win over Drogheda last week having given them a slight advantage over their rivals in the race to avoid relegation, Finn Harps travel to Terryland Park this evening looking for a win that would send Jeff Kenna's men down and leave Cobh needing to beat Bohemians tomorrow in order to retain any chance of avoiding the drop themselves.

Stephen Parkhouse's two second-half goals against Drogheda breathed new life into their battle for survival. Now, Paul Hegarty's men must maintain a decent run of away results against a team whose form prior to last week's defeat in Derry appeared to have them on course for a great escape.

"We have seven points from nine on the road and we want to keep that going," says the Harps manager. "There have been a few twists and turns in the relegation battle and still no one knows what will happen. As I've said all along, though, all you can hope for is that survival remains in your own hands and going into this that's the case so we still have a chance to stay up."

The visitors have Marc Mukendi suspended but Shaun McGowan returns from a ban, while Davy Byrne and Aaron Labonte are injury doubts.

Kenna, meanwhile, has a full squad and is hoping his players can recover the momentum lost in Derry. "Our recent eight-game unbeaten run shows we have the quality to finish this season strongly," he insists, "and tomorrow we'll be looking to get back on track."

Elsewhere, Shamrock Rovers play Derry in their last game at Tolka Park before finally moving to Tallaght next season. The hosts are without the injured Eric McGill and Darren Stapleton as well as Darragh Maguire, who is suspended. Derry will continue their pursuit of second spot in the Premier Division without Stephen Gray, Kevin McHugh or Kevin Deery all of whom are suspended.

St Patrick's Athletic, currently second, are again missing Gary O'Neill, Stephen Paisley, John Murphy and Noel Haverty for the visit of UCD. Keith Fahey and Jamie Harris are minor doubts but are expected to be fit enough to feature.

Having been fiercely critical of some of his players in the wake of Tuesday's defeat by Cork City, St Patrick's manager John McDonnell said anything less than a comfortable win would be an embarrassing blow ahead of Monday's meeting with Derry.

Cork have just one absentee through injury - Colin Healy - but Joe Gamble is suspended and his absence should pave the way for the return of Darren Murphy, who had to sit out the midweek game at Richmond Park due to a ban.

In the top flight's other game, between Bray and Drogheda United at the Carlisle Grounds, the visitors have Richie Baker, Shane Robinson and Brian Shelley back from suspension.

At the top of the First Division, meanwhile, Shelbourne have a string of problems ahead of their critically important away game against Waterford. The Dubliners have Mark O'Brien suspended, while Alan Byrne and Anto Flood have joined the club's injury list with shoulder and thigh problems respectively. Damien Brennan, Alan Keely and Mark Rutherford are among a number of the club's players with flu and all face fitness tests before the game.