St Patrick's Ath v Bray Wanderers
In 1995 Dundalk got something that was already residing in their trophy cabinet and last year Eddie Gormley was handed the League of Wales trophy but if St Patrick's do retain their title tomorrow afternoon, it seems a fairly safe bet that the right bit of silverware will be on hand for the celebrations.
The home side go into the game as hot favourites to win the title but Bray have everything to play for with only a win good enough to give them a chance of avoiding the drop. Pat Devlin's side have not been the most consistent over the past few months but the manager has always believed that, with a little luck on their side, they are a handful for anybody.
Liam Buckley agrees and points out that "a few weeks ago nobody gave them a chance against Shelbourne in the cup but they won that and we won't be taking anything for granted this time."
The hosts should have Paul Osam in the squad despite picking up an ankle strain in last Friday night's win while Stephen McGuinness is definitely available after initially having been told that he had reached 20 penalty points for the season and was therefore suspended.
Bray will be more or less at full strength too. Alan Smith has been back in training this week and should be in the panel while young Jason Byrne came through a reserve game last week and could figure in some way. Should be good stuff.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Did not meet; 98/99: St Patrick's 3 Wanderers 1 St Patrick's 4.
Recent league form: St Patrick's: DWWWW, Wanderers: WLWLL.
Leading scorers: St Patrick's: Molloy (16), Wanderers: Byrne (five).
Betting: Home: 2/5, Draw: 11/4, Away: 6/1.
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
Cork City v Shamrock Rovers
All Cork can do, as managers tend to tell their players in these situations, is win their game and hope for the best and anything less than a victory for City at Turner's Cross would mean that, whatever happens up in Inchicore, there will be celebrations at Richmond Park. Noel Hartigan is out again due to a hamstring injury but otherwise dave Barry has pretty much everybody to choose from which will probably mean that he sticks to much the same team that got the better of Shelbourne in last week's game.
"I was glad that we beat Shelbourne, who are a good team, and made St Patrick's go out there to play on the last day but now we just have to do our best and see what happens," says Barry. "Obviously they start as huge favourites but, you never know, it's not over yet."
That's more or less Mick Byrne's line too with the Rovers manager hoping that his men can have some sort of impact on the title this weekend. "I thought, to be honest that we were unlucky not to get something out of last week's game but a couple of decisions went against us and Pat's are good at getting the results.
"The lads were up for then, though, and they'll be up for this game too. It's great for them to be involved in games like this even if they can't win anything themselves."
Without Tony Cousins, Brendan Markey or Richie Purdy, all of whom are injured, they'll do well to improve on the their current record against Cork this season of one win, one draw and three defeats but, this too, should be an entertaining contest.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Rovers 1 City 3, City 2 Rovers 1, Rovers 2 City 2; 98/99: City 3 Rovers 1, Rovers 0 City 3.
Recent league form: City: DWWLW, Rovers: DDLLL.
Leading scorers: City: Flanagan (11), Rovers: Sherlock (eight).
Betting: Home: 1/2, Draw: 9/4, Away: 6/1.
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
Sligo Rovers v Derry City
A win for Sligo might be enough to spare them even a relegation play-off while three points for Derry could mean everybody having to cancel their summer holidays in order to play in the InterToto cup. All of which would tend to suggest that it could be Rovers' day.
Nicky Reid will have to wait, though, before discovering whether he will have Wesley Charles, Johnny Hoecks or Ian Lynch available to him and, while he hopes all three will have shaken off minor injuries in time to play, the loss of all three would leave him badly stretched for such an important game.
Derry City, on the other hand, expect to start with the same 11 that took on Bohemians in midweek. Liam Coyle, who has been carrying an achilles tendon problem for some weeks now and who came on during that game for a few minutes will definitely miss out though while Gary Beckett and Sean Hargan are still laid up.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Rovers 3 Derry City 0, Derry City 0 Rovers 0, Rovers 1 City 1; 98/99: Rovers 3 City 3, City 2 Rovers 0.
Recent league form: Rovers: LLWWD, City: LLLWW.
Leading scorers: Rovers: Hallows (nine), City: Coyle (eight).
Betting: Home: 4/6, Draw: 9/4, Away: 7/2.
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
Shelbourne v Waterford United
Waterford's stunning run of late season form has already ensured their safety so it will be Shelbourne who have the keener interest in this game, with a place in Europe, even the Intertoto Cup, of perhaps more psychological importance to Dermot Keely's men than to any of their rivals.
United, hardly surprisingly, are expected to field an unchanged side and their chances of keeping yet another clean sheet are enhanced by the fact that Keely will be without Stephen Geoghegan who is suffering from a groin injury that will almost certainly keep him on the sidelines.
In his place Liam Kelly will probably partner Tony Sheridan up front while at the back Dave Campbell is the only central defender certain to start. Pat Scully is out after hurting his hip as he scored in Cork last week while Tony McCarthy's ongoing ankle problem is no better and he may have to be rested again.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Did not meet; 98/99: Shelbourne 1 Waterford United 0, United 0 Shelbourne 0.
Recent league form: Shelbourne: LDWLL, United: WWWWW.
Leading scorers: Shelbourne: Sheridan (10), United: Gannon (four).
Betting: Home: 8/11, Draw: 2/1, Away: 7/2. Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
UCD v Bohemians
A big one for Bohemians with Roddy Collins's side still effectively playing to make sure they are in the top flight next season. Collins, along with just about everybody else who was there, reckoned that they should have ended the doubt in the game against Derry during the week but he's hoping that their greater sense of urgency should see them through this match.
Maurice O'Driscoll is the only doubt for the visitors with the big centre half injured in the Derry game. If he recovers in time then Collins is unlikely to make any changes but if not then he will have to shuffle things about - although at this stage he is reluctant to get into exactly what changes would be made.
UCD, meanwhile, may well be unchanged from the win at Oriel Park with Ciaran Martyn back in contention for a spot in midfield but, given the result in Oriel Park, by no means certain to get back into the starting line up.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Bohemians 0 UCD 0, UCD 2 Bohemians 1, Bohemians 2 Bohemians 0; 98/99: UCD 2 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 3 UCD 0.
Recent league form: UCD: DDLDW, Bohemians: WWWLL.
Leading scorers: UCD: O'Byrne (seven), Bohemians: Swan (11).
Betting: Home: 4/5, Draw: 2/1, Away: 100/30.
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
Finn Harps v Dundalk
The defeat by UCD meant that Dundalk will be relegated but this game will mark the end of another era with Jim McLaughlin, one of the greatest managers ever to be involved in the National League, almost certainly taking charge of a team for the last time.
"Everyone has to come to end of their road at some stage," says McLaughlin who says that he will no longer be involved in the senior game in any way after the season ends. After so many great days, it's sad that it has to end in such a low key way for the man who first arrived at Oriel Park back in the early 1970s.
Harps may not have any more to play for in this game but with the cup final just a week away they still have plenty on their minds. Pascal Vaudequin is still out and the frenchman is not expected to make it back in time for the trip to Dublin while Jonathan Speak may well miss this game but is expected to be fit in time for next weekend's big match.
Last two seasons: 1997/98: Dundalk 2 Harps 0, Harps 0 Dundalk 1, Dundalk 2 Harps 1; 98/99: Dundalk 2 Harps 0, Harps 0 Dundalk 0.
Recent league form: Harps: LWLLD, Dundalk: LLLLL.
Leading scorers: Harps: Mulligan (10), Dundalk: Ward (four).
Betting: Home: 4/5, Draw: 2/1, Away: 100/30.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
First Division fixtures: Tonight: Home Farm Everton v Longford Town (7.30). Tomorrow: Athlone Town v Kilkenny City and Cobh Ramblers v Monaghan United (3.15).
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power.
