LEAGUE CUP FINAL: Derry City travel to Limerick for this afternoon's first leg of the Eircom League Cup final at Jackman Park without a string of first team regulars and with manager Kevin Mahon insisting the trophy's destination is far from being a foregone conclusion, writes Emmet Malone.

Sean Hargan and Gary Beckett will both miss the final's two legs with ankle problems, while a similar problem rules Gareth McGlynn out of today's game. Darren McCaul misses out with a broken wrist while Derek Philips has left the club and returned to America.

However, Limerick boss Noel O'Connor, who looks likely to be without Derek McCarthy due to a back problem, pointed out that Limerick have never won at City's home ground and he reckons his side need a two-goal advantage if they are to be in with a real chance of lifting the cup.