Finn not relishing the trip to the west

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:THERE WAS a time, quite a way back in the season, when tonight's fixture at the Showgrounds had the look of a game that might well decide the destiny of the league title.

Instead, Sligo Rovers wrapped things up with a couple of weeks to spare and Shamrock Rovers face the prospect of rounding off a miserable campaign by watching their rivals lift a trophy they must have reckoned would be theirs again this year.

Having been ruled out of the game with an ankle injury, Ronan Finn was unsure yesterday of whether he will travel and the midfielder, one of the Dublin club’s few success stories over the last nine or so months, admits he could live without joining the 6,000 fans that are expected to turn up for the party.

“Yeah, it’s not something I want to do,” he says. “But fair play to Sligo, they deserve what they get and that’s just how it goes in football. They have been the best team in the league this year.”

If he does end up at the game, which he seems likely to considering his team-mates are still hoping to qualify for Europe, Finn will be joining injured pair Tommy Stewart and Ciarán Kilduff in the stand while Shane O’Connor faces a late fitness test.

The hosts have Mark Quigley fit after the striker recovered from a calf strain but Danny Ventre is suspended and Ian Barraclough is again without Alan Keane, Danny North and Séamus Conneely.

In Inchicore, St Patrick’s Athletic will know that a point will guarantee them the league’s final European spot and leave Rovers in the rather uncomfortable position of having to cheer them on against Derry in the FAI Cup final.

Predictably, Seán O’Connor doesn’t seem too put out by his former club being left to squirm a little.

“We’re definitely focused on the game because I don’t think Sligo turned up last week against Drogheda. If it happens again tomorrow against Rovers – and Rovers have the ability to stuff anybody if they turn up – if we get beaten by Cork that would mean we slip into fourth,” said O’Connor.

“That would put a little bit more pressure on in the cup final because Europe has been an aim from the start of the year this year.”

Elsewhere, Drogheda will draw the curtain on what Mick Cooke rightly describes as “amazing season” at Dalymount Park where they can guarantee themselves second place overall by matching their nearest rivals’ result against Cork City.