SOCCER/National League: Happy to deflect all the pressure away from his team-mates and onto his rivals, Derry City captain Peter Hutton is adamant the National League title is Cork City's to squander.

Hutton, who collected the Eircom/Soccer Writers' Association player of the month award for September yesterday, maintains Cork are primed for success but should they slip up his team will be there to capitalise.

Both sides are level on 57 points but Cork, who have a game in hand, top the standings, with seven games to play, by virtue of goal difference.

"We're in the running for all competitions and our goal is to stay in contention until the very end," says the 32-year-old who hopes to emulate his championship-winning season of 1996/97 with the Brandywell club.

"If results keep going the way they have been it could come down to the last game of the season (when Derry face Cork at Turner's Cross). It's Cork's league to lose as they're in the driving seat. We need them to slip up and if they do we'll be right there to pick up the pieces."

Hutton has been a key figure in the heart of the Derry defence and capped a wonderful month by turning in a man-of-the-match display in the League Cup final win over UCD a fortnight ago.

"Things are going well for the team but also for me personally. Last week's win over Shelbourne has given us a massive boost and I think it's testimony to our fitness that we can score late goals like that. But ultimately it's about keeping the consistency going as there's still a lot of football to be played."