Needing seven points from their final four games, St Patrick’s Athletic can take another step towards the Airtricity League Premier Division title on Friday evening when they travel to face UCD at The UCD Bowl (7.45pm).
Sligo Rovers’ draw with Cork City on Monday evening has left Liam Buckley’s side in the driving seat as the title race enters the final furlong and 71 points is the target as they face their final four games of the season.
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If St Pat’s, currently on 64 points, beat UCD on Friday and Dundalk, currently on 61 points, fail to beat Bohemians on October 12, then St Patrick’s Athletic can take the title in front of their own fans by beating Sligo Rovers, currently on 60 points, at Richmond Park on October 13.
The Saints’ recent league record against Martin Russell’s side has been impressive of late, with Liam Buckley’s side having recorded four wins and a draw in the manager’s second spell with the Inchicore side. However, the games between the sides in the Belfield Bowl have been tight affairs, with Pat’s claiming a 1-0 win back in April thanks to an Anto Flood goal, while UCD earned a 1-1 draw in the mid-season clash in 2012 when Robbie Benson cancelled out a first half goal from Chris Forrester.
The outstanding match between Derry City and Shelbourne, which was postponed at the beginning of September after two Derry players received late call-ups to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland U21 squads, will take place at the Brandywell (7.45pm).
Shelbourne’s draw on Monday night against Drogheda United was enough to lift them off the bottom on goal difference at the expense of Bray Wanderers while Derry City are now fifth after their defeat in Dundalk. Derry have won the two meetings between the sides this season and will leap over Shamrock Rovers back into fourth place if they avoid defeat.
With the First Division title and automatic promotion already wrapped up by Athlone Town, attention now switches to the battle for promotion play-off spots which is a three-horse race between Longford Town, Waterford United and Mervue United with just one point separating the sides.
All three are at home this week and away next week and two wins for Longford and Waterford will secure their places in the promotion play-off as they currently lead Mervue by one point. On Friday, Waterford face Salthill Devon while Mervue meet Cobh Ramblers and on Saturday Longford host Wexford Youths.
The remaining First Division game sees the champions Athlone Town travel to play a Finn Harps side that dropped into the bottom two last week.
Friday Fixtures
Premier Division
Derry City v Shelbourne, Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
UCD v St. Patrick's Athletic, The UCD Bowl, 7.45pm
First Division
Mervue United v Cobh Ramblers, Fahy's Field, 7.45pm
Waterford United v Salthill Devon, RSC, 7.45pm
Finn Harps v Athlone Town, Finn Park, 8pm
Title Run-Ins
St Patrick’s Athletic
October 4: away v UCD
October 13: home v Sligo Rovers
October 18: home v Derry City
October 25: away v Cork City
Dundalk
October 12: away v Bohemians
October 18: home v Cork City
October 25: away v Bray Wanderers
Sligo Rovers
October 13: away v St Patrick’s Athletic
October 19: home v Drogheda United
October 25: away v Shamrock Rovers
Promotion Play-Off Run-in
Longford Town
October 5: home v Wexford Youths
October 12: away v Athlone Town
Waterford United
October 4: home v Salthill Devon
October 12: away v Cobh Ramblers
Mervue United
October 4: home v Cobh Ramblers
October 12: away v Wexford Youths
