A potential title win, a relegation dog fight, a team looking to confirm a place in Europe and the first SSE Airtricity league play off of the year. Here's what you should be looking out for in the penultimate weekend of the league season.
1) Dundalk can win the league tonight.
Dundalk travel to Bray Wanderers this evening and may clinch the league title. They need four points from the final two games but a defeat for Cork tonight would see Dundalk clinch it with a win in Bray. Bray need a point to be 100% safe from relegation themselves but Dundalk aren't likely to let them get that point with the league on the line. Whatever about the result, if this weather keeps up, Dundalk fans are getting wet this evening.
2) Cork City to keep pressure on.
Last home game of the season for the country's best supported team in 2014 as Cork City welcome Bohemians looking for three points to ensure the title goes down to the last day of the season. It has been a remarkable season for John Caulfield in his rookie season and he revels in the fact that many, even now, don't give Cork much chance of winning it all. The Cork public are likely to give the team all the backing it needs tonight though and if they win, Dundalk v Cork next Friday will be huge.
3) Relegation is between UCD and Athlone Town
A point splits these teams at the foot of the table but with Athlone's superior goal difference, if they manage to pull level over the final two games, they'll get off the bottom and into the playoff. UCD have been in free fall for months now have not won a match since July. They've lost their last six games to a combined score of 18-1. They travel to Derry City tonight and must be praying they have all eyes on the Cup final. Athlone travel to the other Cup finalists St Pats in much better form. They've at least put up a fight over the past 2 months. If it goes to next week, as it should, Athlone play Bray. That could be a huge night in Athlone.
4) The first play off of the season is tonight
The first leg of the first promotion play off game takes place tonight in Galway as they host Shelbourne. Shels finished three points ahead of Galway but over the last 15 games of the season, Galway won three more points than Shels. So essentially we're saying it's going to be tight. The winners of this tie will play the team that finishes 11th for a 2015 Premier Division spot. If you haven't seen it yet, check out this documentary on a dedicated Shels fan.
5) The 3rd European spot could be confirmed tonight.
Pats lie in third place, six points ahead of Shamrock Rovers. They only need a point to secure an 8th European qualification in 9 years (no other club has more than 5 in that time). They should do it tonight at home to Athlone Town. Shamrock Rovers fans will then be left with the prospect of hoping Pats beat Derry in the Cup final in order for Rovers to get the final Europa League spot.
Whatever happens, enjoy the games!
