It could be the weekend the Airtricity League is decided. Here's what you should look out for.
1) Will St Patrick's Athletic clinch the title?
With 3 games to go Pats have a 6 point and 17 goal difference advantage over second place Dundalk. A win tomorrow against current champions Sligo Rovers will virtually clinch the title for the Inchicore side. If Dundalk fail to beat Bohs tonight, 3 points will officially clinch it for Pats. Regardless of Dundalk's result tonight, Pats fans will celebrate a win tomorrow as the league decider. It won't be easy though, as Sligo's demolition of Shamrock Rovers in the Cup last week showed, when they're in form, they're one of the top sides in the country. Manager Ian Baraclough hasn't conceded the league title yet and a win tomorrow would certainly heap pressure on Pats for the final to games. Exactly one year ago, the sides played out the game of the season as Sligo beat Pats 3-2 to clinch their title. It's shaping up for another great game tomorrow. The game is live on RTE 2 with a 5.15pm kick off.
2) Can Dundalk keep the pressure on Pats?
Dundalk will be hoping to put recent troubles aside and bounce back with a win away to Bohemians to postpone Pats official title party for another week. The club clearly believes they can still win the league but the odds are stacked against them. They face a Bohs side that now know they won't be relegated directly, and look certain to avoid the play off spots too. Bohs manager, sorry 'assistant' manager Owen Heary will still be looking to pick up the points to make them 100% safe. Dundalk have had a fine season, and Stephen Kenny will still be pushing the team as long as they're still in with a mathematical chance of that title.
3) Can Shamrock Rovers overtake Derry for 4th place?
If Sligo Rovers win the FAI Cup, the league's 4th place finisher will enter next year's Europa League. Currently Derry City lead Shamrock Rovers by 3 points and the sides face each other tonight in the Brandywell, A Derry win would leave them 6 clear with 2 games to go but having lost 8 of the last 12 nobody in Derry is too confident of success. Last week's cup defeat in Sligo confirmed this season as another disappointing one for Shamrock Rovers. However a 4th place finish and European football might provide a decent base to work off for 2014. You get the feeling the manager of the team in 5th will be under pressure at season's end.
4) Can Bray Wanderers leapfrog Shelbourne at the foot of the table?
Shels 5-3 defeat in Cork on Thursday was warmly welcomed by fans of Bohemians, UCD and Bray Wanderers Bohs and UCD should be safe which leaves the only relegation question is which of Bray and Shels will go straight down and who will head to the play off. Bray continue their fight at home to Limerick tomorrow and any point earned will be precious. Bray's last win was 15 games ago and they've earned only 4 points since then. They may be hoping that Limerick have decided to see the season out but that's unlikely with Stuart Taylor continuing to talk of a top half finish. Shels play in Limerick on Wednesday too. With neither side winning a game in their last 8, any point could be the difference
5) How will the first division finish?
The first division wraps up tonight as Athlone Town receive the winners' trophy at home to Longford Town. Longford need a win to clinch a spot in the play offs. The other teams vying for those play offs are Waterford United and Mervue United. Waterford will be in with a win away to Cobh Ramblers while Mervue need a win and one of Waterford and Longford to slip up. The two teams will then face off to decide who will play the premier division's 11th place finisher for the last spot in the 2014 premier division. What happens the first division next season is anyone's guess.
Whatever happens, enjoy the games!
