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TodayCork City v Finn Harps (3

TodayCork City v Finn Harps (3.0)The other half of the title chasing duo will want full points here before next Friday's head-to0head in Inchicore. The talking point around Turner's Cross for this encounter is whether captain Declan Daly will make his comeback after a three-game absence due to the recurring hamstring injury he first suffered almost two months ago.Manager Dave Barry, however, will wait until a fitness test just prior to kick-off before deciding on his fate. Otherwise, Barry's squad are all fit and it's unlikely that there will be many changes from the side that hammered Sligo 5-2 last weekend.Finn Harps, meanwhile, will travel south fresh from securing their Cup final spot and with a number of games in hand over the three teams ahead of them are still searching for the third spot.Manager Charlie McGeever is cautious when discussing that European place, with Shelbourne still the frontrunners after their victory over Dundalk two days ago."We have six games left and four at home so there's plenty of points left," he says, "but we still have to get the results. Cork will be difficult but we've been very close to them all year and there's no reason why we can't nip this one."McGeever does have a few casualties to contend with, as Pascal Vandequin is definitely out after the knee injury he picked up in the cup semi-final, and there are also concerns over goalkeeper Brian McKenna (shoulder) and Fergal Harkin (knee).Last two seasons: 1997/98: Harps 2 City 1; City 3 Harps 1; Harps 1 City 2. 98/99: City 2 Harps 0, Harps 1 City 1.Recent league form: City: WWDDW; Harps: WLWLLLeading scorers: City: Flanagan (11); Mulligan and Speak (eight each).[BO]Betting: Home: 1/2; Draw: 12/5; Away: 11/2.Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).TonightDerry City v Bohemians (7.30)Last week's loss to bottom-placed Waterford may have shaken Derry City's ambitions for the European spot, but they still have two games in hand over Shelbourne and 15 points available from their remaining games.The injury problems for manager Kevin Mahon, however, remain a concern with Sean Hargan and Martin McGann still forced to miss out. They will also be without influential midfielder Eamonn Doherty through suspension."I'm reasonably happy with the way the squad is playing but we do need the win here," he says. "A lot of it is out of our hands now although if a few more results go our way then there's plenty of room for change."Bohemians are now unbeaten in four and manager Roddy Collins has no problems to report. "Everybody is doing extremely well at the moment and we'll be going with the same squad as last week," he says. "Derry have a good ground and a good record there but we've nothing to fear and want nothing less than the three points." Derek Swan is now in joint third on the top scorer board after claiming two in last weekend's comfortable win over Dundalk. Still, with Bohemians not yet safe from relegation and Derry keen to keep their third place chances alive, full points for either side will have to be hard earned.Last two seasons: 1998/99: Derry 1 Bohemians 0, Bohemians 1 Derry 0, Derry 1 Bohemians 0. 98/99: Derry 0 Bohemians 2.Recent league form: Derry: DLWWL; Bohemians: LWDDW.Leading scorers: Derry: Coyle (eight); Bohemians: Swan (11).Betting: Home: 6/4; Draw: 11/5; Away: 6/4.Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).Betting courtesy of Paddy PowerFirst DivisionGalway United have put the disappointment of their cup exit behind them and with a game in hand over Cobh Ramblers in joint second manager Don O'Riordan has now made promotion a priority. "We enjoyed every minute of the cup run and playing the top teams and we're ready to do that on a regular basis," he says."The team are completely focused and I've no doubt we can make the most of our last five games to bring us up."With a full complement of players, Kilkenny are in for a hard task to hold out the visitors.Cobh, meanwhile, will continue their chase on leaders Drogheda with a visit to Mullogher to face Longford Town. They succumbed to a late rally by Athlone last time out to miss the maximum points, and Longford will be far from easy hosts on this occasion, with their fourth place standing keeping them well within reach of promotion.Home Farm/Everton badly need the points in their visit to Monaghan, although they are now four games without a win and continue to drift down the division table. Fixtures: Longford Town v Cobh Ramblers, Kilkenny City v Galway United (tonight, both 7.30); Monaghan United v Home Farm/Everton (tomorrow, 3.15).Today's MatchesWorld Youth ChampionshipGroup A - Costa Rica v Germany ; Nigeria v Paraguay.Group B - Croatia v Argentina; Ghana v Kazakhstan.Group C - Australia v Rep of Ireland; Saudi Arabia v Mexico.English FA PremiershipAston Villa v Southampton; Derby v Nottm Forest; Leicester v West Ham; Middlesbrough v Charlton.English LeagueDivision One - Barnsley v Tranmere; Bradford v Portsmouth; Bristol City v Grimsby; Crewe v Port Vale. Oxford Utd v Bury; QPR v West Brom; Stockport v Sheff Utd; Sunderland v Huddersfield; Swindon v Birmingham; Watford v Bolton; Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace.Division Two - Blackpool v Reading; Colchester v Walsall; Fulham v Wigan; Macclesfield v Preston; Man City v Lincoln City; Northampton v Luton; Notts County v Chesterfield; Oldham v Burnley; Stoke v Bristol Rovers; Wrexham v Wycombe; York v Millwall.Division Three - Barnet v Scarborough; Cambridge Utd v Halifax; Carlisle v Peterborough; Darlington v Torquay; Hartlepool v Chester; Hull v Exeter; Leyton Orient v Cardiff; Mansfield v Southend; Plymouth v Brighton; Rochdale v Rotherham; Scunthorpe v Brentford.Scottish Cup Semi-Final - Celtic v Dundee Utd.Scottish Premier League - Kilmarnock v Aberdeen; Motherwell v Dundee.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics