Legal row to make title a laughing
stock
 By David
Thorpe
The Eircom League Premier Division has been plunged into turmoil and
it looks increasingly likely that the destination of this year’s
title will be decided in the courtroom rather than on the football pitch.
With just three weeks of League action remaining it looked as though the
title race would go down to a last-day decider between Shelbourne and
Derry but following an Eircom League Appeals Board decision this week
Shelbourne could amass the points they need to be crowned champions before
the last day.
Bohemians had launched an appeal against a three-point deduction against
them for fielding an ineligible player against Shelbourne earlier this
season. The appeals panel decided that the match which Shelbourne lost
should be replayed. This effectively gives Pat Fenlon’s men the
opportunity to beat Bohs and get another three points wiping out Derry’s
game in hand.
Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon vigorously defended his club following the
heavy criticism they have sustained in recent weeks.
He said: “We are not trying to win the league in the courts. This
decision doesn’t give us any free league points. We still have to
go and beat Bohemians if this decision is to have any benefit to us at
all.”
It is thought likely this week that Derry will appeal the findings in
a Civil Court so what had looked like an enthralling end to a successful
Eircom League season could be mired in farce and recrimination which will
damage Irish soccer long after the final ball of this year’s league
season has been kicked.
If Derry do appeal the decision in the courts it could be many months
before an official winner of the Eircom League title is declared opening
Irish domestic soccer to further ridicule at a time when the quality of
the football on view is constantly improving.
On the field Derry advanced to their second consecutive FAI Cup final
after beating Sligo Rovers 5-0 at the Brandywell.
The Foylesiders will bid to retain the Cup against St. Patricks Athletic
who defeated Shamrock Rovers to book their place in this year’s
decider.
In the First Division the promotion race is hotting up with Dundalk the
current pacesetters ahead of pre-season favourites Shamrock Rovers and
Limerick FC in third with two weeks to go.
The top team in the division are automatically promoted while the runners-up
play the second-from-bottom team in the Eircom Premier Division —
currently Bray Wanderers — to decide who plays top flight football
next season.
This week in the eircom league
Cork City
Shelbourne
Turner’s Cross 7.45pm Friday
Shelbourne are at full strength for this crucial clash with Cork City.
Manager Pat Fenlon is not expected to make any changes with the defensive
duo of Colin Hawkins and Eoin Heary both having shaken off slight injuries.
Cork also have a full squad available for a match which Shelbourne will
definitely want to win more and that hunger could prove decisive in a
game which is likely to be lacking in goals.
Verdict: Away win
St. Pats Athletic
Derry City
Richmond Park 7.45pm Friday
St. Patricks have one of the worst home records in the Eircom League
and have little to play for at this time of the season so Derry will be
confident of maintaining their title charge.
Trevor Molloy will return for Pats having sat out their FAI Cup win over
Shamrock Rovers and manager John McDonnell reports no new injury or suspension
concerns.
Derry boss Stephen Kenny is sweating on the fitness of skipper Peter Hutton
but otherwise has a full squad to choose from for a match which should
keep their title-chasing dreams alive.
Verdict: Away win
Sligo Rovers
Drogheda United
The Showgrounds 7.45pm Friday
Confidence in Sligo is low following the Rovers mauling to Derry in the
FAI Cup semi-finals and speculation linking manager Sean Connor with a
move away from the north-west.
Neither team have very much to play for at this stage of the season. Drogheda
have struggled to score goals all season and with Sligo having an impressive
record at home and in defence this could be a dull, scoreless draw.
Verdict: Draw
Bohemians
Bray Wanderers
Dalymount Park 7.45pm Friday
Managerless Bohemians will be looking to round off their season in style
against a demoralised Wanderers side who are struggling to retain their
Premiership status.
Bohs have a terrible record against the weaker teams in this division
and their home form has been poor in recent weeks but they have the added
motivation of needing to impress a new manager and should have enough
to claim a victory here.
Verdict: Home win |
