Massive Week Ahead For Struggling St. Pats
There may be 14 matches left to play in the SSE Airtricity League this season, but the title race looks all but over with Cork City racing ahead of everyone else. They are 18 points ahead of their closest challengers Dundalk.
At the other end of the table though, that's where it is really interesting. Only three points separate 8th place Finn Harps and bottom of the pile Galway United.
St. Pats are amongst the league strugglers, a point from the bottom, which makes their Friday night clash against Galway all the more vital.
Liam Buckley's men drew 1-1 back in April in Galway after Rory Feely's goal was canceled out by a late Galway equaliser courtesy of Ronan Murray.
Since then, the Inchicore men have won just once while losing on four occasions and drawing five, four of which were away matches.
Galway travel to Oriel Park tonight to face last year's champions Dundalk. If they can cause a massive upset this evening, Pats will be back at the bottom, two points behind the men from the West.
One saving grace for St. Pats after a very disappointing season to date is their performance against Limerick last Saturday evening. They were 2-0 down and struggling until a quickfire double from Ian Bermingham and Conan Byrne resulted in yet another point on the road.
They host Galway on Friday evening in Richmond Park, and even though there are 14 matches left in this year's league campaign, by bedtime on Friday night, St. Pat's could be sitting safely in eighth, or rooted to the foot of the table, and in serious trouble.