THE final series of games in the group stages of the FAI Harp Lager League Cup take place tonight and tomorrow with Cork City, Derry City, Athlone Town, Dundalk and St Patrick's Athletic currently looking good to go through to the quarter-finals.

The situation in Group F, due to the dismissal from the FAI National League of St James's Gate, has left that pool finely balanced, but a win for either UCD or Bohemians when they meet at Belfield tomorrow would see that team through. A 1-1 draw would leave all three clubs, the other being Bray Wanderers, tied and a problem for the National League to sort out.

The top games tonight are both in a tightly contested Group B, where leaders Derry should have the strength to overcome Ulster Senior League side Fanad United and win the group. In the other game a draw is no good to either Sligo Rovers or Finn Harps at the Showgrounds as they both now have just two points.

Tomorrow's Group E tussle at Tolka Park between Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic is the match of the weekend. Spice is added to the clash from two quarters: a repeat of last May's Cup Final, and the little needle there from the transfer of Davy Campbell from St Patrick's to Shelbourne.

As St Patrick's manager Brian Kerr said: "There are several teams who can finish as runners-up on six points so we still feel we need another point to be sure of winning the group. We want to win this game as the last time we met they beat us in the Cup Final replay, so it will be a very interesting match with some added bite to it."

Campbell is still struggling with a knee injury for Shelbourne, though Pat Scully will come back in having missed the European tie in Norway through ineligibility. St Patrick's main concern is defender Packie Lynch, who twisted an ankle against Home Farm on Wednesday. Mark Mulraney and Mick Moody are on standby.