Premier Division

Finn Harps v Cork City (Finn Park, 7.45)

A vitally important match for both clubs as they attempt to recover from bad recent results. Harps haven't won in the league since Valentine's Day and are perilously close to the relegation play-off place, while Cork's UEFA Cup/Inter-Toto Cup ambitions have taken a battering with two bad defeats to UCD and Sligo.

Cork manager Dave Barry says he knows his players' minds are focused on their Cup final meeting with Shelbourne, but stresses that they need to be professional and try to win their remaining three league matches to finish as high as possible in the table.

"The players owe it to the club to perform to their best," said Barry. "I'd like to think they are not yet looking ahead to the Cup final, but our two most recent performances would hint that they are."

Harps still need four points to be sure of not finishing in the relegation play-off spot and with Derry City to come at the Brandywell on Saturday, tonight's match takes on added significance for Charlie McGeever's side.

"None of my players played up to scratch against UCD even though they knew what they had to do," said McGeever. "But we remain confident we can get what we need from these last three matches."

Cork have both Declan Daly and Ollie Cahill back from suspension. Harps continue without their injured top scorer, Jonathan Speak.

Last two seasons: 1996/97: Cork City 0 Finn Harps 1, Finn Harps 0 Cork City 1, Cork City 1 Finn Harps 0. 1997/98: Finn Harps 2 Cork City 1, Cork City 1 Finn Harps 3.

Current league form: Finn Harps: DLDLL; Cork City: WDDLL.

Leading league scorers: Finn Harps: Speak (nine); Cork City: O'Brien (seven).

Betting: 2-1 Home/11-10 Away/9-4 Draw.

Referee: G Perry (Dublin)

Galway United manager Don O'Riordan has been warned about his future conduct following an incident in the Waterford United-Galway United first division match at the RSC on April 10th.

Galway players Gareth Gorman and Luther Watson were sent-off in that match and they will miss the opening competitive match of next season after receiving one-match suspensions.

Eight other players also received one-game bans yesterday. Jason Colwell and Mark Kenny (Shamrock Rovers), Davy Dowling (Finn Harps), Greg O'Dowd (Drogheda United), Robbie Walsh (Kilkenny City), Declan Cronin (Shelbourne), Stephen McGuinness (St Patrick's Athletic) and Stephen Gifford (HF/Everton) will all miss the first game of next season.