CORK CITY can go three points clear at the top of the table, at least for 24 hours, if they can beat Derry City at Turner’s Cross this evening. But, fresh from their win over the league champions last week, the visitors find themselves in with a shout of spending a night at the summit too.

Last week notwithstanding, Derry have generally done better on the road than at home this season, but they come up against a Cork side that has been hammering out the wins regardless of venue lately, most recently in Inchicore where they coasted past St Patrick’s last Saturday.

“Derry got the win when we met at the Brandywell but we’re ahead of them in the table now,” says Cork boss Paul Doolin. “It’ll be a tough game for us, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Both sides have players out, with Cork missing Danny Murphy through suspension as well as the handful of players who have been sidelined through injury for the past couple of weeks.

Derry manager Stephen Kenny must continue to cope without prominent defenders Clive Delaney and Ger O’Brien, while Gareth McGlynn is still laid up with a hamstring problem.

At the other end of the table, Alan Mathews is likely to start with much the same team that secured Drogheda’s first win of the season last weekend. The victory will have provided a much-needed boost to confidence ahead of tonight’s Louth derby with Dundalk, seven points ahead of their neighbours and looking for the victory that could move them into the top half of the table.

Dundalk manager Seán Connor has Chris Turner and Harpal Singh back from suspension, but Declan O’Brien misses out against his former club through suspension. George O’Callaghan is also banned for the game and Dave Rogers is still injured.

St Patrick’s Athletic take on Sligo at Richmond Park where they will be hoping to end their wretched run of form. They’re not helped by the absence of Stuart Byrne, who was sent off last week, or the continuing absence of Mark Leech and Gary Deegan. But James Harris and Dave Partridge return from suspension.

Galway, at home to Bray, have Derek O’Brien suspended, and doubts hang over Paul Sinnott, Shane Fitzgerald and Alan Murphy (all ankle). But they’re still better off than Bray who must travel without Colm Tresson, Stephen Brennan, Chris Deans, Dave Mulcahy and Derek Pender.