Seagulls must do the business this Saturday

CORK CITY’S slender victory over Limerick in the FAI Cup semi-final on Friday could potentially be very good news.

It meant that the team that finishes fourth in the league this season will almost certainly be guaranteed European football in 2018.

It is not yet set in stone, however for it to unravel Shamrock Rovers would have to beat Dundalk in their semi-final replay and then be overhauled by both Derry City and Bray Wanderers over whom they currently hold a four and five-point advantage respectively.

City were triumphant in their game in hand against Drogheda United, relegating the Boynesid- ers as they inflicted a 2-1 defeat on them.

With Cork now in the final, the likelihood of them resting players on the last day of the league season as Bray visit them is high and also, Dundalk will have their semi-final replay on the Tuesday before Bray visit so many key players will more than likely have to be rested.

But all these ifs and buts will be completely irrelevant if the Seagulls don’t do the business on Saturday at 3pm when Galway visit the Carlisle.

The Tribesmen have hit form at just the right time, collecting three victories in their last five games to leave them languishing just a single point above the dreaded drop zone.

Anything but three points will surely spell the end of Bray’s season.

With their kick-off time earlier than the rest, a convincing win could ramp up the pressure on their rivals for fourth.

Bray’s remaining fixtures: Galway United (H) 07/10/17; Dundalk (A) 13/10/17; Shamrock Rovers (H) 20/10/17; Cork City (A) 27/10/17.

Derry’s remaining fixtures: Cork City (A) 07/10/17; Finn Harps (H) 13/10/17; Sligo Rovers (A) 21/10/17; St. Patrick’s Athletic (H) 27/10/17.

Shamrock Rovers’ remaining fixtures: Drogheda (A) 07/10/17; Sligo Rovers (H) 13/10/17; Bray Wanderers (A) 20/10/17; Limerick (H) 27/10/17).