Arklow to be left by Wayside

With a league game and two cup games already sorted and another cup game on the horizon, the pair will have met each other five times by the season's end.

So, if familiarity really does breed contempt, tomorrow Jackson Park could be in for an eventful 90 minutes.

Wayside are currently on their biggest league slump of the season.

After going 15 games unbeaten the Celts have now slipped to two league defeats on the bounce.

Having watched their campaign hit a speed bump when they lost to Tolka Rovers, the Celts followed that up with a shock 1-0 loss to Firhouse Clover at home.

The Firhouse result left Wayside six points off leaders, Bluebell United, and with trip to Bangor Celtic, Crumlin United and the 'Bell still to come, the Jackson Park side is going to find it hard to claw back the points lost.

BREAK

For Arklow, a game against Celtic usually meant one thing and one thing only, defeat.

That all changed just after the winter break when Arklow managed to get the better of Wayside in the Metropolitan Cup, their first ever victory over the Kiltiernan club.

Still, in the three meetings to date it is Wayside that holds sway with two wins to Arklow's Metro victory.

The Celts defeated Town in the league 4-0 and then got the better of themby the odd goal in five in the semi-final of the Ryan Cup.

SENIOR DIVISION

WAYSIDE CELTIC v ARKLOW TOWN

Wayside will be anxious to stop the rot tomorrow. They rarely, if ever, lose three games on the bounce and Peter Lennon's charges will be looking to make up some ground on the cup bound Bluebell. Lose and the title dream will become a little more clouded for the Celts, so expect them to close the gap. Verdict: Home Win.

DUBLIN BUS v DROGHEDA TOWN

A relegation six-pointer for these two. The Bus are in the basement position, five points adrift of Town, but with three games in hand. The Coldcut club has lost their last seven games, but one of their two wins this season came against Drogs. With so much at stake tomorrow, this pair may have to settle for a point apiece. Verdict: Draw.

CRUMLIN UNITED v FIRHOUSE CLOVER

The champions Crumlin will not have it all their own way tomorrow. Clover are the form team in the league and are unbeaten in five outings, picking up 11 of their 16-point season total in their last five games. United have been busy with cup action over the last while, although they did slip up against Drogheda in the league last week. With Clover's good form and United's cup distractions the Tallaght side could nick a draw to compliment their victory against Wayside last week. Verdict: Draw.