LOI preview: Relegation showdown in Finn Park tonight

The race for the SSE Airtricity Premier Division league title is over as the potential showdown didn't materialise, but there will be a shootout this evening between the bottom two sides as they look to avoid the drop.

Shamrock Rovers meet Derry City on Sunday in a dead-rubber fixture after the Candystripes dropped points in Sligo on Monday night, confirming the Hoops as champions.

As that was transpiring, UCD were battling to a point in Tolka Park to extend their advantage over Finn Harps.

That now stands at three points, meaning it’s close to a must-win fixture for the Donegal side.

A draw would leave them needing to beat Drogheda United away from home on the final day and hope that the Students come away with nothing against the champions in the UCD Bowl. Harps have just one victory out of 17 fixtures on the road this season so there’s no doubt

Ollie Horgan has led his side to safety when all seemed lost. They’ve come back from the dead in the league, come from behind in play-off matches and caused giantkillings along the way.

This is arguably the toughest scenario given how poor results have been this campaign.

Horgan has just one relegation on his record since taking the job in 2013 and securing promotion – a considerable achievement and they immediately bounced back after it.

Having admitted he came close to walking away in the off-season as their squad was decimated by fellow Premier Division sides, it could be the end of an era and the longest-serving manager in the league if things don’t go their way tonight.

College didn’t win a league game until May, which was the first meeting of these teams in Finn Park. They had just nine points in mid-July yet come into this fixture on the verge of avoiding the automatic drop.

Avoid