While their senior sides go into this weekend's final series of Premier and First Division fixtures hoping to overhaul respective league leaders Shelbourne and Finn Harps at the death, Cork City and UCD's Under-21 sides will battle it out for the Dr Tony O'Neill eircom Under-21 League title at Belfield Park this Sunday, November 21st (kick-off 3.30pm).
Cork City are defending the title they won at Richmond Park last year with a 2-1 victory over St Patrick's Athletic and are just one game away from an unprecedented third Under-21 title in a row having also taken the 2002-03 crown by beating Bohemians 2-1 at Turner's Cross.
Having already bagged the Enda McGuill Under-21 Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sligo/Leitrim League at the Cross in September, if they beat the Students they'll complete an Under-21 league and cup double in what's already been a highly successful season for City's senior and underage squads.
Stuart Ashton's 'City Boys' overcame a tricky away semi-final clash with Shelbourne last Saturday night, emerging from Tolka Park 2-1 winners thanks to Denis Behan's second-half penalty to set-up this weekend's return trip to the capital.
But College will need little extra motivation as they bid to win the Under-21 trophy, named after the late former UCD FC Secretary and legendary soccer administrator Dr Tony O'Neill, on home soil.
They come into Sunday's decider on the back of am impressive 3-0 away victory over Connacht-Ulster champions Finn Harps and Dave Mackey's South Leinster champions will be looking forward to Sunday's 3.30pm kick-off as they bid to emulate their senior counterparts who dumped Pat Dolan's side out of the FAI Cup in August.
