Liam Buckley has told his Sligo Rovers players that there are FAI Cup semi-final places on the line tonight.
With five league games left, the Bit O’Red are highly unlikely to catch St Pat’s who have a nine point lead on them.
That means a top half of the table finish is all but ruled out for the sixth-placed team - but their focus has already shifted to the FAI Cup.
Rovers host Dundalk on Sunday week in the second semi-final with the winner meeting either Bohs or Shamrock Rovers in the Aviva Stadium showpiece on November 3.
Buckley has called on his squad to finish the league campaign ‘in the right manner’, insisting places in next weekend’s team and new contracts are up for grabs.
Rovers have won four of their last five games and boast a 100% record over UCD this season after four meetings already.
Buckley said yesterday: “In football you’re always playing for something.
“That can be a place in the team for a big game like a semi-final, your future at a club and your next contract.
“There’s no dropping levels or anything like that because of what’s to come. We have to see out the league in the right manner.
“We’ve put a lot of work into it and because of that there has to be a determination to get as many points as we can.
“We want that sixth place and we need a few more results to ensure we get it.”
Buckley added: “UCD will be doing their all to catch Finn Harps so we expect a hard game.”
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