FINAL PAY OF THE SEASON

All about cheques and balances for top flight clubs today

- BY GARRY DOYLE

IS there really nothing at stake?

On the surface it would appear so.

Shamrock Rovers have been crowned champions; Cork City's relegation has been confirmed.

Yet there are five matches scheduled for today's final round and each matters. Jobs depend on them.

For some the difference between winning and losing could be €375,000.

So, while no trophies will be handed out today, cheques will be.

And redundancy notices might be.

Why would anyone care if you finish second instead of third?

ORDINARILY a second place finish rather than third would scarcely matter.

Yes, the runners-up might feel prouder of themselves, but financially the difference would be negligible.

Probably not this time, though.

Champions Shamrock Rovers face relegated Cork City in the FAI Cup final.

If Rovers win, Cork's entry to next season's Europa League will be blocked, resulting in an upgrade for the League runners-up from the Conference League to the more Europa League.

The difference is €400,000 in prize money which, in League of Ireland terms, is huge as the ten clubs spent between €1.1m and €2.2m annually on player salaries.

That's why Shels, who have banked €3.87m from Europe this season, will be seeking to overtake Tiernan Lynch's (inset) second-placed Derry.