LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER LEAGUE:GIVEN CORK City's ongoing difficulties off the pitch, the number of paying customers at Turner's Cross this evening may be deemed by some associated with the club to be more important than how the home side actually gets on against Shamrock Rovers. But as he contemplates the possible departure of more players during the next week or so, manager Paul Doolin insists his Cork City team must try to remain focused on salvaging something from this most difficult of campaigns.
“Regardless of Rovers’ good form, we have to go into the game looking to claim three points,” he says, “particularly after our defeat on Friday night. We have to aim to stay up at the top of the table and qualify for Europe. I think that would be a fantastic achievement considering everything that has happened.”
City will be close to what is now considered full strength with Gareth Cambridge expected back from a hamstring injury and Joe Gamble determined to play on despite a knee injury in the hope of generating interest from other clubs.
Rovers, on the other hand, have been signing players of late and former City star Pat Sullivan could start against his former club. Definitely out for the visitors is Ian Bermingham while Paddy Kavanagh faces a late test but Seán O’Connor and Dessie Baker return from suspension.
Perhaps the worst news for Cork, though, came late on Friday evening when Gary Twigg scored the only goal of the game for Rovers in Drogheda. “It was good to see Twiggy get back on the scoresheet,” notes manager Michael O’Neill. “By his standards, it had been a bit of a barren spell.”
The Dubliners could join Bohemians at the top of the table if they win this evening although that would require St Patrick’s Athletic to complete a home double over the champions for the season which, recent form suggests, would be some way short of a safe bet.
St Patrick’s manager Jeff Kenna, though, is aiming for his side to bring the same sense of urgency to the proceedings that they have to their European games and while the heroes of that run, Declan O’Brien and Gareth O’Connor, are suspended, the manager has no injury concerns of any sort for the first time this season.
Bohemians are still without Jason McGuinness (back) and Anto Murphy (ankle) but Owen Heary is fully fit again and may well come back in from the start.
Derry City’s injury situation has also improved to the point where Stephen Kenny says his squad for tonight’s game in Sligo is the strongest he’s had available for three months. Liam Kearney, though, remains out with a broken leg, while Mark McChrystal (cheek bone) and Sammy Morrow (ankle ligaments) are also sidelined. The hosts, unusually, have fewer problems than their opponents with just Gavin Peers and Ger Rafter likely to watch from the stands.
Dundalk have Michael Daly back from suspension for the visit of Bray Wanderers as they try to build on their late comeback against Sligo. Bray manager Eddie Gormley has Stephen Brennan suspended and Paul Byrne (knee) injured while Derek Foran (calf) is a doubt but Gary McCabe returns having served a ban.
Drogheda United head to Galway after a frustrating defeat by Rovers without Paul Crowley or Shane Barrett while Brian King is said to be struggling. Paul Shiels and Robert Clark are back from suspension while Robbie Martin is expected to pass a fitness test.
“They (Galway) have done really well this season so it won’t be easy,” says United boss Alan Mathews, “but we’ve played better in the last two games than the one point we’ve taken would suggest and we’ll definitely be going down there looking to take something back with us.”
