O’Callaghan award sums up bright City start
O’Callaghan’s election was a second consecutive award for Cork for his striking partner, John O’Flynn, was honoured for his exploits in July. It was a first time for Cork players to capture back-to-back awards.
The 23 years old O’Callaghan has, together with O’Flynn, illuminated the new season with a series of devastating performances that have helped lift Cork into second place in the League Championship.
The youthful pair have proved to be the most prolific striking partnership in the competition and they have given Cork’s football an encouraging lift. O’Callaghan has scored six times already.
Both players are enjoying their first season in the National League. O’Callaghan returned to his native Cork this Summer after spending seven seasons in England with Port Vale.
He was honoured twice by the Port Vale supporters’ club, winning ‘Young player of the Year’ and ‘Player of the Year’ awards in consecutive seasons. He is equally proficient in midfield or at centre-forward.
Both players will be in the Cork team for tonight’s important League tie against St. Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park. Cork are two points behind leaders Bohemians but they have a game in hand so they can go top if they win here.
St. Pats have proved a bogey team for Cork in recent seasons but Cork won two of their three clashes last season. This was quite an achievement given the number of points St. Pats accumulated in the competition.
St. Pats have not been as consistent this season and last time out they were held to a 2-2 draw by Longford Town. A big worry for them was the injury which forcedPaul Osam out of the match in the second half.
Osam was doubtful because of the injury before the match and when he received a fresh knock on it he was forced off. It is doubtful that he will be able to play against Cork.
The likely replacement for him is Paul Marney, who was the subject of so much controversy last season because St. Pats had not registered him properly. Marney is an experienced operator who is a very credible substitute.
Cork’s manager Liam Murphy must ponder his team selection given the erratic nature of their most recent performances in the Cup replay against Finn Harps and again against Shamrock Rovers on Friday.
In each match Cork stepped up their game appreciably in the second half to win in exciting fashion and their come-back against Shamrocks to win with three second half goals was the highlight of the season so far.
In each match Murphy helped turn the games by introducing James Mulligan as substitute and moving O’Callaghan to midfield and his decision now is whether he will start with that formation.
Mulligan should be near full fitness now after two effective performances as substitute but Murphy will know that Pats are certain to make the midfield contest vigorous and highly competitive.
It is important that Cork win the physical battle here early in the game if they are to succeed in reaching the standard they showed second half against Harps and Rovers and move to leadership of the championship.
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