Cork aiming to re-launch title quest with win over Bohs
Bohs lead the Eircom League race by a whopping eight points from Shelbourne with Cork a further point adrift, so this is a make-or-break game in every sense for Cork.
The incentive for them is that a win here and in Monday's re-arranged tie against St. Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park would bring them right back into contention.
Said manager Liam Murphy: "We have to win these two matches and, if we do, anything is possible. What is encouraging is that we showed good form in winning our first match away from home in Bray."
Cork beat Bray 3-2 and that represented a breakthrough of sorts for them. The match against Bohs is almost certain to present a second ... but it remains to be seen whether it will be for Bohs or Cork.
The breakthrough opportunity for Bohs is linked to the fact that Cork have not lost at home in a League tie this season. The incentive for Cork is that Bohs are the only team unbeaten in the competition this season and they would love to wreck that boast.
Said Bohs' manager Stephen Kenny: "We know what to expect from Cork. They drew with us at Dalymount Park early in the season they have a smart team with some very good players. We'll earn anything we get from Cork."
Cork have injury worries about striker George O'Callaghan, centre-back Declan Daly and midfielder Alan Bennett. O'Callaghan is considered very doubtful because of an achilles problem and all three will have to come through fitness tests.
Manager Murphy has options to cover for all three - Gareth Cronin is an obvious replacement for Daly, there are three central midfielders jousting for two places without Bennett in Greg O'Halloran, Conor O'Grady and Alan Reynolds while David Warren and Colin T. O'Brien are possible strikers.
Warren has played all of his football this season on the wing but when he first went to England to join Wrexham he was playing centre-forward. Wrexham played him in virtually every position, including full-back, but a complication is that his recent injury suggests he will not be able to play for 90 minutes.
Bohemians are hoping that Paul Keegan will have recovered from a knee injury sufficiently to come in to support the high-scoring Glen Crowe., Keegan missed last week's drawn game against St. Pats.
Said Manager Kenny: "Our match against Cork in August was dominated by their goalkeeper, Michael Devine, who played exceptionally well. But that game does not bear any relevance to this one - Cork play with more confidence at home.
"I know everybody in the League will be looking to Cork to do everybody else a favour by winning this match but my job is to keep our good run going and that is what we intend to do.
"What makes it good for us is that we know the switch to Friday football has worked well in Cork and just like us they are enjoying good attendances. We had 6,000 for the match against Pats and we know Turner's Cross will be full of enthusiastic fans who will create a great atmosphere. This is one of the matches you always look forward to."
Longford Town must wait until next week for the result of their appeal against the loss of nine points
for an alleged breach of registration requirements. They face a UCD team tonight that is desperate for League points.
UCD rooted to the bottom spot, four points behind their nearest rivals, Longford, and hurtling into the first division. But manager Paul Doolin insists their fortunes will change sooner rather than later.
"We lost again by the single goal to Shelbourne last time out" said Doolin, "how many times has that happened to us this season? But we're playing good football and we have just got to start winning now."
UCD will have Rob McAuley back after suspension but midfielder John Martin will be kept out by injury. The loss of nine points has checked Longford's advance but the risk of slumping into relegation might be the wake-up call they need.
Tonight's fixtures: Eircom League, Premier Division:; Cork City v Bohemians, Turner's Cross 7.45 pm; Drogheda United v Bray Wanderers O2 Park 8 pm; St. Pat's Athletic v Derry City, Richmond Park,7.45; Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park 7.45; UCD v Longford Town, Belfield Park 7.45.
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