High expectations as Doolin says Drogheda home win vital
He said their desire to maintain their good run on their home ground was more important - “The objective for every team in the League is to win at home and that is what makes this game vital for us,” he said.
Doolin has raised expectations so high at United Park fans will be disappointed if Drogheda do not succeed this season in lifting their first major national trophy. They are in the semi-finals of the Cup and are the best placed team to challenge Shelbourne for the League title.
But Drogheda have never done well against Longford Town. This is what makes this contest a fascinating one for, after beating Athlone Town in the Cup replay on Monday at St. Mel’s Park, Longford are in good form and not worried about playing away.
Doolin can’t call upon the services of Barry Molloy and Aidan Lynch for both are suspended. He is expected to call either Sean McClare or Alan Reilly into midfield and both may start.
Longford will be without John Martin because he suffered from concussion after a knock against Athlone.
But Barry Ferguson and Declan Fitzgerald are both ready to return after recovering from injury.
Doolin is philosophical about what lies in store: “If we are not good enough to beat Longford on our own pitch then we do not deserve to be where we are - challenging for top honours.”
Cork City have caused some excitement this season by the quality of their football - not least at Richmond Park last week when they came back to draw 1-1 with Shamrock Rovers after losing a first half goal.
The contrast between Cork’s first half performance and the football they produced after the break was stark.
Manager Pat Dolan said: “Sometimes we have not responded as champions should respond when we have found ourselves a goal down, but on this occasion our second half football was the best we have produced this season.”
Cork had to be flexible in their team selection when Alan Bennett cried off with an ankle injury. His natural replacement, Kevin Murray, was also injured and Dolan believed it was a little early in Shane Guthrie’s career to throw him into such a difficult match.
Cork turned once again to their man for all seasons, Colin T O’Brien, and he stepped into the centre-back role and played as if it had been his natural position throughout his career.
There are those who identified him as the best player on the pitch.
Said Dolan: “Colin is such a good player that I could play him anywhere and depend upon him to produce a top performance.”
Cork were also encouraged by the performance in midfield of Joe Gamble. He did so well as to suggest he is already settled after his few seasons in England and Dolan said: “He had an excellent game and I am sure he is going to be a very good player for us.”
The one blot on Cork’s performance was their inability to beat Rovers.
They will find it very difficult to get anything from their visit to Dalymount Park (7.45pm) where Bohemians have responded very positively to the arrival of a new manager. Chances of Glenn Crowe playing against Cork are considered slim. If he does return he will team up with another former international in Dominic Foley to form a strike partnership that should trouble every defence.
Farrelly himself continues to be forced to sit out matches as he is recovering from a hamstring injury but Bohs are still powered by substantial players like Kevin Hunt, Colin Hawkins and Bobby Ryan and they were delighted with the impact of young Stephen Ward in midfield against Pats.
Also on the fixture list tonight are two first division matches: Cobh Ramblers v Bray Wanderers, St. Colman’s Park 7.45 pm; UCD v Athlone Town, Belfield 7.45 pm.
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