Hotshot O’Flynn out for a month

CORK CITY’S goal machine John O’Flynn will be out of action for at least four weeks after being diagnosed with a serious knee injury.

O’Flynn has been out of action for two weeks since picking up the injury against UCD and will be an absentee from the side to play Bohemians at Turners Cross tonight (7.45).

“John is a big loss, of course,” said City manager Pat Dolan last night, “but we have plenty of cover and I have no doubt that whoever plays against Bohs will do a job for us.”

The absence of O’Flynn is not the only worry for Dolan, as Derek Coughlan, only recently signed from Bohs, is suspended after being sent off against UCD.

“We have a choice of four to play up front instead of John, including Denis Behan and Colin P O’Brien, while Alan Bennett or Kevin Murphy can partner Dan Murray at the back,” said Dolan.

City have played Bohs twice already this season in the league, winning 3-2 in Cork and drawing 1-1 in Dublin.

“We love playing Bohs because they are the best team out there,” said Dolan. “They have massive strength in depth in their squad. We are hoping for a big crowd at Turners Cross to give us the support we need and we’ll be doing out best to give them the result they want.”

Bohemians have a long catalogue of injuries, with Colin Hawkins (hamstring), Damien Lynch (illness) and Mark Rutherford (hip injury) again all likely absentees.

Three other important Premier Division games are also down for decision tonight, with league leaders Shelbourne playing host to improving Longford Town at Tolka Park and in-form St.Patrick’s Athletic facing a tricky assignment against Waterford United at the RSC.

Elsewhere, bottom club UCD, under new boss Pete Mahon, will be looking for only a third league win of the season when they play host to Shamrock Rovers at Belfield Park.

Shelbourne, currently two points clear at the top, will be without suspended striker Ger McCarthy while midfielder Jim Gannon is ruled out with an ankle injury.

“We had a nice break last weekend and all the bumps and bruises from our previous week’s 3-1 victory over Derry City have healed up nicely. Longford always give us a tough game and I expect it to be no different this time,” said manager Pat Fenlon.

Longford have Barry Ferguson, Darragh Sheridan and Vinny Perth all suspended, so manager Alan Matthews has added Tom Silke and Graham Gartland to the squad.

Waterford boss Jimmy McGeough has David Breen back for the clash with St. Patrick’s Athletic at the RSC (7.30) after an ankle injury ruled him out of last week’s 3-1 FAI Carlsberg Cup quarter-final defeat by Longford.

But Breen’s fellow central defender Willie Byrne is doubtful with a groin strain picked up in the Longford game. With just one point from their last four league games and having dropped from second to sixth position in the table, McGeough is naturally concerned.

“We have been playing reasonably well, but not well enough to win games. Our problem has been that our defence have been giving away silly, soft goals. That must stop,” said McGeough.

St. Patrick’s Athletic boss Eamonn Collins is determined that his side will stretch their remarkable record to eight wins in-a-row in all competitions and so keep the pressure on Shelbourne.

Newly-appointed UCD boss Pete Mahon takes charge of his team for the first time in the re-arranged clash with struggling Shamrock Rovers at Belfield Park (7:45).

Mahon and his assistant, Eddie Wallace, are under no illusions as to the task that faces them in the bid to keep bottom of the table College in the top flight.

With just two wins and six draws from 20 Premier Division games, the Students will be hoping that Mahon and Wallace will be the miracle men.