Reynolds return is a boost for a low morale City
Reynolds missed the humiliating defeat by Shamrock Rovers last week-end while he served a one-match ban for an accumulation of penalty points.
Manager Liam Murphy yesterday confirmed that he will slot immediately into the team as the manager attempts to restore morale for a team that took a heavy beating from a lively Rovers.
Said Murphy: “We were well beaten in all areas of the pitch. I know we gave away some bad goals but I’m not going to isolate the defence. It was a bad team performance all round and I could make changes in every line of the team based on the performance.”
Rovers have been the most impressive team in the League over the past couple of months with six wins and a draw in their last seven games and after surrendering a two goals lead to Cork at Turner’s Cross earlier this season they were out to prove a point.
Cork surely knew what was coming but on the night they were unable to cope and the defeat has helped to illustrate just how far behind the best Cork still are. Cork’s home form has helped sustain ambition but, in reality, they were flattered by their recent win over St. Pats and the draw with Bohemians.
It would be unfair not to acknowledge that Cork have provided some splendid entertainment this season and the progress they have made with a new team has been admirable. And even if the top prizes elude them they can set the scene for a better next season by qualifying for Europe.
Said Murphy: “Hopefully the work we are doing will stand to Cork for many seasons to come. Our two centre-forwards last week, John O’Flynn and Colin P. O’Brien, are just 20 and 19 years of age and if they can go on to give us the service that John Caulfield and Pat Morley did then we have good times ahead.”
Cork this week released one of their strikers, James Mulligan, who will be free to join another club with the arrival of the transfer window next month.
Mulligan was Cork’s most expensive signing when he joined three seasons ago. He is now a free agent.
Cork can improve their position with several matches in the Dublin area affected by the weather conditions and Cobh Ramblers can also progress their challenge in the first division when they play Finn Harps at St. Colman’s Park tonight (7.45 pm kick-off).
Cobh have problems because of the recent spate of red card decisions that hit them with five players given their marching orders in their last three matches even though manager Dave Hill was adamant none of them had been guilty of a bad tackle.Two midfielders are suspended for this game, however, team captain Mark Clifford and the skilful Steve Yelverton.
Manager Dave Hill missed the game in Galway where Cobh lost the chance to go joint top of the table with Waterford United. That was an expensive loss but the continuity of the match was interrupted with several sendings off and Cobh will be happy to be allowed finish the game with eleven players this time.
Hill will help plug the gaps in midfield caused by the suspensions and he will also afford recent signing Andy Brady a home debut in this area. Brady was a colleague of Hill’s at Bohemians and he played his first match with Cobh as sub a week ago. Cobh are also likely to make a change in goal with John Donegan again available. Derek Slattery filled in for him last week and is likely to step down now that Donegan is fit again.
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