Kearney an injury doubt as City gear up to tackle UCD
Kearney has made quite an impression with Cork since he returned from Nottingham Forest and his form on the left-wing in recent matches illustrated just why he won so many international caps at under-age level.
Even he, however, was out-shone by the brilliant George O'Callaghan when Cork beat St. Patrick's Athletic on Monday at Richmond Park to fire ambitions of clinching qualification for European competition next year.
Despite Cork's good run they have now gone seven matches without defeat manager Dolan refused to speculate on where his young team might take him in his first season.
He said: "We are an emerging team but as I said to the players before the St. Pats match this was our Cup final. That is the way we must approach every match and so our match against UCD is now our cup final.
"I also told the players that we have a lot of scope for improvement and there are a lot of reasons for us to believe we will improve but in football you cannot take anything for granted."
Cork are hoping that John O'Flynn might yet recover from his knee injury in time to return before the end of the season. To that end he has been receiving treatment in an oxygen chamber, a system that hastened the return to fitness of Kevin Doyle when he suffered a broken bone in his foot this season.
UCD manager Pete Mahon admitted that their injury and illness problems were so severe that he considered asking for a postponement of the match.
UCD have struggled in recent weeks to overcome a recurring series of difficulties with players unavailable for one reason or another.
They are certain to be without midfielders Alan Cawley, who is suspended, and John Martin, who is injured, while centre-forward Robbie Griffin is unlikely to be recovered from injury in time to play.
Shamrock Rovers manager Liam Buckley welcomes back centre-forward Glen Fitzpatrick after he was forced to miss their win over Drogheda United on Tuesday for tonight's match against Bohemians at Tolka Park (7pm). Centre-back Stephen McGuinness will again be missing because of suspension.
Bohs manager Stephen Kenny was a 'flu victim this week and stayed away from training for fear of sparking off an epidemic. He will be back to supervise from the touchline at Tolka Park tonight and is likely to retain the team that beat UCD at Belfield.
Waterford manager Jimmy McGeough was disappointed by their loss to Shelbourne and he will crack the whip as they play Drogheda United at the RSC tonight (7.30 pm).
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