Bennett to rescue for City

CORK CITY manager Liam Murphy is not about to panic tonight when his side face Bray Wanderers at Turner’s Cross, despite having three central defenders out injured.

Centre-back Stephen Napier was ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing an Achilles’ tendon during Tuesday night’s FAI Carlsberg Cup replay victory over Monaghan United. Club captain Declan Daly and new boy John Andrews remain on the casualty list but Murphy will resist the temptation to look for a replacement and stick with midfielder Alan Bennett alongside Gareth Cronin in the centre of defence until they return to full fitness.

“It won’t be much different from the team that finished the cup replay,” Murphy said. “John Andrews is still on his way back from an ankle injury. He’ll have a fitness test but he definitely won’t be starting.”

“I’ll continue with Alan Bennett in the middle of the back four. He looked very comfortable there and he is used to the role. He and Damien O’Rourke played there together in our youth side which won what was the equivalent of the FAI Youth Cup. He’s one of those footballers who can play anywhere and I’ve played him at right-back, right midfield; I’ve used him all over the field.”

Meanwhile Paul Osam, who has been nursing a thigh strain, is the chief concern for St Patrick’s Athletic ahead of tonight’s glamour Dublin derby with Bohemians at Richmond Park.

The fact that neither side has dropped a point in the campaign to date, adds to the sense of anticipation. Bohs are once more without central defender Colin Hawkins, out with four broken ribs, while midfielder Kevin Hunt is ruled out with a thigh strain.

Meanwhile Shels’ face Longford Town at Tolka Park, with Stephen Geoghegan back after a three week injury lay-off. Wes Houlihan, who made his Irish U21 debut in that 1-0 victory over Finland, is back in attack.

Longford boss Alan Matthews has Darragh Sheridan and Sinisa Savage back after injury lay-offs.