Crawley fit for Glens clash as Shels eye up Fleming

SHELBOURNE’S David Crawley will be fit to play in the second leg of Shelbourne’s Champions’ League qualifier against Glentoran at Tolka Park tomorrow evening.

The player was forced off in the first leg at The Oval following a series of heavy knocks which left him nursing what was at first feared to be a fractured ankle. However, manager Pat Fenlon has revealed that the problem was no worse than bruising and swelling, which has eased over the last couple of days, allowing Crawley to resume training with the squad. The result is that with Alan Moore close to full fitness, and only Jamie Harris and Alan Reynolds definitely out, Fenlon expects that, at most, he might make just one change to the team which won the first leg 2-1 in Belfast.

Fenlon also confirmed that he has been in discussions with Curtis Fleming about bringing him to Tolka Park for the remainder of the season. The former Middlesbrough and Ireland international is currently out of contract with Darlington. He recently appeared for St Pats in their friendly against Hearts and was widely expected to resign for his old club, but Shels have now emerged as favourites to secure the 36-year-old. If a deal is agreed, the defender would be eligible to play for Shels against Steaua Bucharest in the second round of Champions’ League qualifying, should the Dubliners succeed in putting out Glentoran tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, because of a heavy workload in the High Court, Shamrock Rovers’

Examinership has been extended until next week, when Examiner Neil Hughes will finally report on the rescue plan to save the club. In the meantime, the good news for Rovers fans is that their star player Pat McCourt has committed himself to the club for the remainder of the season.