Dolan makes case for defence as City set sights on Hoops

CORK CITY manager Pat Dolan yesterday paid tribute to his goal-scoring hot-shots John O’Flynn and George O’Callaghan and quickly emphasised the part played in their exciting start to the season by City’s defence.

“Scoring three goals at Flancare Park to beat Longford was great” he said, “and I am delighted that our centre-forwards are making such good headlines. But it would be wrong to underplay the contribution of our defenders. There is little point in scoring three goals if you let in four and the team did great to deny Longford a goal. The blank scoresheet for Longford was the icing on the cake,” he said.

Cork’s early run to the top of the eircom League table and the free-scoring form of O’Flynn and O’Callaghan is very similar to their experience last season. And Shamrock Rovers’ manager Liam Buckley was quick to point to developments in the second-half of season when he looked forward to tomorrow’s match at Richmond Park.

“Cork are the ones under pressure,” he said. “They will want to extend their excellent start to the season. They beat us in Cork in an exciting game but they will not need reminding that we pipped them for a place in the Inter-Toto Cup.”

Rovers drew 1-1 with champions Bohemians last weekend and that achievement underlined the quality in the team. An interested spectator was Pat Dolan, and he was impressed.

“Derek Treacy cannot get into the Rovers team at the moment and that shows how strong they are” he said.

“They have a very well-balanced team and are strong on both flanks with good left-sided players like Richie Byrne and Liam Kelly.”

Dolan is still finding his way with Cork but his appreciation of the quality within the squad he inherited from Liam Murphy is growing with every match. And in homing in on the defensive strength shown by Cork he focused on Alan Bennett and on an attitude he intends to encourage.

“Alan Bennett and the players like him is what the future of Cork City is all about” he said. “He was a fan of Cork City, his family were fans of Cork City, before he signed for the club. Wearing the shirt means so much to him and you can see that in his play.”

Dolan extended Cork’s defensive options by signing 21-year-old Robbie Hedderman this week and he will, most likely, occupy a place on the bench against Rovers tomorrow. Hedderman played for Tolka Rovers before he transferred to Aberdeen two seasons ago. He attracted the interest of the big three Dublin clubs when it became known that he was likely to return home and if his spell with Cork over the next three months is a success he will be offered a long-term deal.

Meantime, Cork will have to counter a full-strength Rovers. Striker Tony Grant and winger Shane Robinson picked up knocks against Bohs but they are fully recovered. And Cork will need to be at their best to contain them.

Elsewhere, Rockmount will be attempting to repeat their FAI Intermediate Cup success of 1999 when they play Belgrove in the final at Turner’s Cross tomorrow (3 pm). Their only previous success was achieved when the final was again played in Cork and they overcame Garda 2-0.

Belgrove are managed by Pete Mahon, who was manager of St. Francis when they reached the final of the FAI Cup in 1990 and they are highly rated. But Rockmount will take encouragement from their wins over two other Dublin teams, the competition favourites Cherry Orchard and Tolka Rovers.