Carey in line for City recall

FULL-BACK Alan Carey is in line for a recall for Cork City who are looking for points for Europe in their vital Eircom Premier Division game against Longford Town at Flancare Park tonight (7pm).

Carey was left out of the team for Friday's game against Shamrock Rovers and having succeeded in staving off the Rovers' challenge in yet another of their many dramatic finishes at Turner's Cross this season, Cork now go in search of the extra points to clinch third spot in the championship.

History and most recent results are against them. Cork have won only one of 11 League matches away from home this season and they have never succeeded in beating Longford at Flancare Park.

"We've taken great encouragement from our last two results a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne and a 2-0 win over St Patrick's Athletic," said Longford manager Alan Matthews.

The four points gained were precious to Longford in helping their bid to climb away from the relegation area and also improved their position by dragging Pats into the danger zone.

Longford will probably stick with the team that beat St Pats but full-back Alan Murphy is fit again after a bout of flu and will be considered.

Cork's Liam Murphy may have to invest a little more time in selecting his team based on their experiences against Shamrock Rovers.

Cork were hurt by the skilful incursions into Rovers' attack by left-back James Keddy and by the speed of their two wingers, Shane Robinson, on the right, and Stephen Grant, on the left.

While Greg O'Halloran maintained his good form this season at full-back, he was isolated at times.

Murphy was very conscious of the strength of Rovers' left wing when he opted for the more experienced O'Halloran in place of Carey: "Everybody knows that Alan Carey is one of the best attacking full-backs in the League and I made the change for tactical reasons," he said.

O'Halloran has shown this season he has the best passing range of Cork's midfielders and Murphy's decision to move him to central midfield against Rovers was confirmation of that.

Cork will need to invest their football with the fire and energy they showed in the closing quarter against Rovers if they are to improve on their record away from home this season.

Cork have three matches to play while Rovers have two and if they are to clinch third place they need to win here.