Kelly’s visit revives memories
It was March, 1990 when Ireland played England in a B international match before a full-house. And a royal time was had by all as Ireland whipped England 4-1 in a cracking game with Kelly converting a penalty to share in the bonanza.
Since then Kelly has done the rounds in a football sense and served several different clubs. Over the course of a successful career he won 26 caps for Ireland between 1988 and 1998. His last international was that ill-fated match against England at Lansdowne Road that had to be abandoned because of rioting.
Kelly will play alongside Gary Beckett against Cork with Beckett carrying on after coming in as deputy for Liam Coyle against Longford Town last weekend. Coyle damaged his Achilles tendon and will not be fit for several weeks.
Beckett is a capable striker and with Kelly presenting a powerful physical challenge to the Cork centre-backs Stephen Napier and Gareth Cronin this is a strike force full of potential. Derry have taken only one point from their four league matches but they are capable of much better than that.
“We have paid a heavy price for individual mistakes,” said manager Kevin Mahon. “We have been playing quite well but we have not had the rub of the green in any of our matches. But we are looking forward to the Cork match because we have done well there in recent years.”
Derry will be without midfield general Tommy McCallion as well as the gifted Coyle. McCallion has ankle ligament damage and they are also concerned about Sean Hargan, one of their more robust defenders.
Cork City will hope midfielder Conor O’Grady will make a quick recovery from the operation he underwent yesterday in Dublin. O’Grady damaged a knee in their cup win over Dunmore and the best prognosis was that it was no more than cartilage damage. But, as with all knee injuries, the surgeon could not be certain until he had actually done an internal examination.
Cork manager Liam Murphy will
also be without David Warren, their young winger, who is troubled by a groin injury from that Cup match. Declan Daly and James Mulligan are making steady progress from injuries but it will be some weeks yet before they are fit to resume.
Cork raised hopes of a successful season by their high-scoring opening to the season with their new signings bringing a new outlook and a new
attitude to matches at home. But they failed their first real test when they went under to Drogheda United in their first match away from home last weekend and to be held scoreless was another disappointment.
Manager Murphy refused to look at their 1-0 loss in that light, however, saying: “The more I think about the game the more I come to the conclusion that we left it behind us. Even though we did not play as well as we can we still had chances to win it.
“The ball just would not go into the net for us. The week before everything we touched went in but, fair play, their goalkeeper had an excellent game and he made two unbelievable saves from Billy Woods and we hit the woodwork and had a penalty turned down.”
Cork will look to the bright and breezy partnership of John O’Flynn and George O’Callaghan up front to produce the goals for them and with Woods in lively form on the left wing and Colin O’Brien working industriously on the opposite flank they have plenty of fire power.
But will their defence be good enough to shut out the power of Kelly and Beckett?
Fixtures: Today: Eircom League, Premier Division: Longford Town v Drogheda United, Flancare Park 7.30pm. First Division Cup, north section; Finn Harps v Galway United, Ballybofey 7.30pm. South section, Kildare County v Waterford United, Newbridge 7.30pm.
Sunday: Eircom League, Premier Division; Bray Wanderers v Bohemians, Carlisle Grounds 3.15pm; Cork City v Derry City, Turner’s Cross 12 noon; Shamrock Rovers v UCD, Tolka Park 3.15pm.
Monday: First Division Cup, north section; Dublin City v Monaghan United, Tolka Park 7.45pm.
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