Skipper Heary back for Shels as resurgent Cork face ultimate test
Heary was one of those who contributed most to Shelbourne’s dominance of Cork at Turner’s Cross when the teams last met. He and others like Dave Rogers, Stuart Byrne, Jim Crawford bossed Cork as they cruised to a two goal win.
Since then, however, much has changed with Cork. “I was surprised they took so long to get going,” said Shels manager Pat Fenlon, “but they are a good team and it will be hard.”
Hard is a word that sums up Shels well. Cork will not be given the space they enjoyed against St. Pats to play their pretty football, for Shels will work to close them down quickly and assertively.
Cork manager Pat Dolan has spoken of a “culture change” this season and we have seen evidence of it in recent weeks. Cork have played attractive, constructive football and their back four have been absorbed into the general theme for they have been concentrating on playing the ball out to a colleague rather than “lumping” it.
Their growing confidence in the merit of their approach has improved their efficiency but this will be the ultimate test. Do they have the courage and the mental capacity to stick with their possession football and the technique to set the tempo of the game?
The signing of Joe Gamble will offer Dolan another alternative in midfield but not for another couple of weeks. Kevin Doyle, Neal Horgan, Stephen O’Flynn and Cillian Lordan are all back in training after injury but only Doyle will be added to the squad.
Shelbourne will be without Ollie Cahill because of injury and they have worries over Wes Hoolahan and Jim Crawford. They should still be too strong for Cork.
Waterford United bounced back to form at the weekend with an excellent win over Longford Town at Flancare Park but now they have a more difficult challenge from bogey team Shamrock Rovers at the RSC (7.45) tonight.
Rovers whipped Waterford 4-0 at Richmond Park at Easter on a day when too many Waterford players were out of sorts. Manager Alan Reynolds will not allow a recurrence of that particular nightmare.
Alan Carey will return at right-back for Waterford in place of the suspended David Mulcahy but Waterford are suffering the loss of leading goalscorer Willie Bruton and he will again be missed.
His attempted comeback from a shoulder injury against Longford was not a success.
Vinny Sullivan will be back at centre-forward for Waterford and Stephen Gough is expected to replace Jason McGuinness at centre-back for the Hoops who are certain to find Waterford in more combative form this time round.
Also on the programme tonight is a match at the Brandywell between Derry City and Dublin City (7.45) and at Richmond Park, where St. Patrick’s Athletic will play Longford Town, also at 7.45 pm.
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