Player of month Kearney aiming to clip Seagulls’ wings

CORK CITY resume their eircom League campaign against Bray Wanderers at Turner’s Cross tonight, boosted by the news that Liam Kearney has been named the eircom/SWAI player of the month for August.

Kearney, 22, beat off competition from a number of his Cork team mates to win the award for a second time.

The Soccer Writers recognised the winger’s instrumental role in City’s famous UEFA Cup victory over Djurgarden, as well the club’s continuing domination of the league during a month in which they drew with Waterford, beat Shels and lost to Derry.

Kearney’s form also saw him earn a recall to the Ireland Under 21 side when he came on as a late substitute in last Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by France in Cork. It was the seventh appearance in Don Givens’ team for the ‘Conna Maradona’ who also saw his Cork colleague Roy O’ Donovan come off the bench for the Republic.

And it’s back to the Cross for Kearney and O’ Donovan this evening, as Cork return to league action following their successful exploits in Europe and the FAI Cup.

Against mid-table Bray who beat St Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 last Friday, City will be looking to bounce back from last month’s defeat at the Brandywell which opened up the title race.

Derry’s 1-1 draw with Drogheda last week meant the Foylesiders were unable to fully exploit Cork’s hectic schedule, with the result that Damien Richardson’s team retain a two-point lead at the top of the table with a game in hand over their nearest rivals, going into tonight’s match.

Second-placed Derry will be hoping to keep the pressure on Cork at home to Longford, who go into the game on the back of a resounding 3-0 win against Waterford United at Flancare Park last Friday. That result kept Waterford rooted to the second from bottom position, making tonight’s clash at the RSC with bottom club Finn Harps a real relegation six pointer.

Elsewhere, resurgent Shamrock Rovers face Shelbourne at Dalymount Park in another Dublin derby, following the Hoops’ fine 3-1 victory over Bohemians. A Jason Byrne-inspired Shels looked to be back to something like their best form when they slammed UCD 4-2 last Friday and will be anxious to make it three wins on the spin against Rovers, but the week has already hit a sour note for the Tolka Park club with the news that their CEO Ollie Byrne has been fined €2,000 and banned for one month for bringing the game into disrepute.

The heavy suspension follows Byrne’s altercation with a photographer at the Shels-Drogheda game last month, and he was also severely warned as to his future conduct. For the period of the ban, the Shelbourne Chief Executive will not be allowed near the dressing rooms or pitch.

In other Premier Division games tonight, St Pats host Bohemians and UCD are at home to Drogheda. The Waterford United-Finn Harps game kicks off at 7.30pm; all other games have a 7.45pm start.