Fenlon is sure Shels can take care of City

SHELBOURNE will throw caution to the wind in tonight’s FAI Carlsberg Cup tie against Cork City at Turner’s Cross (7.45). Manager Pat Fenlon declared bluntly: “I believe we have the players capable of winning in Cork.”

Fenlon's confident appraisal of a cup tie that promises much was justified by their performances this season one loss in 15 league matches is the type of statistic to make any manager bullish.

It would be a brave punter who would bet against them not retaining their front-running position for the championship title. They are currently six points ahead of second-placed Waterford.

Shamrock Rovers have the opportunity of overtaking Shels and will be on the same points total if they win the three matches they have in hand. But Shels are currently in control.

They have been impressively consistent and manager Fenlon reflected the benefits of that when he said: "This is a cup tie, but we will still be going to Cork to win. Playing safe is not something we usually do, so we won't be doing it now. I believe we are good enough to win it first time."

Shels have a full squad available. Fenlon will stick with his regular selection and he is especially pleased with the progress of recent signing Derek Rogers at centre-back.

Rogers, 27, previously played in Holland with the Cambuur team. He is a native of Liverpool and slotted smoothly into Shels' defence alongside Kevin Doherty.

Cork City will dispute the suggestion the league championship is beyond them. But it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the cup represents their best chance of a major trophy.

The cup was the one trophy that eluded manager Pat Dolan during his term at St Pat's and he will know from the mood in the camp just how passionately Cork regard the cup competition. But they will have to show more initiative than they have done of late if they are to claim the goals they will need to put down Shels.

They lost the league cup semi-final recently because they relied exclusively on John O'Flynn and George O'Callaghan to take on the St Pat's defence.

Colin T O'Brien weighed in with a goal against Waterford last week and looked capable of providing a degree of penetration that has not been present too often this season when switched to the wide position.

The improving state of fitness of Kevin Doyle might offer Dolan more options this week.

It remains to be seen whether Cork will have recent signing Andy Packer in the side. Packer played for Sydney Olympic and was introduced late in the game against Waterford. He will be chasing a central midfield position.

Dolan awaits fitness reports on two other players before he finalises his team. Centre-back Dan Murray has received treatment for a knee injury and Billy Woods was troubled by an ankle injury this week.

While Cork cannot claim to have matched Shelbourne's progress this season, they will be keen to take advantage of home venue. They drew with Shels in Cork in May and might have snatched a late win had Shels' goalkeeper Steve Williams not saved a penalty attempt by O'Flynn.

One only hope the 'boo-boys' will enter into the spirit of the occasion by abandoning their heckling of former Cork player Ollie Cahill and afford a player who gave Cork great service the respect he deserves.