Dolan weighs options as O’Callaghan sits out Pat’s visit
O’Callaghan must serve a one-match suspension and will miss a game which will lead to a change at the top of the League table if it produces a decisive result.
Cork lie second, a point behind leaders Shelbourne with St Pat’s a point further behind in third place.
The loss of O’Callaghan is ill-timed for Cork because in three meetings with St Pat’s this season they have failed to win. The teams drew 0-0 in Cork and 1-1 in Dublin in previous League matches. St Pat’s won the League Cup semi-final at Richmond Park in a penalty shoot-out after another 0-0 contest.
O’Callaghan has been hugely influential for Cork and his partnership with John O’Flynn has been especially productive. The ball-playing linkman has added an appetite for hard work to his armoury and his ability to produce the unexpected marks him out as a special talent. Few players have recourse to his imaginative passing ability.
Manager Pat Dolan will delay a decision on how he will compensate for the loss of O’Callaghan. He spent several days in England this week and will wait until the pre-match meeting to choose a replacement.
Dolan has several options. The promising Denis Behan is recovered from injury and could slot in alongside O’Flynn; alternatively Kevin Doyle could switch from the flank to centre-forward.
Dolan must also do without Conor O’Grady, who will miss four more weeks after breaking a bone in his foot in training.
Dolan did not recruit in England but Cork are considering offering a contract to left winger Liam Kearney. A native of Conna, Co. Cork, Kearney spent the last three years at Nottingham Forest and proved a valuable member of Brian Kerr’s U19 team. He spent the past two weeks training with Cork after being released by Forest.
An ongoing cause of concern to Pat’s is the fitness of experienced midfielder Paul Osam. He is a special player for Pat’s, a real rallying force in midfield with an ability to score from set-pieces. And while the toll of many years’ honest labour in the league means he is not as available as often as he used be, it is certain Pat’s will make every effort to have him in their team.
Manager Eamonn Collins said: “We can go top of the league if we win this and while Shels will have three matches in hand it would put them under a little pressure if they were knocked off the top.
“Our win in the League Cup final was a big boost for the club and it was very encouraging to pick up the first trophy of the season. We’ll be bringing a big following to Cork with us for this match.”
Pat’s will have to wait the result of a late fitness test on full-back Barry Prendeville before they know whether he will be available but definitely out is their energetic and very committed midfielder, Des Byrne, with a bruised foot.
Shamrock Rovers are facing a crisis after a dreadful run of eight matches without a win and they will feel pressure when they face Drogheda at Richmond Park. Rovers drew two and lost three of their last league matches and are only three points clear of Derry City who are in second last place. Manager Liam Buckley said: “It would be nice to break our run against Drogheda and a win would put us in good mood for a match against Bohemians at Richmond Park on Monday.”
Bohemians are surely in a false position eight points behind Shelbourne but they have matches in hand over four of the teams above them. Yet losing matches like that against St Pat’s last week will not help their cause, especially when the matches are at home. Manager Stephen Kenny insisted, however, that Bohs had played well against Pat’s and were not helped by their inability to take their scoring chances.
Kenny said: “If we keep on playing as well as we did against Pat’s then we will pick up points. We just need to capitalise on our opportunities a little better.”
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