Kerry eye first win as Cobh denied three players

COBH RAMBLERS will be deprived of the services of three regular, first-team players because of suspensions when they play the Kerry District League tonight at St Colman’s Park (7.45 ko) in the League Cup qualifying tie.

The three sent off in the course of Cobh's 5-0 defeat by Galway United on Saturday were player/manager Dave Hill, centre-back Darren Murphy and centre-forward Kieran O'Reilly.

The automatic suspension system rules them out of a match which they must win by three goals if they are to qualify in place of Cork City. Cork's 2-0 win over Kerry last week has left them in a strong position after Pat Dolan's side and Cobh drew in a scoreless game.

The Kerry players have, of course, taken encouragement from the knowledge that Cobh will be below strength. Galway's success in scoring five has fired their ambition of winning a first match in senior competition.

Kerry league secretary John O'Regan said: "We have been able to strengthen our squad since we played Cork, because Damien Diggins (Tralee Dynamoes) and Anthony Murphy (Kingdom Boys) are now available. We are looking forward to this."

Kerry will, however, have to plan without their authoritative centre-back, Shane Guthrie. He was sent off in the match against Cork and manager Tom McGiff is likely to fill the space by switching Timmy Lynch from right-back, as he did against Cork.