Dolan may include Guthrie in squad to face Kerry selection
Guthrie was one of the stars of the Kerry selection when they performed with merit in last season’s competition when a win over Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park represented a high point.
His performances attracted the admiration of Cork manager Pat Dolan who added Guthrie to his players’ roster at the beginning of the season. And this match would seem to be an appropriate one for Dolan to give Guthrie his debut game.
Dolan will be tempted to leave his team unchanged from that which beat Bohemians 3-2 at Dalymount Park in the National League on Friday. The performance was described as the best of the season from Cork for they led 3-0 after 78 minutes and Bohs needed two goals from penalties in the closing ten minutes to recover some respectability.
Dolan has a big squad, however, and he will be under pressure to rotate the players with Liam Kearney, who was kept out of the Irish U21 squad in Poland by an injury, pushing for inclusion now he has regained fitness. Reserve goalkeeper Mark McNulty is another who needs playing time.
Elsewhere the eircom League Cup defending champions St Patrick’s Athletic look for a good start against Dublin City at Richmond Park not least because they need a lift after a poor start to the League competition.
The competition provided some of the most memorable moments of last season, particularly in the final when Longford Town captain Barry Ferguson missing a last minute penalty that would have sent the game to extra time against St. Pats.
St Pat’s manager Eamonn Collins certainly has fond memories of the competition having won it last season in his first year in charge and he hopes that history can repeat itself.
“The League Cup was great for us last year in more ways than one because we blooded the likes of Stephen Quigley and Keith Dunne who came into that squad with Aidan O’Keeffe and all are now first team players this season,” he said.
Meanwhile, in eircom League action, Kilkenny City came from behind to preserve their unbeaten home record as they claimed a 1-1 draw with Cobh Ramblers in Division One.
Cobh went in front after just three minutes when Steve Yelverton turned home John Meade’s cross and should have added further goals before Barry Wood equalised for Kilkenny just before half time.
: Cork City v Kerry League, Turner’s Cross (7.45), Group 3: Kildare County v Athlone Town, Newbridge (7.30); Group 5: Galway United v Sligo Rovers, Terryland Park (3pm); Group 7: St. Patrick’s Athletic v Dublin City, Richmond Pk (3pm)
: Waterford United v Kilkenny City, RSC (7.30); Group 4: Derry City v Finn Harps, Brandywell (7.45); Group 6: Bray Wanderers v UCD, Carlisle Grounds (7.45), Group 8: Dundalk v Bohs, Oriel Park (7.45)
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