City trio doubtful for cup clash

CORK CITY may still be without John O’Flynn, Neale Fenn and Joe Gamble for tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated Carlsberg FAI Cup semi-final against Derry City at Turner’s Cross.

All three players sat out Tuesday’s 2-1 Premier Division win away to Finn Harps, both Fenn and Gamble are struggling with ankle ligament injuries and O’Flynn has a groin strain.

Derry manager Stephen Kenny has a fully fit squad to chose from, although centre-back Clive Delaney will play no part due to suspension.

Both managers are predicting a tight encounter between two teams battling it out at the top of the league table.

“If we win the Cup this year we’ll have done it the hard way,” said Kenny yesterday. “We were drawn away to Shels, we had to beat Shamrock Rovers and now we have Cork City away.”

Richardson was quick to scupper suggestions that the winner of tomorrow’s tussle could start engraving their names on the trophy.

“People were presupposing that it would be a Cork-Derry final but that did a great injustice to Bray and Drogheda. Bray have a great pedigree in the cup and Drogheda are maturing very gracefully under Paul Doolin.”