O’Flynn injury woe for Cork ahead of Bohs visit
Cork will wait until shortly before kick-off before finalising their team selection because of O’Flynn’s back injury and Colin O’Brien is standing by to deputise.
After scoring a hat-trick against UCD at the weekend, O’Flynn’s availability is central to Cork’s hopes of a win.
Bohemians must plan without their hero from last season’s league decider, winger Bobby Ryan, who scored the goal that beat Shelbourne to clinch the title for them. He was stretchered off against Longford after 60 minutes and will be missing because of a knee injury.
Cork’s win over UCD was significant for several reasons but principally because it immediately swept away any negative legacy from last season’s losing sequence away from home.
Cork won only once outside of Turner’s Cross in last season’s league. The goals they scored against UCD were also their first of the current competition and they confirmed the huge talent that is vested in the powerful frame of young O’Flynn.
Manager Pat Dolan said: “The passing and the movement against UCD gave me most satisfaction because against St Pat’s, while we worked very hard, it was a stuttering performance.
“Last season away from home the team struggled but this time they were very determined to put that behind them and once we scored the first goal we relaxed and played very well.”
Dolan believes that tonight’s clash will provide Cork with an important barometer of where they stand in the context of this season’s eircom league. While Bohs were held by Longford Town to a 1-1 draw at Flancare Park over the weekend, they are still the top team and will be a big test for Cork.
The loss of Ryan is a setback but they have a readymade replacement in Fergal Harkin.
“I watched Bohs against Longford and perhaps they were a little bit unfortunate not to win it late in the game,” said Dolan.
“Of course we want to do better than against St Pat’s but I do not want to put too much pressure on the team either. Developing a team is a gradual, evolutionary process and against St Pat’s I was delighted with the effort and the spirit but we had not enough quality. Against UCD we had a little more quality.
“We scored from a set-piece against UCD, but already we have seen how small we are in the match-ups. We need to address this and also I want to bring more left-sided players into the club as we search for a balanced squad.”
Bohs had to battle to match Longford and manager Kenny summed up their experiences. “The pitch left a lot to be desired and it was a real battle. But we showed we had the stomach for it. In that sense it was a good draw but I was not really happy with a draw.”
Bohs will bring Stephen Caffrey into midfield after he impressed against Longford as a substitute.
Shelbourne bring their 100% record and a couple of injury problems into tonight’s game with Longford Town.
Full-back Owen Heary is out with a foot injury and centre-back Kevin Doherty has a thigh strain.
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