Shels welcome McCarthy and Hoolahan back against Derry
Shelbourne were not stretched in beating newly promoted Waterford last weekend and Fenlon will be glad of the return of centre-back Tony McCarthy and winger Wes Hoolahan after injury for what should be a much more searching test.
Derry City disappointed when losing their opening game 2-3 to Longford Town at the Brandywell but the return of the experienced Peter Hutton after serving a one-match suspension will do much to lift them.
Manager Kevin Mahon is also expected to give a first game to new signing Mark McChrystal, an 18 years old local player who returns after several seasons in England. The 6’3” centre-back spent three years with Wolves and a brief loan spell with Bradford before deciding to return to Derry.
Andy Petersen played in goal last week for Derry as their regular goalkeeper, Alan Gough, is likely to miss the next five months because of a knee injury. Petersen will retain his place but missing will be striker Gary Beckett, who must serve a suspension after a red card against Longford.
Returning also for Derry will be midfielder Ciaran Martyn who wanted to return to his native Dublin where he is studying for accountancy exams but he has agreed to remain for another season.
Shelbourne’s attack will be strengthened considerably by the availability of Hoolahan, who is now a regular with Ireland’s U-21 international team.
Said manager Pat Fenlon: “It’s good to have Hoolahan and McCarthy back as I wasn’t entirely happy with our performance against Waterford. It was not an easy playing surface and we can play better football at Tolka.”
Cork City manager Pat Dolan welcomed the availability of George O’Callaghan after he had been forced to miss their opening game against St. Pats because of a carry-over suspension from last season.
“Having George back is a boost and a bonus” said Dolan. “He is a quality player. He will probably come straight back into the team and he could play in midfield for us or up front.
“His skills are such that he can hurt teams and the more often he can do that in the final third the more damage he can do. So I’m thinking the farther up the field he can play, the better.”
Dolan has a full squad of fit players to choose from and he admitted he was invigorated by the attitude of his squad: “I was delighted with the effort from everybody against St. Pats. You listen to people after the game and read what they have to say and some said good things and some people had bad things to say.
“Upon mature reflection I know what a big job this is and there is a lot of work to be done. But to see the way the lads trained this week was super, there is a huge hunger for success there.
“I watched the way Munster played and people spoke of the X factor and we have got that X factor. In Dublin you get fellows who do not have that but it is obvious that when the players say they love playing for Cork City they mean it.
“We probably had that as well at St. Pats but it was probably unusual. A lot of other clubs with more resources were, maybe, not tuned into it.”
Cork were undoubtedly affected by the hype before their first game under Dolan and they will play a lot better in the coming weeks. The manager has made a commitment to everybody in the squad and it is up to them to prove they can hold down a place.
He said: “The first four games are the first series as far as I’m concerned and they will really tell us a lot. We have got to get an organised and a committed group and I believe that is what we have got to get to have that sparkle that will bring success.
“We need to strengthen, I think everyone believes that we need to strengthen, but I am not interested in bringing in players just for the sake of it, or players who are not appreciably better than those we have.”
UCD have always given Cork trouble because they put as much energy into their game as do Cork. After losing their first game by just one goal to champions Bohemians they will be keen to start winning points to avoid the pressure they experienced last season.
Midfielder Alan McNally returns after serving a one-match ban but defender Alan Mahon will be missing. He sustained a freak injury in training and yesterday had an operation on a ruptured Achilles tendon that will keep him out for six months.
Tonight’s fixtures: Eircom League, Premier: Shelbourne v Derry City, Tolka Park, 7.45 pm. UCD v Cork City, Belfield, 7.45pm.
First Division: Limerick v Bray Wanderers, Pike Rovers SG 5.30 pm. Finn Harps v Kildare County, Finn Park, 8 pm.
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