George back for battle of Brandywell

IF there is such a thing as a pleasant headache, Damien Richardson is feeling the effects of one as his Cork City side face into their table-topping clash against Derry City at the Brandywell tonight (kick off 7.30).

The Cork manager has George O’Callaghan available again after suspension but, in his absence, City have produced two inspired back-to-back performances, drawing 1-1 away to Djurgardens in the UEFA Cup and then consolidating their lead in the eircom Premier Division with that pulsating 1-0 defeat of Shelbourne.

Said Richardson: “The dilemma I’ve got is whether I alter things or maintain them. So far, I’ve tended to stick with the status quo.”

The smart money may be on the return of one of the outstanding talents in the domestic game, but Richardson maintained that, with Roy O’Donovan returning from Under-21 duty, he would cast an eye over a training session in Derry last night before making up his mind about his first eleven.

And with only Willie Bruton absent after picking up a virus, Richardson otherwise has the luxury of a full squad to choose from as he seeks to maintain or extend City’s six-point lead over second-placed Derry.

“We haven’t mastered it but we’re improving at the art of keeping it to one game at a time,” he says of Cork’s attitude.

“Whatever game we’re in we treat as the most important game of the season - and now that’s Derry at the Brandywell. As long as we keep it like that, we’ll keep control over our own destiny.”

City go into the game on a high after close to 7,000 fans roared them to victory in last Monday’s defeat of Shels.

“It was an enormous fillip,” Richardson agrees. “Not just the fact that it was almost a full house but the way the crowd responded to the game and to the Cork City players. I’ve been playing and managing in Cork for a long time and Turner’s Cross can always be an intimidating place. But the other night was the best atmosphere I’ve ever encountered there - there was a period in the second half when we really needed their support and the crowd came into their own. It’s nice to get recognition for what you’re doing from the media or your fellow pros or your family but the ultimate recognition is that you can fill the stadium and get the people right behind you.

“At any level of football, in any country in the world, that is the biggest compliment, and a sign that things are really going well. And the way the crowd stayed behind after the game made it even more emphatic.”

But there will be no resting on laurels as City visit the rival hothouse of the Brandywell to take on their closest challengers.

“Derry’s form hasn’t surprised me because Stephen (Kenny) is a good manager and he has good players,” says Richardson. “Add in their tradition and they’re not going to be too far away. A bit like Cork, when Derry get the bit between their teeth they can go onto good things. The beauty of the provincial clubs is that the whole city gets behind them whereas Dublin is still divided.”

In terms of the specific challenges his team face tonight, Richardson is well aware that the Cork defence will have to cope with the Premier Division’s leading scorer.

“Mark Farren’s goals certainly have been a catalyst for Derry’s success so, yes, we’ll have to pay careful attention to him,” says Richardson. “But they also have other good players like Pat McCourt, Ciaran Martyn in the middle of the park and Gary Beckett up front. They’re second in the table and pushing us because they have players who can deliver whatever’s required. I think this is the most important game of the season and the biggest challenge of the season bar none.”

Derry boss Stephen Kenny, who celebrated a year in the job yesterday, welcomes back Sean Hargan, Damien Brennan and Alan Murphy to the squad for a game which could see Derry cut Cork’s lead to three points.

“A lot of people seem to think we can’t win the league and that it’s already Cork’s title - and that’s fine by me,” he says. “We were 33-1 outsiders at the start of the season but we’re not outsiders now. We are where we are on merit and our form has been outstanding but it’s crucial that we don’t concede an early goal. Cork look like the kind of team that won’t let you back into the game when you fall behind.”

While the North-South clash dominates, elsewhere in the eircom League tonight, Shelbourne play Bohemians at Tolka Park (8pm), Bray Wanderers entertain Finn Harps at the Carlisle Grounds (7.45pm), Drogheda United take on Waterford United at United Park (7.45pm) and Shamrock Rovers play UCD at Dalymount Park (7.45pm).