Cork City get ‘perfect opportunity’ to bounce back

ON the principle that if you fall off your bike it’s best to quickly get back in the saddle, Damien Richardson says he’s pleased that tonight’s eircom League game against Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm) comes hot on the heels of Friday’s 2-0 defeat by St Patrick’s Athletic.

Says the Cork City boss: “I was disappointed by the performance on Friday. I felt that as a team we let ourselves down a little bit and the only way to get your appetite back is to have something come up as quickly as possible.

“So tonight is the perfect opportunity to bounce back with the correct attitude and the right performance. And if we do that we can use this game to launch us into the season proper.”

If he shows no reaction to yesterday’s training session, George O’Callaghan, forced out of the Setanta Cup final with an ankle injury, could make his return but striker John O’Flynn is out with a hamstring injury. However, Denis Behan, who came on as a sub against Pats, is fit and likely to start.

Richardson says that he is an admirer of Sean Connor’s Sligo and isn’t surprised that the team have done well since getting promotion. Rovers go into the game two points behind fifth-placed Cork — who are themselves now seven points behind leaders Drogheda United — and coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne at the Showgrounds.

Connor, who has a full squad to choose from for tonight’s game, admits that he is pleased with their season so far.

“We’re a hard team to beat but we’ve got to see now if we can convert a few draws into wins,” he says.

“We’re looking forward to going to Turner’s Cross. They always have a good crowd and a good pitch, and Cork are a good side that always tries to play football. And that’s what I, as a manager, and the players, all want to be involved in.”

In other domestic action tonight, St Patrick’s Athletic, currently third in the Premier Division, host First Division leaders Shamrock Rovers in a League Cup game at Richmond Park.