Cork duo fail to travel for crunch Derry clash

AS A crucial week in the history of Cork City begins tonight with the Setanta Cup semi-final at Derry City (Brandywell, 8.05pm, Setanta Ireland), Alan Mathews has been struck a blow with two of his players failing to turn up yesterday for the trip north.

At stake this evening is a lucrative decider against Glentoran while on Thursday, it’ll be make-or-break time when club examiner Kieran McCarthy makes a long-awaited return to the High Court as the club’s future comes under scrutiny once again with the Revenue Commissioners — owed in the region of 360,000 — believed to be holding firm on their doubts over the future viability of the club.

And as if that wasn’t bad enough, a no-show yesterday afternoon by both Billy Woods, who is said to be contemplating retirement, and Alan O’Connor reduced Mathews’ depleted squad by another two players.