Tolka holds no fears for Dunne

WITH tomorrow’s Setanta Cup final between Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers curtailing tonight’s Airtricity League Premier Division action, the First Division takes centre stage this evening as Shelbourne host Cork City in a top of the table clash at Tolka Park (8pm).

Three points off the pace-setting Dubliners, City still hold the division’s only unbeaten record and manager Tommy Dunne is confident it will remain intact after tonight’s tough test at Tolka.

“We would like to think we will be competing with a number of teams, including Shelbourne, for promotion, but we don’t fear going to Tolka Park,” he says. “They are likely to be one of the main contenders in the race for promotion, and not many teams will go to Tolka and get a result. We are still in the first series of games, we’ve started ok and we’re still unbeaten, but this will be a very tough test. We are confident, but we know we will need to start well and perform well over the 90 minutes to get a positive result.”

Cork go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Longford Town after succumbing to an early goal at Turner’s Cross last week.

“We didn’t start well against Longford, and we need to ensure that doesn’t happen again,” says Dunne. “Shelbourne have scored the same number of goals as us and conceded a couple more, but they have won more games and that’s why they are top of the table. They are a strong team, with good players right throughout the side, but these are good games, the ones you enjoy playing in and we are looking forward to it. We will be going there with the intention of winning the game, but getting any positive result from Tolka would be a good outcome and would keep our unbeaten run going.”

City have ‘keeper Mark McNulty back tonight but full-back Danny Murphy will miss the game through suspension. Alan Carey again misses out with an Achilles injury while Derek O’Brien, still struggling with a calf injury, is rated as very doubtful for the game. Captain Greg O’Halloran is struggling with an ankle injury, but City boss Dunne is hopeful that he will be available. Stephen Mulcahy is available having made his comeback in the EA Sports Cup game against Wexford Youths while Neal Horgan is also available again having missed out in recent weeks due to his GAA commitments with St Finbarr’s.

Saturday’s win against Salthill Devon left Shels boss Alan Mathews delighted with the acquisition of three points and relieved too to know that David Cassidy, who limped out of that game, has been passed fit for this evening’s big game, leaving the former Cork City boss with an almost full squad to choose from, with the exception of Stephen Paisley who is out with a hamstring problem.

The other First Division games tonight are Limerick v Waterford United, Jackman Park; Mervue United v Finn Harps, Fahy’s Field and Wexford Youths v Salthill Devon, Ferrycarrig Park (8pm).

Meanwhile, in the Premier Division, Bray Wanderers will be hoping to prove that they’re not turning into fellow seasiders Blackpool when Pat Devlin’s men seek to reverse recent setbacks against UCD at the Carlisle Grounds.

And, reflecting what had been a fine start to the season, Bray midfielder Gary Dempsey was yesterday named the Airtricity/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Player of the Month for April.

At Terryland Park , struggling Galway United host Bohemians, with Gypsies boss Pat Fenlon well aware that the Tribesmen where Bohs’ bogey team last season.

And at Hunky Dorys Park, winless Drogheda United face a Sligo Rovers side who will be looking to maintain the pressure on top two Shamrock Rovers and Derry City .